Author Topic: 10 bay queen castle finished and ready for trial run (Read 14139 times)

Yankee11 · « **on:** April 15, 2014, 09:36:24 pm »

Finally finished the 10 bay queen castle.

We will see how smart the queens are.

jb63 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 15, 2014, 09:55:55 pm »

Looks good.A little American craftsmanship.

G3farms · « **Reply #2 on:** April 15, 2014, 11:16:03 pm »

two frames per mating nuc?

Need inside pics, don't leave us hanging.

Yankee11 · « **Reply #3 on:** April 15, 2014, 11:42:55 pm »

Yep. 2 frames per compartment.

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #4 on:** April 16, 2014, 09:21:53 am »

Well that just looks SLICK!! I am anxious to hear how it works out,, if the new queens make it back to the right spot.. If it works out I might have to do one of those myself next spring.

G3farms · « **Reply #5 on:** April 16, 2014, 09:36:51 am »

I like it too!
HHMMM I see purple paint on that lumber.......home depot culls??........that is where I look for lumber too, 90% off here.

CpnObvious · « **Reply #6 on:** April 16, 2014, 02:14:17 pm »

@G3... Does HomeCheapo sell anything other than culls?

As far as the queen castle is concerned, it looks like some pretty good work! I'm glad you guys post your craftsmanship here. As I move forward I'll have to share my work as well.

Thank folks!

Yankee11 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 16, 2014, 07:50:28 pm »

Lol, G3.

Cracks me up what people see in pictures. All that fine craftsmanship and you see the purple paint cull marks.

Yes, Home Depot had six 1x12s on the cull rack. They were about 3 bucks each.

Lburou · « **Reply #8 on:** April 16, 2014, 08:04:07 pm »

Nice concept, I hope all goes well for you.

I have problems with robbing in those little mating Nucs.....Anybody have a solution to that?

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #9 on:** April 16, 2014, 11:43:57 pm »

Similar concept without as many dividers.

Yankee11 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 17, 2014, 11:28:44 am »

nothing there lazy. just a black screen

riverbee · « **Reply #11 on:** April 17, 2014, 11:46:46 am »

i see the video yankee......

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #12 on:** April 17, 2014, 01:31:12 pm »

Sometimes they take a few moments, or a refresh to load.

Yankee11 · « **Reply #13 on:** April 17, 2014, 02:25:56 pm »

Ok, got it.

Yea, I have one like that I bought from brushy mountain. I actually have it full at the moment. It has a entrance on each side.

That's why on the one I made, 10 bays,I wonder if the queens will be able to find the same entrance since there are other entrance on same side of box.

That same guy has a excellent grafting video. I think Apis has posted it on the forum.

robo · « **Reply #14 on:** April 17, 2014, 02:46:12 pm »

Quote from: Lburou on April 16, 2014, 08:04:07 pm

Nice concept, I hope all goes well for you.

I have problems with robbing in those little mating Nucs.....Anybody have a solution to that?

Yes, I also had issues with robbing with mating nucs until I reduced the entrance hole and added screened vents. The screened vents distract the robbers away from the entrance. The 1/2" entrance is easy to defend. I have not had any robbing issues since.

plans can be found at bit.ly/beeplans

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #15 on:** April 17, 2014, 10:16:55 pm »

wow, thats an excellent idea Robo.. Do you paint any type of simble etc to help them orient to the correct entrance or do your queens manage to find the right entrance on their own?

Yankee11 · « **Reply #16 on:** April 17, 2014, 10:33:05 pm »

How does the #8 cloth work over the feeder holes?

Can the bees get to the syrup ok? I am thinking of cutting holes in the tops for feeding as well.

minz · « **Reply #17 on:** April 18, 2014, 12:44:51 am »

Hey I got a couple of those! Tell me if you can see this photo:
http://s1141.photobucket.com/user/6minz/media/stand2.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n599/6minz/stand2.jpg
the queen castles with the screen are on top of the hive D4 and D7.

Yankee11 · « **Reply #18 on:** April 18, 2014, 08:27:19 am »

Yes sir. see it just fine.

I may add the vent holes covered in screen to mine also.

robo · « **Reply #19 on:** April 18, 2014, 08:38:44 am »

Quote from: LazyBkpr on April 17, 2014, 10:16:55 pm

Do you paint any type of simble etc to help them orient to the correct entrance or do your queens manage to find the right entrance on their own?

With only one entrance on each side, I have never found the need for unique markings. I do scatter them throughout the mating yard at skewd angles (not in rows or inline) and have never had any issues.

Quote from: Yankee11 on April 17, 2014, 10:33:05 pm

How does the #8 cloth work over the feeder holes?
Can the bees get to the syrup ok?

They feed fine through #8