how long can queen cells survive......

[rober]

.how long can queen cells survive........out of a hive? what's the  best way to transport them?

[apisbees]

With attendants and a source of food. Weeks, but the longer she is out the higher the chance of failure and rejection. A virgin, a few days she needs to get the orientation flights in and mated and if this is not accomplished a s couple of weeks it wont happen at all.

Sorry miss read the post topic with it being split between the subject and the 1st post.

[Perry]

If they are ripe I've transported them in a Tim Hortons coffee cup.

[iddee]

On day ten, eleven, or twelve, you will probably damage them. On day fifteen, you can take them as far as you need. Ride for hours if needed, at a warm temperature.

[brooksbeefarm]

I cut 4 cells out of a swarm hive and put into 4 nucs, i have no idea how far along they were? I was careful not to shake them around and hung them the same way they hung on the original frame. Will check them next week to see what happened?? Jack

[Chip Euliss]

For small numbers, I use an old egg crate and put 5-6 cells where each egg used to be--if you put enough in each egg space, they are less likely to roll around.  Put the egg crate in a small cooler and add a hot water bottle (any plastic bottle will work) if it's cool outside.  Wait till the day before they are to hatch and you'll be fine.

[Dunkel]

Egg crate, perfect.  I have used different cup combinations with hot water.  Never thought of an egg crate, Thanks Chip

[vvand111]

WOW!! Great info that I have nothing to do with right now but if and when I learn how to identify a queen cell I will know where to come for the answers. In the mean time I will add a 6 egg carton to my stash of equipment in my wood shop.  INTERESTING  Thanks

[Jen]

Agreed VVand111! Great Thread!

[iddee]

Here are 2 queen cells. They will always be vertical, and look like a peanut in the shell.

[Chip Euliss]

If you want to get fancy, my friend in Texas who raises cells punches holes in a 1/2 inch of soft foam.  Then he takes another and glues it them together so the piece without holes is directly below the piece that does.  He fits the foam into a small wooden box to give it a little weight so it doesn't bounce around.  Same deal in a cooler with a hot water bottle if needed.  He's the fellow who taught me to use egg crates for small batches.

[Lburou]

Wasn't there a person mailing 24 hr queen cells?  I guess at that age they are robust enough to take temperature fluctuations and don't come lose from the royal jelly that easily.

[apisbees]

How long a cell can be held is more dependent on the care and handling of the cells. The cells can be pulled out of the hive and placed in a humidity controlled incubator2 days after the cells are capped and held till after the virgin queens emerge. For either introduction into a nuc live or held till mating maturity to be Artistically Inseminated. As mentioned above it comes down to the care in handling of the cells as the cells become closer to emergence the cells become less delicate as the queen inside is more developed.
I heard of a guy that bought some cells then proceeded to give them a shake to hear if there was a queen in side the cells.

[Zweefer]

I bet that ended well 

[LazyBkpr]

I know several beeks that have started buying the cells.. they get over night shipped.   They then break down all the hives and place a cell in every split as soon as they arrive.

[brooksbeefarm]

Wonder what the survival rate is coming through the mail Jack

[Lburou]

Wonder what the survival rate is coming through the mail Jack

I bought a dozen ripe queen cells three years ago, and had all but one make good.  Was shipped within Texas.  HTH