Queen Raising - NDB short courses - June & July

[DanBee]

The National Diploma in Beekeeping (NDB) short courses are intended for those who are studying towards the more advanced UK Beekeeping Association assessments, or for those involved in teaching within their local associations. They are led by NDB-qualified tutors and are restricted to small groups, offering a challenging environment in which real learning and useful discussion can take place.

During this two day course, we will develop an understanding of the processes of stock selection and queen raising, utilising a mix of classroom and apiary tuition and exercises. Students will participate in all the key practical elements of a queen raising programme.

Topics covered will include:

• The structure and function of the sexual organs of the queen and drone
• How simple selection can improve honey bee colony viability
• Information and records required to inform on selection of breeding stock
• The different systems of queen raising
• Grafting young worker larvae into queen cells
• Preparing and maintaining a queen right colony for successive queen cell raising cycles
• The different systems for mating virgin queens
• Preparing, stocking, maintaining and re-using Apidea style mating nucs
• The requirements for transporting queen cells
• Clipping, marking and packaging mated queens for sale or introduction
• Set up multiple nuclei using the 'Vince Cook ring' method
• An awareness of how to train others in these practices

Each date is a separate two-day course:

9th & 10th June 2012
21st & 22nd June 2012
7th & 8th July 2012​

These course dates are running at an active honey farm in Devon. For more details please see the National Diploma in Beekeeping website.

 

[DanBee]

We still have some places available on these courses. I have had two drop out of or postpone the June 9th / 10th course - PM me if you are interested.