2017 Queen rearing.

[Madasafish]

After a failed attempt at queen rearing last year, I am trying again.. Using
cellpunching https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGbbAsAuNOw

and a cloake board Cloake board queen rearing - The Apiarist

My eyesight is poor, my coordination is not very good (I'm just a doddery old man ) but attempt 1 this year looks ok..

[DWSmith]

Congratulations!

I have only a few hives so splits fill my needs. I've only done it a few times but it works well.

Are you intending to sell queens?

[Madasafish]

Congratulations!

I have only a few hives so splits fill my needs. I've only done it a few times but it works well.

Are you intending to sell queens?

Not really I'll raise enough to requeen the hives I want to +4 nucs +a few spares..

But if I am more successful, I might sell a few.

[Madasafish]

Quick update:
5 Queen cells placed in mini nucs yesterday.. About a 30% success rate - out of practise.

Try 2 starts next week..

[DWSmith]

Please keep us updated! This stuff is interesting to me.

[Madasafish]

Quick update. Of the 5 queens that were placed in mini nucs only 1 emerged, A quick post mortem showed the queens immature and dead in cells.
The cells were covered in brace comb so I had to cut them out. I assume the handling killed them - they are vulnerable.. (This was day 12 out of 16 before emergence.)
So next time I will place in mini nucs on day 14 - some risk of early emerging virgin killing others - but queens will be better formed.
Edit: and I have bought a pair of very sharp non stick scissors to ensure cutting out is less stressful
http://tinyurl.com/lylh9us

Next batch underway.

[Madasafish]

Status update:
Queens raised and mated successfully:11
Queens raised waiting mating in mating nucs: 6

About to raise next batch.. should be mated by September.
Commercial cost of 17 queens about £500. Actual investment in kit less than £100.


Pictures of mating nucs:

[Madasafish]

Last batch started and weather was horrible. Rain nearly every day. I was feeding the starter colony with sugar solution and pollen substitute but only 2 QCs out of 8 have been raised. Picture of the hive (Jumbo Langstroth) which is raising them:

From the bottom:
Hive brood box.
Cloake board (used to make the top box queenless for a day so they will start Queen Cells)
Upper brood box where QCs are raised
2 supers.

Picture of Qcs with and without nurse bees- Should be capped 11th August and emerge 19th August.

[Madasafish]

Getting better - success rate 11 out of 13.
Running out of mating nucs
Queen cages added in case of early emergence in this heat - virgin queen will kill all others.

[nickdub]

Well done - shows a lot of perseverance as well as knowledge - thanks for keeping us in the picture.