First look into the mating nucs and . . . .

The graft I did for my overwintered nucs was ready for it's first inspection yesterday. I am happy to say that 9 out of 10 have laying queens!!
They are big beautiful queens with two of them being some of the largest I have ever seen with the exception of one that appears to be a miniature replica of a queen. A pygmy if you will. Be interesting to see what she does. Only has layed about a softball size patch compared to the other 8 which have layed frames wall to wall.

Now to find a queen for the 10th nuc!

Congrats Keth, that is quite an accomplishment......Bill

Thanks Bill. I now have officially determined that checking mating nucs for laying queens is easily my favorite beekeeping activity. Feels like Christmas morning to an eight year old!

Good job, Keth! Can you post some pics?

I didn't have my smartphone with me so I didn't get any pics. I will after they have laid for a few weeks and I go back in and mark them all.

Fun stuff.

Great job, congrats on the new daughters.

Now, as you said... "Now to find a queen for the 10th nuc! "

I suggest you find 2 queens, the runt is already way behind the others, and would be hive tool tested if it was me.

And what's this about finding a queen? I think you should raise another round, as this round turned out great!

Don't have the time right now to do another batch! I did notch a frame eggs and larva from a good colony and put that in the nuc in case I don't get a queen for them. Will check it for cells in a day or two.

The pygmy will be an experiment. I just want to see the difference between big and small queens with my own eyes.