[D Coates]

I used the Ben Harden method to raise my queens with great sucess last year. http://www.dave-cushman.net/bee/benhardenmethod.html This year I didn't take it as seriously and my success has been poor. Yesterday, I tried again but seriously and followed the book. There was one remaining capped queen cell from my previous weeks grafts in there as I put in 26 grafts yesterday. This got me to wondering. Can you put multiple waves (ie a new set every 5 days) of queen cells in there and have them raised with success?

Not knowing the answer I opted to remove the queen cell but in the future I'd like to know if I could simply leave them alone and run multiple waves of queens at the same time in the same queen rearing hive. The hive is being fed 1:1 syrup and there is a healthy young queen laying steadily below the excluder.

 

[Velbert]

This is a Starter,Finisher have done from 15-20 grafts in my cell builders.
I set up 6 of these in the spring

my cell bar frames holds 4 cell bars i will graft and place in 2 loaded cell bars then in 5-6 days when the cells are sealed will place 2 more loaded cell bars. have used the from 15-20 time.

http://www.box.net/shared/pakjm8pk0c vlwbee Method down load it and try it out and see what you think

 

[D Coates]

Velbert,

Great, thanks for the info. I'll use that knowledge from now on. I didn't want to risk those new grafts for one queen cell that was dubious. I wish you were closer. I'd love to do some hands on learning from someone with your experience. The file link you attached was in interesting and way above my current experience level. At his point I'm learning from the school of hard knocks but I'll keep trying.

 

[Velbert]

I for got to mention this is a queen-rite starter,Finisher