When should a queen be replaced in a hive?

A queen should be replaced in a hive when she is failing or aging. Over time, a queen's reproductive capabilities can decline, leading to poorer egg-laying and potentially a weaker bee colony. An aging queen may produce fewer eggs or fail to mate successfully, resulting in reduced worker population and brood health. Consequently, substituting her with a younger queen can rejuvenate the colony, improve overall health, and enhance productivity.

While producing excess drones may be a sign of issues within the colony, such as a lack of fertilization, this does not directly indicate that the queen needs immediate replacement unless it is accompanied by other reproductive failures. A perfect brood pattern is actually indicative of a healthy queen, making it an unsuitable criterion for replacement. Similarly, while having a surplus of honey is beneficial for the hive, it does not relate to the queen's role or condition and is not a reason to replace her.