Plain Talk: Thoughts on Queen Bees (226)

Honey Bee Obscura Podcast · Apr 10, 2025 · 21m

In this reflective episode, Jim Tew shares an honest and personal conversation about queens—both the winged kind in the hive and the ones we buy in cages. Sitting among his thriving colonies, Jim weighs the pros and cons of letting bees raise their own queens versus introducing commercially produced ones. He explores the timing, risks, and costs of each approach and how personal priorities—like honey production, genetics, and even beekeeping stamina—factor into the decision.

As spring builds, Jim considers the idea of walkaway splits, splitting strong colonies and letting the bees raise their…