Q rearing by numbers

[gavin]

Some of us are using Lyson MiniPlus nucs instead (or at least I will be once they arrive). Again, cheaper in bulk and sometimes with a bit of haggling. Cheaper per queen mated than an Apidea and with a top feeder as part of the unit. Several people have said that wintering is easier in these boxes (after the partition has been taken out) than in Apideas, with one BKF poster saying that his winter losses were the same as larger hives.

Abelo for a UK supplier, also sold by Icko in France (if you can get them to talk to you!) and Wilara in Lithuania where prices are particularly keen at the moment.

There is another design of MiniPlus for sale without the partition and with only entrance, be careful you get the right one if queen rearing is your aim.

[gavin]

On the size of the gene pool, it depends. If you are planning continually bringing in breeder stock then the number of queens used now doesn't matter too much. But be wary of restricting the diversity. In general 50+ colonies are advised in a breeding group and you should spread queen raising around several to many of your better queens.

If, for example, you graft only from one queen all summer and requeen all your stocks with that line (mated with a diversity of drones) then there will be only a maximum of two different alleles at each gene for each drone in your population next year. Drones come from only the genes carried in the queen's own cells, and none of the genetic variation she carries in her spermatheca gets used for drones (they come from unfertilised eggs of course). This is very likely to lead to serious inbreeding.

[Jon]

Thing is, there are quite a number of groups working with Amm in Scotland Ireland and Wales and we could work together with regard to the genetic material.

[fatshark]

also sold by Icko in France (if you can get them to talk to you!)

Is there a problem ... I just ordered a new toy from them and they were straightforward to deal with and delivered v. fast.

[drumgerry]

Just been on Icko's website for the first time - never heard of them till reading this thread. Some nice stuff on there. Especially liked the title for the mini-nuc part of their catalogue - "The nucleus of fecundation". Great stuff! Can't we have a category on the forum for discussing the "The nucleus of fecundation"?!!

[gavin]

Can't we have a category on the forum for discussing the "The nucleus of fecundation"?!!

Fecundation off!!

[Poly Hive]

Have you got any Lyson kit yet Gavin? If not take a sample first.

PH

[gavin]

It hasn't yet arrived. However, as well as listening to folk on here I've handled the boxes at two different bee shows and like what I see.

Abelo in the UK supply them. I swithered about getting them from Wilara in Lithuania but instead ordered queen cages and other sundries from them. Easy to deal with, responsive, courier costs not too bad, low prices.

[Beefever]

Jon,
Would the same thing happen if there was brood present in the Apidea and this being the second introduced virgin to mate from it?

[Jon]

Yep. They sometimes totally abscond leaving brood behind.
Re.the queen mating flights, that's a good question. I am pretty sure I have seen it happen when there has been brood present in the apidea from a previous incumbent but I will make sure I check that properly the next time I see it. I honestly can't remember.