Worldwide Beekeeping

Beekeeping => Raising Queens => Topic started by: Eddy Honey on April 12, 2017, 07:16:14 am

Title: Question about rearing queens
Post by: Eddy Honey on April 12, 2017, 07:16:14 am

I grafted into 20 queen cups yesterday and placed them into a strong, hopelessly queen-less hive.

My question is this: I've read where folks take them out of the queenless hive after a couple days and move them to a queen-rite finishing hive.

What is the purpose of moving them?
(https://s14.postimg.cc/splna5e7x/20170411_145047.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/splna5e7x/)

(https://s14.postimg.cc/dts5zo94t/20170411_145113.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/dts5zo94t/)

Title: Re: Question about rearing queens
Post by: Lburou on April 12, 2017, 10:29:28 pm

Keeping a 'starter' colony supplied with fresh nurse bees and emerging brood to begin queen cells requires a lot of resources.  A queen right 'finishing' colony hums on without much care.  Most queen producers are interested in continuous production, so it is more efficient to start the cells in one colony and finish them in queen right colonies.  The Ben Harden (http://www.killowen.com/benharden.html)  method does it all in one queen right colony.  That is the method I' have used.  For a few queens, it is easiest.   Dave Cushman's site (http://www.dave-cushman.net/bee/benhardenmethod.html) has info on the Ben Hardin method too.  HTH   :)