Anyone try the Miller method of rearing queens?

[MrGreenThumb]

If so how did it work out for you? Also, can do beekeepers that rear queens to sell use this method?

thx

[Joseph Clemens]

I was not familiar with the "Miller Method of Queen Rearing", but I just read of it on Michael Bush's web site and I realize that I have used it a few times during my earlier beekeeping days (though I hadn't realized it), at least a technique very similar to the Miller Method. I even raised a few queens about two years ago using a method similar to Miller's - I let the bees start cells on the comb like in the Miller Method, but I then replaced the larvae in the queen cells with very young larvae (nearly the same age) and from my chosen queen. I do not know if any commercial operations use this method. I would not expect that they do, since their would be a limited number of queen cells produced per time and labor spent producing them. I do not regularly use Miller's Method, it is easier for me to simply graft those cells that I want, where and when I want them.

[Michael Bush]

In case anyone wants to read about it:

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesmillermethod.htm

[BeeAware]

I raised about 24 queens in the past using the Miller method. However, I find the Hopkins, or Case method to be less work and works well enough. Most commercial queen suppliers use the Doolittle method.