Queen Cell Handling

[Patrick Scannell]

How do successful queen raisers transfer Q-cells from cell bars to nucs?

I lay the cell bar frame on it's side and pry off the Q-cells one at a time. Is that OK, or is it important to keep the Q-cells vertical all the time?

Thanks, Patrick

[REDTRACTOR1]

Patrick,
I also lay the frame on its side and pry off. I haven't had a problem yet.
Thanks Dwight

[Big Ed]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I was told to never tilt capped cells more than 10-20 degrees out of vertical. This having to do with the fact that during the 2 or 3 days before emergence the queens wings are developing and are easily damaged. No wings = no mating. What I did is gently twist cell off of bar with one hand and lean frame against hive/stand as straight up as possible while I insert cell in mating nuc.

Eddie

[Michael Bush]

I try to keep them vertical but often fail. The main thing is to be as gentle as possible when handling queen cells.

[Jon McFadden]

14 days old is the magic number. After 14 days they can be moved safely.
We let ours hatch (16 days) in their hair roller cages in the cell builder this time since we didn't have our mating nucs ready to go. We used the cell builder as a queenless nursery hive until we were ready. None were the worst for the experience and no problem introducing them to their new homes.

[Patrick Scannell]

Thanks for the voice of experience.

This is for the day 14 transfer to nucs.

Leaning the frame against a hive to try to keep it vertical is too unstable. A jarring fall is inevitable. If vertical is required, I could fabricate a secure frame holder, but I'd rather not have more stuff.

Laying the frame down is nice and stable and gentle and simple. That is attractive as long as it works. Thanks Dwight, for the answer I was looking for. I'll keep doing it that way.

[ May 19, 2006, 06:36 AM: Message edited by: Patrick Scannell ]

[Ross]

Day 13.5 is when my last batch hatched :(

[Michael Bush]

>Day 13.5...

What day is the day she layed the egg? I call it 0.

I had one that had emerged on day 14 last time, but she was nowhere to be found and the rest of the cells were still ok. I lucked out. I've had some emerge on day 17 or 18.