Worldwide Beekeeping
Beekeeping => Raising Queens => Topic started by: Dunkel on April 04, 2016, 09:50:53 pm
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I need to pull nucs from about ten hives just to open them up from my over feeding last fall and a mild winter. I have given up on the weather for grafting. Cold and severe winds have put my grafting hopes on hold.
I did how ever pull a queen from a booming hive. Hoping for a few queen cells by next week to relieve a little pressure. Snow in the forecast puts a damper on things. Drone brood and queen cups say it's coming but weather man says I'm crazy.
I am second guessing my decision to pull her but they should pull some great cells, that is if placed where I can get them. Probably should have notched some. I guess I'm just venting but I am ready to get going.
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Agree with you completely.... bees are already ahead of the normal time line here, I NEED to get into the hives, but HIGH winds and 50 degree temps are holding me back. There will come a point when I HAVE to get into them, cool weather and high winds or not. Not looking forward to that, but very glad I have GOOD bee suits.
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Checked on the hive and they have drawn 11 queen cells. Some of the best weren't capped yet, but almost. I am going to make up some nucs on Tuesday. Getting the cloake board ready for next weekend to start grafting.
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Are there drones flying in your area yet?
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Yes, Lots in each hive, and lots of hatching brood.
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I too would have grafted, but the weather put a stop to that. I did however, sell my overwintered nucs on Easter weekend and split the cells up from that. They should be mating tomorrow through Wednesday. I hope some of those smaller nucs was able to keep.
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I'm going to try to make up nucs tomorrow evening. Kinda worried though. Wife had a virus all night, every hour on the hour. I'm not feeling right tonight. Maybe baked beans ;)
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Made up 5 yesterday, weather turning cold sure messed me up. I think I have already had a swarm and two of the ones I pulled had swarm cells. I found the queen in one still and pulled her. Going to try to cut out cells today, and go through others if I am able.
Pulled my back out hooking up a trailer :-[ . I can't do in the spring what I could do in the fall. My only dread about raising queens, is that something always comes up when the time comes to place them. Oh well, whats life without frustration :)
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Are you better today Dunkel? I hope so. :)
Have you considered an artificial swarm? You can end up with a NUC if that is what you want, or yo can recombine later on.
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Pulling for you Dunkel (absolutely no pun intended) Hope you are feeling better!
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Thanks guys, advil was kicking in about the time my dad came back with the trailer. Loaded with three ton of fertilize. Dad can't hear so well especially in a diesel truck. I have no idea and he doesn't either when the blow out occured :o I didn't know rims could get so small. :D Oh well. warming up for bees :D This should be a hoot.
btw Lbrou I did put the one in a nuc yesterday. I hope I can remember which one. I'm afraid I will have more today in that same condition or worse.
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For giggles, I've linked a cute explanation of the artificial swarm HERE (https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbeespoke.info%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2014%2F12%2FArtificialSwarm.pptx). Check it out! You must download it to see the hive manipulations. :)
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I just watched a few videos on a taranov swarm method that sort of seems similar. Very interesting.
On second glance it is different, I may have to try that in a day or so on a couple. Thanks Lburou!
I cut the queen cells and got them placed. Back did pretty good until I went to put on the parking brake, back to square one.
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I need to start moving a few for some room on either side to try that. Saw some queen cups in about three or four this evening that may of had eggs. On my knees I could not get the sun just right :-\\ Going to have to pack some cheaters ;)