[angel]

What reasons would workers kill capped queen cells? After a split I made, I took one capped cell and put it in a nuc with worker/nurse bees. A couple of days later two of the sides of the cell was open.

 

[WBVC]

Any chance you moved a Queen?

 

[angel]

Any chance you moved a Queen?

That was my first thought, but checking through each frame and at the bottom I didn't see her. However, I did see 6 new queen cells started from this new nuc. Its weird that they killed the one I cut out of a split.

 

[beepro]

Workers will prefer their own raised queen than the foreign ones.
That is why we put cell protector on when introducing a queen cell so that
they will not tear it down.
I could never understand their decision making process if there is any.

 

[oldiron56]

One question Bee Pro, does any one make a bigger cell protector than what Man Lake sells? I bought a bag of them and I have yet to get a cell to fit in them. I end up with half or better of the cell sticking out the top and wrap it with aluminum foil. These are the surface push in type. Once the hive has some laying workers would that get them into tearing up the cell?......Pete

 

[JRG13]

They sell the ones for the nicot, the roller cages. I use them when cutting cells, just cut a big piece above the cell and use that to seal up the cage when you push the cell into it. If you're grafting, you can buy the cell cups/holders that the cages fit on, other than that I haven't seen any other cell protectors.

 

[oldiron56]

I did buy the 3 piece cup holders to try, I just bought 10 to try with cages and a candy cap, I think that is the one (cage) you are speaking of. I just couldn`t figure how to safley hold the natural cell in there without exsposing the cut end of the cell. I use JZBZ cups when I graft and those cells are too big for the protctors, they won`t go all the way in up to the cup. Maybe 1/8 inch larger in diameter would be perfect. Thanx for the reply ,,Pete

 

[CtyAcres]

angel- Liberal feeding of honey to the splits before you introduce the cell will improve acceptance
dramatically. Well fed bees seldom tear down cells.

 

[beepro]

One question Bee Pro, does any one make a bigger cell protector than what Man Lake sells?
No, I don't use the manlake cell protector. I have read about the review here. So I use a hair roller type cage to fit them in. It works so far! No need to use AL to wrap by sticking the cell tip out a little at the end. I can also put the entire cell into the roller cage to have the queen hatch in there and then released her out asap. I keep track of the queen hatching time to ensure a better release.

Once the hive has some laying workers would that get them into tearing up the cell?
This is a 'it depends' answer because if the bees decided not to accept the cell then they will tear it down with or without the LWs. I had tried both method. So the strategy still is to protect the cells until it hatch. If you time it right then put in a cell that is about to hatch within a day or 2.

 

[cristianNiculae]

Jay Smith says you need to feed the bees that forms the nucs at least 2 days before introducing the cells, that way you get almost 100% acceptance.