Its been a while since I posted here, but I use an incubator to raise queens.
The ideal temp is 94 degrees. I made my own incubator. I used 2 60 watt light bulbs, wired in paralell, a wafer thermostat and switch, which I aquired from a reptile supply company, a internal temp cooking themometer, a computer fan and power supply, and a 1 inch thick sponge in a water tight container. It works very well!
I purchased the Mann Lake queen rearing supplies, minus the grid box, since I prefer grafting, and made the cup holder bar and frame. The bar is removable from the frame, so it can be placed in the incubator.
Like any queen rearing, you must get cells accepted, and capped. Once they are capped, they are extremely fragile, but I have managed to move the entire frame with capped cells in a nuc box, about 1/2 mile without incident. But you must be very careful, and I do not reccommend doing so. When I get home, I have the incubator on for at least a day, because it allows the temp to stabilize. Overnight is probably sufficient. Make sure the lights light, and the thermometer is 94 degrees. Also besure you have the sponge wet, also, be sure you have adequete water in the container. Light bulbs produce dry heat, and you need humidity. Once you get everything set to go, remove the bar from the frame, and put it in the incubator. The mann lake system has cages that fit the cup holders. I can not stress enough, the importance of timing. You must get the cages on the cells the day before they hatch. I do this, because you can tell when they are ready to hatch. If you miss by a few hours, when the first one comes out, say good bye to most of the rest. The cages also come with candy caps, and bottom enclosures. I use one drop of honey as food, and try to get it in the cut out along the side. It is easier to understand if you can see it. If you use more than one drop, she will get stuck! Even one drop is sufficient for food. Now, the day you get your cages on, your mating nucs should be a day old all ready, and the bees inside, know that they have no queen. I have readied them the day they hatched, and it should work, but whatever!
If you want to eliminate the hassles, put the ripe cell, not hatched right in the queenless nuc. That will work also.
My idea of an incubator was to manage my time better. I have no time in my busy little life, so using the incubator eliminates a few trips to the bee yard, and it is convieniant to check on the girls in the basement. Plus I like doing it that way, and watching the quuens actually chew out of the cell.
If you have any questions email me at
Dalcol@hazleton.net!
[This message has been edited by Hook (edited April 21, 2004).]