CFK Queen Installation

Queen Installation download these instructions
Before you attempt to install a new queen, make sure your hive has been queenless for at least a few days. If your hive has a resident queen, remove and destroy the old queen. Within a day or so of becoming queenless, your hive will probably begin to build nature cells (queencells). These should be destroyed before your new queen is introduced. You will receive your queen in either the 3-Hole cage, or the California Mini Queencage (CMQ), depending upon the size of your order, or what you have requested. Remember the queens in the CMQ are alone and cannot survive without the workers outside the cages attending them; if you cannot install the queens right away, place them in a queen bank. And ALWAYS keep your queens in a well ventilated area, out of the sun. * For installation with the 3-Hole cage: Remove the cork on the candy end of the cage. The workers and queen will stay in the cage until the bees outside have chewed through, and there should be sufficient time--at least 48 hours--for your hive to adjust to the new queen. * For installation with the CMQ & candy tube: Your queencage will most likely arrive with the entrance blocked by a candy tube--this is the most common method of shipping. This tube is designed to take approximately 48 hours to chew through, and thus, it allows 48 hours of introduction before your queen emerges. During this time, the workers will become accustomed to the new queen's scent. * For installation with the CMQ & cork: Before your remove the cork, you should allow your new queen to be placed in the hive with the cork still inserted for 48 hours. This allows the workers time to become used to the new queen's scent. After the 48 hour period, remove the cork & replace it with a bit of candy, granulated honey, or marshmallow. The more gradual & gentle the introduction, the better. TO INSTALL: Place the queencage between the center frames. Place it horizontal, so that it lines up parallel to the top of the frame, with screen side down, one inch from the top. This makes it easier for the queen to exit the queencage, and for workers in the hive to care for the queen before she exits. Always make sure your queen has at least 48 hours inside her cage to acclimatize before she exits (the workers may kill her if she exits too early). Leave the hive undisturbed for a few days after installing the queen. The empty queencage can then be removed. In approximately 4-6 days after she emerges, you should begin to see eggs. This time can vary depending upon the condition of the comb inside your hive and the weather. Enjoy your beehive!

Queen Installation download these instructions

*Before you attempt to install a new queen, make sure your hive has been queenless for at least a few days. If your hive has a resident queen, remove and destroy the old queen. Within a day or so of becoming queenless, your hive will probably begin to build nature cells (queencells). These should be destroyed before your new queen is introduced.

*You will receive your queen in either the 3-Hole cage, or the California Mini Queencage (CMQ), depending upon the size of your order, or what you have requested. Remember the queens in the CMQ are alone and cannot survive without the workers outside the cages attending them; if you cannot install the queens right away, place them in a queen bank. And ALWAYS keep your queens in a well ventilated area, out of the sun.

* For installation with the 3-Hole cage: Remove the cork on the candy end of the cage. The workers and queen will stay in the cage until the bees outside have chewed through, and there should be sufficient time--at least 48 hours--for your hive to adjust to the new queen.

* For installation with the CMQ & candy tube: Your queencage will most likely arrive with the entrance blocked by a candy tube--this is the most common method of shipping. This tube is designed to take approximately 48 hours to chew through, and thus, it allows 48 hours of introduction before your queen emerges. During this time, the workers will become accustomed to the new queen's scent.

* For installation with the CMQ & cork: Before your remove the cork, you should allow your new queen to be placed in the hive with the cork still inserted for 48 hours. This allows the workers time to become used to the new queen's scent. After the 48 hour period, remove the cork & replace it with a bit of candy, granulated honey, or marshmallow. The more gradual & gentle the introduction, the better.

TO INSTALL: Place the queencage between the center frames. Place it horizontal, so that it lines up parallel to the top of the frame, with screen side down, one inch from the top. This makes it easier for the queen to exit the queencage, and for workers in the hive to care for the queen before she exits. Always make sure your queen has at least 48 hours inside her cage to acclimatize before she exits (the workers may kill her if she exits too early).

Leave the hive undisturbed for a few days after installing the queen. The empty queencage can then be removed. In approximately 4-6 days after she emerges, you should begin to see eggs. This time can vary depending upon the condition of the comb inside your hive and the weather. Enjoy your beehive!