Queen mating hives

[idg]

I have a queen mating hive I have never used. It has 3 small frames that I have managed to add foundation to. Do I add these to the small hive with a couple of cup fulls of bees, or do I need to get this foundation drawn elsewhere?

 

[Eyeman]

Hi
Here are the instructions for Apidea mating nucs which will start you off in the right direction.
http://www.apidea.ch/media/archive1/Betriebsanleitung englisch_2013.pdf

 

[Quis Custodiet]

Only an 1" of foundation is required, works better that way. One small mugful of young bees is adequate, collect them off super frames.

 

[Eyeman]

collect them off super frames.

That's where a lot of folks go wrong.
If you stick with bees shaken from frames containing open brood so you get young nurse bees then the mini mating nucs rarely go wrong.

 

[Cussword]

Hi
Here are the instructions for Apidea mating nucs which will start you off in the right direction.
http://www.apidea.ch/media/archive1/Betriebsanleitung englisch_2013.pdf

Great download. Many thanks Eyeman.

 

[Cussword]

That's where a lot of folks go wrong.
If you stick with bees shaken from frames containing open brood so you get young nurse bees then the mini mating nucs rarely go wrong.

So, that would be the second shake?

.

 

[mbc]

So, that would be the second shake?

.

One more and it would be a ****

 

[Quis Custodiet]

That's where a lot of folks go wrong.
If you stick with bees shaken from frames containing open brood so you get young nurse bees then the mini mating nucs rarely go wrong.

Thank you for taking the time to tell me how you think I "go wrong", otherwise I would never have known
You may discover when you have more experience, there are several ways of acquiring young bees for mini-nucs. The manufacturers perhaps for this reason, refrain from giving specific instructions on how to do so. The o.p. who is a beginner (nothing wrong with that) was given a simple, but effective method, appropriate for his likely level of skill.
You Tube (sometimes excellent) and cut and paste does not always provide a useful solution or increase useful knowledge.

 

[Eyeman]

Thank you for taking the time to tell me how you think I "go wrong", otherwise I would never have known

Wasn't singling you out.
I've come across many who have given up with Apideas saying "the don't work"
A High success rate when:
1. Use young bees
2. Correct amount of bees for the size of the mating nuc
3. As you say 1cm of foundation
4. Leave them for 1-2 hours before introducing a QC or virgin.
5. Decide if the QC needs a protector
6. Keep them closed and cool with a daily water spray for 4 days
7. Open them up late evening
8. Locate them out of full sun

 

[masterBK]

I fill my Apideas (I have 20) using bees from demaree tops and so these are mainly nurse bees and also taking them from there means no risk of including the queen. Bees from supers are house bees but older than nurse bees but usually they are OK.

 

[Hivemaker.]

Only an 1" of foundation is required, works better that way. One small mugful of young bees is adequate, collect them off super frames.

I find about quarter inch starter strip also works well, and then the young bees from supers.

 

[Quis Custodiet]

I agree with you. An inch is being generous but is easier to fix. I met a gentleman recently who fixes the strips with white PVA glue! Gives it a few days to dry and then starts using them.

 

[madasafish]

I agree with you. An inch is being generous but is easier to fix. I met a gentleman recently who fixes the strips with white PVA glue! Gives it a few days to dry and then starts using them.

Superglue works - and is days faster

 

[Finman]

I agree with you. An inch is being generous but is easier to fix. I met a gentleman recently who fixes the strips with white PVA glue! Gives it a few days to dry and then starts using them.

What about melted wax..

 

[Eyeman]

What about melted wax.

Seems the logical choice!
I use left over household candles.

 

[Quis Custodiet]

Seems the logical choice!
I use left over household candles.

The use of PVA glue was mentioned for information only and for it's curiosity value. Molten wax is as you say eminently suitable as a fixing agent.

 

[tonyofarr]

I use Kieler mating hives which have 4 frames and I set the foundation in the top bars using beeswax. I stock the feed compartment with candypolline because the ambrosia candy goes rock hard. The kieler mn's are larger than the apidea's and I have found that they work best if I use approx 400 ml of wet nurse bees; if there are too few bees they tend to build wild comb in the feed compartment which makes it difficult to check if the queen is mated and catch her.

 

[Finman]

Seems the logical choice!
I use left over household candles.

That is unsuitable stuff.
.

 

[masterBK]

I fix the wax strips into Apidea frames by melting a stick of beeswax using a soldering iron. Takes about 3 seconds per frame and works a treat.

 

[Lucky Bee]

I'm just trying a mating apidea for the first time. Very exciting. I attached the foundation with melted beeswax, used bees from a super and introduced a virgin. They were kept in the dark for 3 days, opened up at night and located out of direct sunlight. Can't wait to see what happens.