Worldwide Beekeeping

Beekeeping => Raising Queens => Topic started by: Papakeith on July 08, 2014, 02:10:11 pm

Title: grafting first attempt
Post by: Papakeith on July 08, 2014, 02:10:11 pm: two of us tried our hand at grafting on the 28th.

Yesterday we placed the capped queen cells into their mating nucs. We both had a 50% acceptance rate. I'm pretty happy with that. Now we wait to see if they emerge, mate and start laying.

Thanks Robo for your queen castle design. Here's a picture of it almost finished
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs17.postimg.cc%2Fs8q0vuuyj%2Frobo_queen_castle.jpg&hash=ba43fd8e8b91a350afd9bc2cc33ff96a9c2f943f) (http://postimg.cc/image/s8q0vuuyj/)
Title: Re: grafting first attempt
Post by: riverbee on July 09, 2014, 12:25:08 pm: looking forward to an update from you pk!
Title: Re: grafting first attempt
Post by: LazyBkpr on July 10, 2014, 08:19:56 am: Awesome!! Also looking forward to updates.
I think I am going to have to build one of those queen castles this winter. At this point I have only used 4 and 5 frame nuc's to get new queens started.
Title: Re: grafting first attempt
Post by: Papakeith on July 11, 2014, 10:14:01 am: I had to go into a few nucs to release the Russian queens I got a few days ago.
While I was there I figured that I would check on a couple of the queen cells that I had grafted. I wasn't supposed to look before Saturday but... well... ;D :-[

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs30.postimg.cc%2Fsk8uiz7el%2FIMG_20140710_181833068.jpg&hash=4a5239229ca94532abe102f5ba1b19f9a2baae96) (http://postimg.cc/image/sk8uiz7el/)

I only looked in on two of the 5. Of the two, one had apparently emerged just like the books said she would!
Title: Re: grafting first attempt
Post by: LazyBkpr on July 11, 2014, 01:54:21 pm: Sweet!! Been planning on getting some of those guards, just have not done it yet....
Title: Re: grafting first attempt
Post by: Papakeith on July 11, 2014, 06:01:41 pm: the guards probably not necessary. But, they made me feel more comfortable handling the cells. Supposedly, they also will keep another queen from chewing out the side of the cell in an attempt to kill the queen before she emerges.
Title: Re: grafting first attempt
Post by: Papakeith on July 13, 2014, 12:21:13 pm: checked all of the grafted cells yesterday. 5 of 5 look like they successfully emerged. I only spotted two of the girls, but I didn't look too hard either. I pretty much wanted to check the cells and get out. Next week I'll look more deeply.
Title: Re: grafting first attempt
Post by: LazyBkpr on July 13, 2014, 02:55:57 pm: Glad to hear it! Looking forward to a pic or two of those home grown fat bottom girls!
Title: Re: grafting first attempt
Post by: Papakeith on July 23, 2014, 03:29:37 am: I guess I was successful. I sold my first mated queen last night!
The other four seem to be doing well too. 5 for 5!
Title: Re: grafting first attempt
Post by: LazyBkpr on July 23, 2014, 08:54:21 am: what? Sold her and no pics of her first? :'(

hehe, Congrats on the sale, and may there be MANY more just like it!
Title: Re: grafting first attempt
Post by: Papakeith on July 23, 2014, 09:04:22 am: I need a camera man
Title: Re: grafting first attempt
Post by: efmesch on July 23, 2014, 11:50:51 am: Quote from: Papakeith on July 23, 2014, 09:04:22 am
I need a camera man
Get the same one who photographed your avatar picture---he's great.
Title: Re: grafting first attempt
Post by: Papakeith on July 23, 2014, 12:07:04 pm: that would be me! :D unfortunately my hands always seem full or loaded with goop while tending the bees.
Title: Re: grafting first attempt
Post by: riverbee on July 23, 2014, 01:30:33 pm: congrats pk! very cool!!! 8)
Title: Re: grafting first attempt
Post by: Papakeith on July 30, 2014, 03:49:40 pm: I received a report from my first buyer.
She's out of the cage and laying up a storm!

I'm callin' success! :D
Title: Re: grafting first attempt
Post by: Beeboy on July 30, 2014, 03:54:50 pm: Quote from: Papakeith on July 30, 2014, 03:49:40 pm
I received a report from my first buyer.
She's out of the cage and laying up a storm!

I'm callin' success! :D
:goodjob:
Title: Re: grafting first attempt
Post by: efmesch on July 30, 2014, 04:06:52 pm: As they say, "Nothing succeeds like success!".
Now you can try mass production. 8)
Title: Re: grafting first attempt
Post by: Dunkel on August 02, 2014, 11:38:26 pm: I so wanted to try grafting this year. Just wasn't in the cards. About the time my stuff came in I started finding swarm cells. Between swarms and big juicy swarm queen cells, I couldn't keep up with equipment let alone graft. I am still envious of your experience.