The Queen Cage is a small wire or plastic enclosure used to introduce a new or replacement queen into a honey bee colony safely. When a new queen is introduced directly to a colony, worker bees will often kill her immediately because her pheromone profile is unfamiliar. The queen cage allows the new queen to be placed in the hive while separated from the workers — bees interact with her through the cage mesh and gradually learn to accept her pheromone signature over 2–3 days while eating through a candy plug that seals the cage exit.
What Is the Queen Cage?
The queen cage is an essential accessory for any requeening operation — replacing an old, failing, or lost queen; introducing a purchased mated queen from a breeder; or installing a newly reared queen from a queen rearing programme. The cage body houses the queen and typically 3–5 attendant worker bees. A candy plug at one end is slowly eaten by the colony’s worker bees during the introduction period — by the time the bees eat through the plug and release the queen (usually after 48–72 hours), the colony has accepted her pheromone and will not attack her. Used alongside Queen Marking Pens for marking introduced queens and Plastic Queen Cell Cup Holder for rearing queens from grafted larvae.
Key Features and Technical Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Material | Wire mesh or plastic with wire screen |
| Candy Plug | Yes — timed release for safe queen introduction |
| Compatible Hives | Langstroth, Kenya Top Bar, and log hives |
| Introduction Period | 48–72 hours (bees eat through candy plug) |
| Uses | Queen introduction, transport, and temporary confinement |
Why Buy From Urban Beekeepers?
- Kenya’s best beekeeping equipment shop — stocking high-quality and genuine beekeeping equipment
- In stock — same-day delivery within Nairobi
- Nationwide delivery to all major towns across Kenya
- Call or WhatsApp: 0797 764 747
- Trusted by commercial farmers, CBOs, and NGOs across Kenya
- Urban Beekeepers accepts M-Pesa, card, cash and bank transfer payments
Shipping and Delivery
Urban Beekeepers delivers countrywide to Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, Machakos, Kitengela, Kitui, and all major towns across Kenya. Same-day delivery within Nairobi. Call 0797 764 747 to confirm delivery timelines for your location.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I introduce a new queen to a colony using a queen cage?
Remove the old or failing queen from the colony 24 hours before introducing the new one, then allow the colony to become aware they are queenless. Place the queen cage (with candy plug end exposed) between two frames in the brood cluster area. The workers will begin eating through the candy plug, which takes 48–72 hours. Once released, check after a further 3–5 days to confirm the queen is moving freely on the comb and that workers are not balling or attacking her.
Does Urban Beekeepers deliver Queen Cages outside Nairobi?
Urban Beekeepers delivers countrywide to Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, Machakos, Kitengela, Kitui, and all major towns across Kenya. Same-day delivery within Nairobi. Call 0797 764 747 to confirm delivery timelines.
