Introduce a purchased mated queen

Purchase a mated queen from a reputable breeder and introduce her to the queenless colony using a candy-plug cage. Place the cage between two central brood frames and leave the hive undisturbed for 5-7 days before checking for acceptance and egg-laying.

Why It Works

A mated queen restores queenright status immediately and can begin laying fertilized eggs within days of release. The candy-plug cage allows workers to gradually acclimate to her pheromones over 2-3 days, greatly reducing rejection risk. Without intervention, a queenless colony develops laying workers within 2-3 weeks and becomes unrecoverable.

Tips

• Remove all emergency queen cells before introducing the new queen so workers do not reject her in favour of their own cells
• Source queens from breeders who select for disease resistance, gentleness, and local climate adaptation
• Avoid opening the hive for at least 5 days after introduction to minimize disturbance
• Mated queens typically cost $25-$45 USD and are available spring through early fall from most suppliers