Nicot Cupkit System

[Goran]

Did you make sure that there are cells available for her to lay in. Sometimes, the workers fill the cells with nectar when space is short

If is simmilar with jenter, that isn't a problem. I often have filled jenter with nectar/honey and afterwards not rarely 100% laid ( workers remove it and make place for queen to lay really fast).
Also not rarely we spray cells with syrup/honey to encourage polishing and scenting.

 

[nantmoel]

Checked the system today and the queen has laid in some of the cells so released her, I also removed the excluded shield - hope this was right.

 

[Goran]

Checked the system today and the queen has laid in some of the cells so released her, I also removed the excluded shield - hope this was right.

Queen we leave for 24 hours in, no matter if it is all laid before. Some do release earlier when see that is laid, but not rarelly bees remove the eggs. After 24 hours when we remove excluder, if is not yet the case, we place the kit between two frames with mainly open brood, they don't remove the eggs.

 

[MuswellMetro]

I didn't have much success with the cage so I prefer to graft straight into the brown cell cups

However, i find some of the grafting tools rather too large and therefore file them smaller so the larvae can be easily place in the cell

 

[B+.]

i find some of the grafting tools rather too large and therefore file them smaller so the larvae can be easily place in the cell

Thats a good idea. However, I think I'll be sticking with the Chinese grafting tools....they're cheap and reliable.

 

[B+.]

If is simmilar with jenter, that isn't a problem. I often have filled jenter with nectar/honey and afterwards not rarely 100% laid ( workers remove it and make place for queen to lay really fast).
Also not rarely we spray cells with syrup/honey to encourage polishing and scenting.

Not quite Goran. The Nicot cell cup is complete while the cup is extended on the Jenter after the egg is laid

 

[nantmoel]

It was day three today after the queen had laid eggs in the Nicot system. I removed the frame from the hive (it was peeing down and the bees were not happy), I selected 20 cups and put them into the cell starter. So fingers crossed lets hope the bees do their bit now.

 

[nantmoel]

Had a quick peek to check on the progress of my queen rearing efforts, I was quiet surprised to see how many they have draw into QC's, they are due to be sealed on Wednesday.