Four and Twenty Virgins

[For want of a better word]

Our queen rearing has had a fantastic success so far this season...
second lot of native black Cornish Virgins into mating nucs this evening
we seem to have cracked the grafting method by utilising the Cloake board queenless system.
Drone flooding the isolated mating area is also proving to be successful.

Now we need some sun!

Yeghes da

 

[MartinL]

Thought you were organising a day trip to the Moray Firth?

 

[nantmoel]

Seems you have cracked the rearing, my first attempt was not so successful! They started all 20 cell cups I gave them but then only completed three, they don't look the best mind. This coming week I'm going to try again with a really strong 3 frame started, then move the cells after 24 hours into a Q+ colony to be finished.

 

[B+.]

They started all 20 cell cups I gave them but then only completed three, they don't look the best mind. This coming week I'm going to try again with a really strong 3 frame started, then move the cells after 24 hours into a Q+ colony to be finished.

This sounds like your nursing colony wasn't strong enough or they had needed feeding. This is how I set mine up http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/album.php?albumid=751&pictureid=3732

 

[BMH]

Sorry for the thread hijack but I am new to queen rearing and having reasonable success with it.

I have grafting frame with two rows. The bees always take to the top row. Im getting 70-80% success rates up there.

The bottom row is 100% failure. They just clean the larvae out straight away.

They go into a very strong starter colony so cant work out why they arent interested in the bottom row. Its still well within the extent of the brood frame.

 

[nantmoel]

This sounds like your nursing colony wasn't strong enough or they had needed feeding. This is how I set mine up http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/album.php?albumid=751&pictureid=3732

I think you are right there, I did feed then mind and the had a full frame of pollens as well.

 

[B+.]

cant work out why they arent interested in the bottom row. Its still well within the extent of the brood frame.

It could be coincidence. Is there anything different about the way you grafted these larvae. More often than not, I find the larvae are too old or have been damaged in some way when beginners graft.

 

[BMH]

Maybe coincidence. I certainly damage some as my technique isnt amazing, but I am getting there.

Ive probably grafted 7-8 frames and every time they neglect the bottom row and clean them out. Top row i get good success rates.

Its not a massive deal just interested in why the bees are so quik to clear out the larvae.

 

[B+.]

Maybe coincidence. I certainly damage some as my technique isnt amazing, but I am getting there.

Ive probably grafted 7-8 frames and every time they neglect the bottom row and clean them out. Top row i get good success rates.

This sounds too consistent to be coincidence.
If the nurse colony isn't strong enough, it could be that they are concentrating on those in the warmest part of the box (i.e. the top) and allowing those lower down to get chilled.

 

[BMH]

I think that makes the most sense.

 

[Plenty of honey]

This sounds too consistent to be coincidence.
If the nurse colony isn't strong enough, it could be that they are concentrating on those in the warmest part of the box (i.e. the top) and allowing those lower down to get chilled.

i have only removed my bottom super, on the last graft, just this week as i used to get this problem. A super at the bottom protect the lowest grafts from the cold nights.
you need it to be overflowing with bees. from the top so when you open the hive up you cant see the frames.

 

[B+.]

A super at the bottom protect the lowest grafts from the cold nights.
you need it to be overflowing with bees. from the top so when you open the hive up you cant see the frames.

I don't think a shallow is always necessary. So long as the box isn't sitting on the ground where they may get damp on rainy days, the nurse bees keep the cells warm.
I am in complete agreement with you that you need strong, well fed colonies to raise good queens though (http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/album.php?albumid=751&pictureid=3745). If too many are up over the top bars, you'll just crush them....this is enough (http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/album.php?albumid=751&pictureid=3732)

 

[BMH]

well thats it then.

It was a strong colony but certainly not overflowing.

Will try that next time.

cheers..

 

[Plenty of honey]

I don't think a shallow is always necessary. So long as the box isn't sitting on the ground where they may get damp on rainy days, the nurse bees keep the cells warm.
I am in complete agreement with you that you need strong, well fed colonies to raise good queens though (http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/album.php?albumid=751&pictureid=3745). If too many are up over the top bars, you'll just crush them....this is enough (http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/album.php?albumid=751&pictureid=3732)

If mine aren't strong enough, my collegue gives me a right telling off!! he never moans about the queens though, were both having a great year, lots of queens. He's been complaining i am supplying him with too many virgin cells. Well i always say in reply, 'you would moan if you didn't have enough', he's working flat out trying to juggle all the cell builders in a heavy flow, while i just keep telling him the the next batch is out!! we've run out of the mini frames and trying to keep space for a queen to lay is already proving difficult.
It will all come crashing to a dearth in the next two weeks, then the robbing will start!!
but all good fun I love queen rearing.