Principles of Queen Introduction
Queen Introduction
 
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Filleul's Dual Purpose Queen Cage for Transporting and Introducing

A friend of mine, Jon Cox has provided the information for this page as he unearthed an example and an original leaflet, although the leaflet is foxed and degraded beyond reproduction, the information from it is reproduced here in the white panel below. It has been rendered as a reasonable facsimile of the original. although a few words have been interpolated as the bottom right hand corner was missing from the original document. Needless to say the devices are not available for sale from that source any longer.

D.A.C.

 

 

FILLEUL'S DUAL PURPOSE QUEEN CAGE
FOR TRANSPORTING AND INTRODUCING
THE SIMPLEST and SAFEST CAGE AVAILABLE
PROVISIONALLY PATENTED
INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE

A.   To prepare the cage.
The two rectangular passages at the base of the cage must be filled with candy. This is done with the aid of a suitable bit of wood with the inner slide in situ. If a queen is to be sent by post or kept in cage for more than an hour, the cavity on the inner slide between the transparent windows must also be filled. (Instructions for candy below).

B.   To load the cage.
Remove the inner slide noting which way it goes. Trap queen by placing open end of cage over her also over her escort if required, or trap them ina matchbox, release them on a closed window and then cage.
Then slip a finger over the open end of cage, and at an opportune moment, replace the inner slide and gently push it right home without injuring the queen or bees.

C.   Introducing.
If the colony is queenless and has no queen cells withdraw the slide until the second red line is exposed and lower the cage between the combs suspending it there by swivelling the metal strip on top of the cage or by a match passed through the screw eye. Part the frames a little if necessary for insertion then close.
If a colony has been queenless for some time it is safer to insert a comb of young brood when introducing the caged queen or better 26 hours before hand.
The cage can, if preferred, be placed inside of the hive entrance or laid on top of the combs.
With suitable candy the queen is liberated within 60 hours and the cage may be quietly removed on the 4th day and colony examined on the eighth day.

D.   Travelling by post.
The cavity in the slide must be well filled with candy and the slide pushed right home to close off access to candy in the escape channels.
Pack in corrugated paper, rolled twice round the cage, corrugations next the cage, with ends open and protruding 1 1/2" beyond cage, ends to allow passage of air. Secure the corrugated paper by string tied round the middle and then passed through holes punctured in the paper close to the cage ends and tied.
On arrival proceed as at (C) after removal of packing material.
It is safest to fix the slide in position with a drawing pin.

E.   Candy preparation.
A sufficient quantity of "Goods" candy, for eight cages would be prepared by mixing 1oz. of finely-powdered sugar and rather less than 1/3rd that weight of liquid honey, which should be warmed. These ingredients when thouroughly mixed should give a good firm candy made harder or softer by the addition of sugar or honey. it is better for the candy to be too hard than too soft. Icing sugar may contain ingredients harmful to bees. Ordinary sugar ground fine with pestle and mortar is better.

OBTAINABLE FROM
        P. R. FILLEUL,
                "HOMESTEAD",
                                    COMBE DOWN,   BATH.

 

 

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