1st grafting attempt

[greengumbo]

Its done. Hardest part was finding a frame of suitable sized larvae !

I went through the hive and sorted out the frames I wanted then replaced with drawn comb, moving the desired ones up into the 2nd brood box above QE. Sandwiched the cell bar (which had bee in for a day) between open brood and pollen / stores and big dummies on either side (the worst looking dummies you can imagine). I then went through my selected breeder nuc and took out a frame of open brood. Nipped inside with a trail of angry bees. Quickly but carefully selected larvae that looked slightly bent and put them in the cells. Replaced the cell bar and left them to it. Excellent.

I also took the opportunity to check on a nuc that got a mated queen added the the other day (I know I should leave them be but I was curious). Prior to adding the Q I had knocked down 7 Q Cells. I must have missed one as there is now a sealed QC. I saw the introduced queen wandering about looking lovely so should I just cut the cell out ? I thought they would have torn it down already ?

Anyway it was all very fun. Even received my first sting.

[Jon]

GG.
They probably wont start too many cells with the first set of grafts but in 24 hours they will be more likely to get going.
If you chose a frame of larvae which also has eggs on it you can put it in the top box where you know it is handy and then have a second bite at the grafting cherry 24 hours later without having to root through a brood box looking for suitable age larvae.

[greengumbo]

GG.
They probably wont start too many cells with the first set of grafts but in 24 hours they will be more likely to get going.
If you chose a frame of larvae which also has eggs on it you can put it in the top box where you know it is handy and then have a second bite at the grafting cherry 24 hours later without having to root through a brood box looking for suitable age larvae.

Thanks for the tip Jon. Unfortunately I'm away until sunday now but will try again then. When is it okay to have a peek at the cell bar post-grafting ?

[The Drone Ranger]

Hi Greengumbo
I was asking the same question a few weeks ago and surprisingly (thanks Jon) you check the cell bar 24 hrs later to see how many they have started

[Jon]

If you check even 4 hours later it is often informative as all the larvae will be gone in that time if they are not in the form to start cells.

[The Drone Ranger]

If you check even 4 hours later it is often informative as all the larvae will be gone in that time if they are not in the form to start cells.

Ha!! you were holding out on me then

[The Drone Ranger]

I also took the opportunity to check on a nuc that got a mated queen added the the other day (I know I should leave them be but I was curious). Prior to adding the Q I had knocked down 7 Q Cells. I must have missed one as there is now a sealed QC. I saw the introduced queen wandering about looking lovely so should I just cut the cell out ? I thought they would have torn it down already ?

Hi Greengumbo
I would take that cell down otherwise they most probably will bump off your queen in favour of one of their own making.
Or you could cut it out and put it on your cell raising bar

[greengumbo]

Hi Greengumbo
I would take that cell down otherwise they most probably will bump off your queen in favour of one of their own making.
Or you could cut it out and put it on your cell raising bar

Good call. I was thinking of cutting it out and sticking it in a home-bodged mating nuc as well. This bee stuff is fun.

[Wmfd]

One of the daftest things propagated about queen rearing is that a mini nuc needs to be left in the dark for 3 days before the cell is added.
Just fill your nuc, wait an hour and put the cell in. It would probably be ok to just fill it and put the cell in but the 'priming for 3 days' stuff is nonsense. Some people even wrap cells in tinfoil or use special cell protectors but that is not necessary either.

Yes, and a heartfelt thanks for that from a long time 'lurker'. As first timers we successfully got two queen cells hatched and mated/laying.

I'd filled the mini-nucs the day before and put the cells in the next. I found the advice on here invaluable.

David




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[Jon]

It is the 'first timers' who are the most enthusiastic queen rearers in my experience.
Some of the longer term beekeepers are very defensive about what they never learned to do.
It really is quite a straightforward process, although attention to detail is the killer at certain times and poor weather can ruin the best laid plans.