Queen catcher clip handling (give me a chance)

[Sutty]

Although I knew they were disliked by some I was surprised by the level of hate directed at the above gadgets. A little thought made me wonder how people are handling them. In my opinion the spring is only there to hold it closed after you let go - not to close the device. Therefore I never hold it like this..


Instead I hold it like this. This allows precise positioning and adjustment of the "jaws" and avoids sudden closing.



Using your fingertips on the body of the device, and restricting the movement with the shaft of the finger allows easy millimeter precision and slow movement.

Works for me! Maybe someone else will find it helpful.

 

[Erichalfbee]

After much practice I do this

 

[pargyle]

When you get to the bottom of the hole .... stop digging !

 

[blackcloud]

Sutty the demo is commendable but if shes quicker than you are she'll get terminated and at either end of the season its way too much of a risk.
They serve a more useful purpose on the top of an A4 sized sheet of hardboard

 

[Wilco]

After much practice I do this

Much the easiest way if you need to handle her.

 

[plain_hunt]

They serve a more useful purpose on the top of an A4 sized sheet of hardboard

mine wouldn’t! The spring is so soft it won’t hold anything

 

[jeff33]

After much practice I do this

Yes, best way to do it if your bees are gentle enough not to wear gloves. You can just about manage with nitrile gloves.

 

[Newbeeneil]

Yes, best way to do it if your bees are gentle enough not to wear gloves. You can just about manage with nitrile gloves.

I do mine with nitriles but you are right it is easier without.

 

[JamezF]

I do mine with nitriles but you are right it is easier without.

Totally impossible for me. Pretty much any pair of gloves I buy that fits the width of my hand has fingers that seem to be at least half an inch too long. (And no, I've not had any table saw accidents )

James

 

[Swarm]

Picking them up I can still manage with no problem but I can't hold them to mark any more.

 

[blackcloud]

I cant get nitriles or dishwashers to fit my enormous hands (poor eyesight too so Im thinking reincarnation of a mole)
I have to make do with industrial Marigolds which are thick,unflocked and clammy.
There is an idea that paint dabbing will never train your brain to spot queens which is a good enough excuse for me not to buy any more pens for a while.

 

[Wilco]

I use marigolds as I'm too chicken to use nitriles yet. Still possible to pick them up.

 

[Michael Palmer]

Picking them up I can still manage with no problem but I can't hold them to mark any more.

Not so difficult to hold a queen while marking. Takes a bit of practice. Try marking lots of drones first.

queen-marking

 

[Swarm]

Not so difficult to hold a queen while marking. Takes a bit of practice. Try marking lots of drones first.

queen-marking

It's my fingers Michael, a bit work related, pinching her wings I can still manage because it's tight.