[Saltybee]

Well for setting me off on it anyway. It seems there is not "a " Rose method. I have played with it a bit am wondering what others are seeing. I am using a stand alone hive as a victim which has it's own limits in options.

Started off by letting them swarm. That conflicted with my vision of rotating through batches of cells. Never planned to do grafts, just frame rotation.
Found I was not getting there regularly enough to catch the on the "fourth day add grain bag" step and was missing that cycle. So naturally believing it was better to change the method than myself I have tried varying the extent of bag coverage as sort of a vertical split. Got some nice looking starts with an immediate full bag block ( still access over the top so not emergency looking or timed ). Moved them to the QR side to finish. They tore them down instead.

Have gotten three out the door, too soon to tell. One is looking like a no hatch. Really I am getting there 3 to 5 days apart.

This queen has acted strangely to the rotation of 2 empty combs down into her box at each visit. Alternates between laying up beautiful slaps of solid worker and taking a break and only isolated small patches of brood. Looking for a pattern that explains, not seeing one. One of the good cells was found in the lower box on the outside of the outer frame opposite where she was working. The erratic space I am creating is likely the cause of that.

As far as getting a lot out of a single hive it seems to have potential. It's erratic output is on me. Right now it is likely going to require supering to prevent flooding. not looking forward to the lifting.

Crofter, you had a chance to try it out?

 

[Saltybee]

Best to work with your successes before experimenting.

I am working with a 1 hive sample, hate to extend observations too far.
I am toying with giving her more space by putting another box under the X rather than supers above. Would increase the separation a bit I believe.

This hive is far substandard in drawing comb. Not sure if that is my pulling off young bees to nucs or them. I am taking frames from top boxes not her brood frames, those go up to the cell starter box.

 

[Saltybee]

I really do not blame LJ, nor the method. It is a vertical split with a little more isolation or a Snel with a little less.

In fairness, the swarm is on me, and I have still gotten at least (2) good 3 frames splits off in just over a month plus the probable dud, but I have those bees. Still a strong double deep that is threatening to flood me out with nectar. Makes me add two empty frames each visit, now if I would just stop messing with her head on space timing. If i am not careful I will create a second swarm.

Place it far ahead of a walk away.

 

[Saltybee]

"Dont put your heart in a box of pine!"

We must grow them crooked in Maine. When the heart is in on one end and out on the other. You can't go wrong and you can't go right at the same time.

Ninety today. That's not what we get.

So I decide to go with medium supers over the double deep Rose set up. It will be less contact with the bees traveling down further to reach the Starter section. Thinking the heavy flow is actually negating the isolation as the starter section is being filled rapidly. While I was there I rotated up some new brood. With sweat pouring down my face I could see nothing, bees pretty calm so I pulled off the veil to see and promptly dropped one end of the frame. That got me 5 hits , a jog and glasses somewhere in the grass. Bet you know what my eye looks like tonight.

 

[Saltybee]

So I decide to go with medium supers over the double deep Rose set up. It will be less contact with the bees traveling down further to reach the Starter section. Thinking the heavy flow is actually negating the isolation as the starter section is being filled rapidly. While I was there I rotated up some new brood. .

So my plan for a three day visit became a 8 day visit. Nice cell of three in the correct section. Made a 3 frame split. Found the two frames added last were stuffed with nectar not brood. Put it back together with the mediums below the Rose nucs. See if that cleans up the nectar. Still have not see her, just her work.

My believed dud is laying well , her looks not impressive.
My believed sure split, is still not or maybe just laying.
3rd is out and waiting to show her stuff.

3 not weak splits from a single hive after a swarm. still close to a double deep population. Can't complain about that. Have to say the method is viable for a small set up.

If I thought I would keep a calendar there I would try a graft.