Torvy
Super Member
Rookie mistake. Never let them know you checked their facts.Thanks for that.
Now my wife wants to know why I believe you, and not her when she first mentioned it!
Beekeeping
- Thread starter LittleBittyBigJohn
- Start date
lsgreg
New member
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2024
- Messages
- 11
- Tractor
- LS MT225S
I set up a couple of double queen hives over the last few days.
I have never done this before, but the concept is that the combined colonies will act like one huge colony, boosting honey production above that which the two separate colonies would produce.
So far, based on the activity outside the boxes, it looks promising.
I have never done this before, but the concept is that the combined colonies will act like one huge colony, boosting honey production above that which the two separate colonies would produce.
So far, based on the activity outside the boxes, it looks promising.
BackRoad
Platinum Member
There we go, we've gone into territory that will get us in trouble talking about all the work the females do!! 
How does what is effectively one hive (though double sized) operate with two active Queens?
Doesn't that create conflict and potential for swarming?
How does what is effectively one hive (though double sized) operate with two active Queens?
Doesn't that create conflict and potential for swarming?
lsgreg
New member
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2024
- Messages
- 11
- Tractor
- LS MT225S
The bottom boxes are not connected or open to each other in any way. So, in the left stack there is a queen, and in the right stack there is a queen. The queens are 100% separated from each other. They cannot kill each other.
On top, in the middle, there is a queen excluder, so she cannot exit or cross over that way. On top of that are the honey supers.
As to why the workers don't fight, I don't know, but they don't.
Swarming is always possible, but the hive is huge, with lots of space, so I hope there will not be swarming pressure.
About the 2 queen hive, apparently that happens in nature sometimes, and maybe in our hives more than we know. I once saw 3 queens in a normal hive, and they did not swarm. Eventually only one queen remained.
On top, in the middle, there is a queen excluder, so she cannot exit or cross over that way. On top of that are the honey supers.
As to why the workers don't fight, I don't know, but they don't.
Swarming is always possible, but the hive is huge, with lots of space, so I hope there will not be swarming pressure.
About the 2 queen hive, apparently that happens in nature sometimes, and maybe in our hives more than we know. I once saw 3 queens in a normal hive, and they did not swarm. Eventually only one queen remained.