If you mean day 12 after grafting, it's too late. One will likely have emerged and killed the rest. If you mean day 12 from when the egg was laid (day 8 after grafting) it's safer to wait two more days, but if you're gentle you will probably get away with it.
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I move them all the time as I sell a mated queen out of a mating nuc, avoiding even a short 'queenless' period that will demoralize the small colony and encourage them to make cells of their own.
I'll place them before they are capped if the nuc is strong enough to feed a single cell well, or just after they are capped if the nuc is smaller. I am of course very gentle with them at that stage. You can't be rough or clumsy.
I routinly place recently capped cells (around day 7-9 including the grafting day.)in the incubator when the main flow is going on and they are prone to building comb over them. My hatch rate is excellent.
Here is a couple that are recently capped and delicate:
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Cell is soft so be sure not to squish it when pressing into the comb
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Heres a cell that is closer to emergence. A little more texture to the cell itself and a tougher exterior.
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If the cells are young, I don't try to get them out of the grid system yellow cell holders. When they have hardened off and are ripe you can wiggle them out with out damage and place just the brown cell cup like photo above. Photo below shows the yellow cell holder. I just retrieve them when I harvest the mated queen.
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The younger the cell, the more vulnerable it is to temperature. Keep it warm during transport and when placing in the nuc.
I'll place them before they are capped if the nuc is strong enough to feed a single cell well, or just after they are capped if the nuc is smaller. I am of course very gentle with them at that stage. You can't be rough or clumsy.
I routinly place recently capped cells (around day 7-9 including the grafting day.)in the incubator when the main flow is going on and they are prone to building comb over them. My hatch rate is excellent.
Here is a couple that are recently capped and delicate:
Cell is soft so be sure not to squish it when pressing into the comb
Heres a cell that is closer to emergence. A little more texture to the cell itself and a tougher exterior.
If the cells are young, I don't try to get them out of the grid system yellow cell holders. When they have hardened off and are ripe you can wiggle them out with out damage and place just the brown cell cup like photo above. Photo below shows the yellow cell holder. I just retrieve them when I harvest the mated queen.
The younger the cell, the more vulnerable it is to temperature. Keep it warm during transport and when placing in the nuc.
Oh Wow, Hi 
I see where you are from now..
If you have questions you can PM me. I'll be happy to assist you if you need it.
I am actually going to be placing an open cell this evening, due to a failed batch of queen cells last week. It's left me a little short this week. I won't make a panicked customer who's just realized they are queenless wait a week for a mated queen just because I don't have mature cells ready to place.
I can take a couple pics if you want to see this open cell placement.
Stay in touch. Folks that bought a breeder queen get the guarantee if they lose the queen before they get a couple daughters, I will send you a couple virgins at no cost if you pay for shipping. Want to make sure you get your moneys worth. (I'll do this as long as it is not being abused.)
I remember that fattie I sent you. Was she able to lay in small cell?
I see where you are from now..If you have questions you can PM me. I'll be happy to assist you if you need it.
I am actually going to be placing an open cell this evening, due to a failed batch of queen cells last week. It's left me a little short this week. I won't make a panicked customer who's just realized they are queenless wait a week for a mated queen just because I don't have mature cells ready to place.
I can take a couple pics if you want to see this open cell placement.
Stay in touch. Folks that bought a breeder queen get the guarantee if they lose the queen before they get a couple daughters, I will send you a couple virgins at no cost if you pay for shipping. Want to make sure you get your moneys worth. (I'll do this as long as it is not being abused.)
I remember that fattie I sent you. Was she able to lay in small cell?
She's laying just fine I've only been in a few times, but they've grown into 2 mediums (she started with 3-4 frames of bees/brood) and she's laying nice patterns + good temperament. Looking forward to having her daughters mix it up with my best yard. Really nice bees that put on tons of honey. Thanks the info and customer support Lauri.
I've only been in a few times, but they've grown into 2 mediums (she started with 3-4 frames of bees/brood) and she's laying nice patterns + good temperament. Looking forward to having her daughters mix it up with my best yard. Really nice bees that put on tons of honey. Thanks the info and customer support Lauri.
Thanks Michael. I was sure you had done it at some point I am pretty gentle with my bees, and they usually return the favor. My question was sort of 2 part in that we might be having some heat over the next week to 10 days + a tight personal schedule. I know they can hatch out early in heat, and I would hate to lose all my hard work to an early queen. Either way you slice it, I am grafting today. Looking forward to see what takes.
I am pretty gentle with my bees, and they usually return the favor. My question was sort of 2 part in that we might be having some heat over the next week to 10 days + a tight personal schedule. I know they can hatch out early in heat, and I would hate to lose all my hard work to an early queen. Either way you slice it, I am grafting today. Looking forward to see what takes.1 - 12 of 12 Posts
