Artificial swarm variations.

[Sutty]

I was watching some YouTube videos by Gwenyn Gruffydd earlier. Inevitably I got sidetracked and ended up watching an A/S video.
His version was more a nuc the queen system than a Pagden, so is largely what I do.
However one interesting thing was that he advised removing  all the queen cells initially, later selecting one EQC to leave.
I've always left one marked open swarm cell and gone back at 5 days to remove all the EQCs.
Any thoughts which is better? Some would say an EQC is likely to produce an inferior queen, though when I've used them (eg requeening a feisty hive from eggs from a docile hive) the results have been ok.
The only advantage I can see is if you only have sealed QCs, and so date of emergence is unsure, risking a swarm if emergence is before next inspection, or to allow more leeway in the timing of the next inspection.
Gives me some winter food for thought!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

The only advantage I can see, as you, is that you know the date of emergence (but only if you open up every five minutes) but in the end, if you just select one good open swarm cell, you will be back in in a few days to tear down any more EQCs they have made anyway.
And is it that crucial you know the exact date the new queen is going to emerge?
I think this is just another hangover from the dark side's obsession with compulsive and constant fiddling with the colony.

 

[Sutty]

The only advantage I can see, as you, is that you know the date of emergence (but only if you open up every five minutes) but in the end, if you just select one good open swarm cell, you will be back in in a few days to tear down any more EQCs they have made anyway.
And is it that crucial you know the exact date the new queen is going to emerge?
I think this is just another hangover from the dark side's obsession with compulsive and constant fiddling with the colony.

I think knowing the date of emergence is useful in determining how long you can leave it before removing EQCs in case of other commitments or foul weather.
Obviously using a swarm cell uses an egg that was laid for queen production (bigger egg from some evidence), and the larva has always been fed appropriately. How much difference that makes I'm not sure.