Does any one have any advice of getting a queen to lay in a karl jenter queen rearing system

[drdaz]

I have a Jenter system all set up , have so far put two queens in it and they don't want to lay in it, its been in the hive about a week. Any tips about getting them to lay in the plastic cups.not

 

[VEG]

leave it in the hive for a day or 2 open then trap the queen in it

 

[drdaz]

leave it in the hive for a day or 2 open then trap the queen in it

yes have done that , still two different queens won't lay in it?

 

[susbees]

Grafting is easier. For me anyway.

 

[DorsetB]

As mentioned above, put it in the hive so it acquires the right smell, but the other thing I do is cage the queen the same day I introduce the Jenter frame for 1 to 2 days. Then release her directly in to the Jenter, works a charm every time for me.

Make sure you do a quick queen cell check at the same time you transfer her from the cage to the Jenter.

 

[Martin G]

Cell prep

spray or drizzle some sugar syrup and put it in the hive for the bees to clean, should give the cells that special something and mask the plasticness.

Martin

 

[drdaz]

As mentioned above, put it in the hive so it acquires the right smell, but the other thing I do is cage the queen the same day I introduce the Jenter frame for 1 to 2 days. Then release her directly in to the Jenter, works a charm every time for me.

Make sure you do a quick queen cell check at the same time you transfer her from the cage to the Jenter.

Thanks for that, i guess it must be a shock for the queen being put a jenter holder with a load of plastic cups to lay in. Does anyone put royal jelly or honey into the plastic cups first to encourage the queen first ?

 

[Bee-Key-Pur]

How long a time are you putting them in for, try leaving them in a bit longer than recommended...

 

[drdaz]

How long a time are you putting them in for, try leaving them in a bit longer than recommended...

my worry is if i leave them too long i'll get honey in the plastic cups not grubs

 

[DorsetB]

Ooh yes, now you mention it, the very first time I went to use it I pushed & twisted each cup into a sheet of foundation, leaving a small residue in the bottom of each cup. As other have mentioned, syrup will also do, forcing the bees to clean the cups.
I can only imagine the smell of new plastic is much worse for them than it is for us.