I checked 9 on saturday and another yesterday and no sign of any cells yet.
I checked 9 on saturday and another yesterday and no sign of any cells yet.
I've got my own method nerr. It uses a two-queen hive. I never had much luck with Ben's. Either I was no good at it or my bees take a lot of persuading to make queen cells.
Rosie
The conditions have to be right which usually means decent weather and a nectar flow.
That's asking a lot around here but I had the same problems in sunny, mild Derbyshire
I am only in my 3rd season at this but it has always worked for me. Last year I had 2 or 3 cell raisers on the go all summer and I was getting about 30 cells per week.
It is variable. Sometimes you graft 20 and they start 18 and other times it is none at all.
You've got to laugh, long range weather is bad till end of may, if the girls don't get out on Sunday they missed the window
How does everyone decide when the best time to begin their queen rearing? Do you wait for the bees to let you know they are ready to think about it or do you prompt them to do it?Originally Posted by Jon
Steve, is your method the double stack system which was in the bibba magazine last year?
Emse. there are several variables. You need strong colonies. You need drones. you need decent weather, and you need something decent to graft from.
That's the one but I didn't think they had published it yet. Perhaps I had given you a preview. I'm hoping it will be in the next magazine.
"You need strong colonies. You need drones. you need decent weather, and you need something decent to graft from." And a steady hand and good eyesight.
The one I am thinking of was a double stack of nuc sized boxes separated by a box in between which took the grafts. Just checked the wing puller's gazette and it was spring 2009. John harding queen rearing system.
I am really short sighted but when i take my specs off i can focus right down to the larva in the cell.
No hand shake yet in spite of years on the apple wine.
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