Queen to be fed??

[Spikedog]

Have introduced Queen to Cupkit - bees entering and leaving via excluder - Will they feed her or is it essential to add fondant in the wee chamber?

 

[Poly Hive]

They will feed her but will she lay the right cells? Be prepared to graft...

PH

 

[B+.]

Be prepared to graft...

I tried several times with the Nicot cage but only managed to get the cells laid out once. I think this system is very dependent on temperature and conditions in the colony at the time. It certainly isn't a guaranteed success every time

 

[Spikedog]

Many thanks PH good to see you about again- Part cryptic ... Novice status and age decrees eyesight would undermine grafting on this first outing.Fingers crossed she obliges.

 

[B+.]

is it essential to add fondant in the wee chamber?

My understanding is that the chamber is a slow-release device for people who couldn't/didn't want to revisit the hive after 12 hours. The bees licked the fondant and released the queen who, if she was in full lay when introduced to the cage, will have laid it up by the time they break though to her