Replace the queen with a new mated queen

Remove the failing queen and introduce a new mated queen using a candy-plug cage. This is the fastest way to restore strong brood production when supersedure or emergency cells confirm the current queen is underperforming. Mated queens cost $25-$50 from reputable breeders and begin laying within days of acceptance.

Why It Works

A colony building non-swarming queen cells has already determined its queen is failing. Allowing natural supersedure can take 3-4 weeks and risks a mating failure, leaving the colony queenless. Introducing a proven mated queen eliminates that uncertainty and restores egg-laying within a week.

Tips

• Remove the old queen 24 hours before introducing the new one to let the colony recognize its queenlessness
• Place the candy-plug cage between the top bars of two central brood frames
• Check for queen acceptance after 3-5 days by looking for fresh eggs near the cage
• Avoid requeening during a nectar dearth when colonies are more defensive and prone to rejection