The Queen Bee Cage is an essential colony management tool used when introducing a new queen to a Langstroth Hive colony. Introducing a new queen directly without protection results in the workers killing her because she is a stranger with a different colony scent. The Queen Bee Cage allows the queen to be housed safely between frames while the workers acclimatise to her pheromone signature through the cage mesh. A candy plug at one end is eaten through by both the queen and the workers over 3 to 5 days, releasing her once the colony has accepted her.
What Is the Queen Bee Cage?
The Queen Bee Cage is a colony management accessory used at the queen introduction, queen rearing, and queen transport stages of beekeeping. It works by confining the queen in a small ventilated cage that workers can smell and touch through the mesh but cannot enter. Over 3 to 5 days, the workers consume the candy plug from the outside while the queen eats through from the inside, releasing herself into the hive once the colony has accepted her scent as their own. This slow-release introduction method dramatically increases queen acceptance rates compared to direct release.
What Is the Price of the Queen Bee Cage in Kenya?
The Queen Bee Cage is priced at KSh 750 at Urban Beekeepers in Nairobi. In stock ā no lead time. Same-day delivery within Nairobi. Nationwide delivery available to all major towns. Payment accepted via M-Pesa and card. Urban Beekeepers takes bulk orders. Call 0797 764 747 or message via WhatsApp to discuss.
š¬ Order Now on WhatsApp ā KSh 750
Key Features and Technical Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Material | Wire mesh or plastic with candy plug |
| What’s Included | Queen Bee Cage with candy plug installed |
| Function | Queen introduction, transport, and temporary housing |
| Introduction Period | 3 to 5 days for candy plug to be consumed |
| Compatible Hive | Langstroth Hive (placed between frames) |
| Reusable | Yes |
| Price | KSh 750 |
Who Needs the Queen Bee Cage?
- Commercial Honey Farmers: Farmers requeening colonies that have become aggressive, laying poorly, or lost their queen to disease or accident. Requeening with a productive queen is essential for maintaining colony performance.
- Queen Rearers: Beekeepers producing queen bees for sale or for their own apiary expansion who need cages for introducing reared queens to mating nuclei and production colonies.
- New Beekeepers: Beekeepers purchasing their first nucleus colony or packaged bees who need to introduce a shipped or purchased queen safely.
- CBOs and Cooperatives: Community beekeeping groups managing multiple colonies who experience regular queen losses and need a reliable introduction method to maintain productive colonies.
How to Use the Queen Bee Cage
- Confirm the colony is queenless. Before introducing a new queen, confirm the colony is queenless. A colony that still has a queen will kill any introduced queen immediately.
- Load the queen into the cage. Carefully place the queen inside along with 3 to 5 attendant workers from the same colony as the queen. Seal the cage. Ensure the candy plug is intact.
- Suspend the cage between frames. Hang or wedge the Queen Bee Cage between two central brood frames with the candy plug facing downward or to one side. Ensure the mesh faces the brood comb.
- Close the hive and wait 5 days. Do not disturb the hive for 5 days. Workers will consume the candy plug from the outside while the queen eats from the inside.
- Check for queen acceptance on day 5. On day 5, inspect gently for the presence of the queen outside the cage. Look for a calm colony and the beginning of new egg laying within 3 to 5 days of her release.
Care and Maintenance
Proper care extends the working life of your Queen Bee Cage and keeps it performing effectively season after season.
- After each use, wash the Queen Bee Cage with warm water to remove propolis, wax, and pheromone residues from previous occupants. Foreign queen pheromones left in the cage can affect worker behaviour during the next introduction.
- Inspect the mesh or plastic grid for damage after each use. A broken mesh can allow workers to enter and kill a queen, or allow the queen to escape before the colony has accepted her.
- Replace the candy plug before each new introduction. Use a fresh plug of white fondant or candy paste. Do not reuse a partially consumed plug from a previous introduction.
Why Buy From Urban Beekeepers?
- In stock ā 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
- M-Pesa and card accepted
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
What is a queen bee cage used for in Kenya?
A Queen Bee Cage is used to introduce a new queen to a bee colony safely. Directly releasing a new queen into a hive results in workers killing her because she is a stranger. The cage allows the colony to gradually accept the queen’s pheromones over 3 to 5 days through a candy plug introduction. The cage is also used to transport queen bees safely between locations.
How long does queen introduction take in Kenya?
Queen introduction using a candy plug cage takes 3 to 5 days. Do not rush the process by releasing the queen manually before the candy is fully consumed.
How do I know if a queen introduction has been successful?
Check gently 5 to 7 days after installation. A successful introduction will show the queen free in the hive, a calm colony around her, and the first signs of new eggs in worker cells within 3 to 5 days of her release.
Does Urban Beekeepers deliver the Queen Bee Cage 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 for your location.
