queen rearing making splits

8/11/2019 Queen Rearing Making Splits

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2/54

Making Nucs & Splits and

Queen Rearing

for the

Hobby Beekeeper


3/54

Why rear your own queens?

Self Sustainability Make up for Winter Losses Increase in hive numbers

Genetic Diversitywithin apiary andgeneral area

Club Cohesion

Increased Funding (akaMaking Money)


4/54


Cost.A typical queen costs about $20 plus shipping.

Time & Availability.In an emergency you order a queen and it takes severaldays to make arrangements and get the queen. A queen may not beavailable. Often you need a queen yesterday. If you have some in matingnucs, on hand, then you already have a queen and availability is not aproblem.

AHB.Southern raised queens are more and more from Africanized HoneyBee areas. In order to keep AHB out of our area we should stop importingqueens from those areas.

Acclimatized bees.It's unreasonable to expect bees bred in the deep Southto winter well here. Local feral stock is acclimatized to our local climate. Evenbreeding from commercial stock, you can breed from the ones that winterwell here.


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Mite and disease resistance.Tracheal miteresistance is an easy trait to

breed for. Just don't treat and you'll get resistant bees. Hygienic behavior,which is helpful to avoidAFB (American Foulbrood)and other brooddiseases as well as Varroa miteproblems, is also easy to breed for bytesting for hygienic behavior in our breeder queens. The genetics of ourqueens is far too important to be left to people who don't have a stake intheir success. People selling queens and bees actually make more moneyselling replacement queens and bees when the bees fail.

Quality.The quality of your queens can often surpass that of a queenbreeder. You have the time to spend to do things that a commercial breedercannot afford to do. For instance, research has shown that a queen that is

allowed to lay up until it's 21 days will be a better queen with betterdeveloped ovarioles than one that is banked sooner. A longer wait will helpeven more, but that first 21 days is much more critical. A commercial queenproducer typically looks for eggs at two weeks and if there are any it isbanked and eventually shipped. You can let yours develop better by

spending more time.
http://www.bushfarms.com/beespests.htmhttp://www.bushfarms.com/beespests.htmhttp://www.bushfarms.com/beespests.htmhttp://www.bushfarms.com/beespests.htmhttp://www.bushfarms.com/beespests.htmhttp://www.bushfarms.com/beespests.htm


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Queen Rearing and Bee Breeding(1997) by Harry LaidlawJr. andRobert Page Jr., Wicwas Press, Cheshire, Connecticut.

Successful Queen Rearingby Dr. Marla Spivak and Gary Reuter

Contemporary Queen Rearing(1979) by Harry Laidlaw Jr., Dadantand Sons, Hamilton, Illinois.

Breeding Queens(1997) by Gilles Fert, O.P.I.D.A., Argentan,France.

Rearing Queen Honey Beesby Roger Morse

Fifty Years Among the Bees- by C.C. Miller

BushBeesMichael Bushhttp://www.bushfarms.com/bees.htm

Books and References
http://www.bushfarms.com/bees.htmhttp://www.bushfarms.com/bees.htmhttp://www.apiservices.com/fert/fert_us.htmhttp://www.extension.umn.edu/honeybees/components/manuals.htm


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Beekeeping Math

Caste Hatch Cap Emerge

Queen 3 days 8 days +-1 16 days +-1 Laying 28 days +-5

Worker 3 days 9 days +-1 20 days +-1 Foraging 42 days +-7

Drone 3 days 10 days +-1 24 days +-1 Flying to DCA 38 days +-5
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesmath.htmhttp://www.bushfarms.com/beesmath.htm


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What to look for or judging a colony

Queen Mother Hive

CalmGentle bees

Good Honey Production

Resistance to pests and Diseases

Good laying pattern

Hygienic behavior


9/54

What you need

Regular Equipment

No Special Equipment Required

You could use

Follower Boards

Nuc Boxes


10/54

Queen rearing supplies

Mann Lake Ltd.- Plastic cell cups, cages, grafting tools,kits, nuc boxes.

Dadant & Sons Inc.- Books, supplies

A. I. Root Co.- Books, videos

Brushy Mountain Bee Farm- Jenter system, supplies.

Betterbee Inc.(800) 632-3379 - Supplies and kits

Walter T. Kelley Co.(502) 242-2012,- Wood cages, waxcups, grafting tools
http://www.mannlakeltd.com/http://www.dadant.com/http://www.beeculture.com/store/http://www.beeequipment.com/http://www.betterbee.com/http://www.kelleybees.com/http://www.kelleybees.com/http://www.betterbee.com/http://www.beeequipment.com/http://www.beeculture.com/store/http://www.dadant.com/http://www.mannlakeltd.com/http://www.mannlakeltd.com/


11/54

What the bees Want!

Lots of beesLarge Population compared to the size of the hive/nuc box.Put in extra workers from other frames.

Young BeesMake up starter with at least two frames of capped broodwith all the workers.

New combUse of new comb for queen cells makes it easier for theworkers to construct cells.

Fresh Eggs/LarvaGive the workers what they need gives thebeekeeper a better end resulting Queen.


12/54

Queen Rearing Calendar:

0 - Place queen cell frame in brood chamber of Queen mother hive.

3 - Setup cell starter, make them queenless and make sure there is a VERY high density of

bees. Make sure they have plenty of pollen and nectar. Feed the starter for betteracceptance.

3 - Eggs hatch

4 - Transfer the frame to the starter hive. Feed the starter for better acceptance.

8 - Queen cells capped

13 - Setup mating nucs Make up mating nucs, or hives to be requeened so they will be

queenless and wanting a queen cell. Feed the mating nucs for better acceptance.

14 - Transfer queen cells to mating nucs. On day 14 the cells are at their toughest and in

hot weather they may emerge on day 15 so we need them in the mating nucs or the hives

to be requeened if you prefer, so the first queen out doesn't kill the rest.

15-17 Queens emerge (In hot weather, 15 is more likely. In cold weather, 17 is more likely.Typically, 16 is most likely.)

17-21 Queens harden

21-24 Orientation flights

21-28 Mating flights

25-35 Queen starts laying


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14/54


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18/54

H H H H

P

H

P

H

P

H

P

H

P

H H H

H H H

H H

H

P

B Q

S

F

B B

B B B B

HP

B

H

B

H

B

H

P

H

Queen Mother Hive

Ten Frame Boxes

All Mediums Brood Chamber


19/54

H H H

P

H

P

H

P

H H

H H

H

P

B Q

S

F

B B H

P

B

H

B

H

B

H

P

B

H

P

B

H

PB

Queen Mother Hive

Ten Frame Boxes

Deep Brood Chamber


20/54

Honey

Honey

Frame with Foundation

Capped Brood

Capped Brood

Queen Starter Set up


21/54

Honey

Honey

Queen Cell Starter Frame

Capped Brood

Capped Brood

Queen Starter Set up


22/54

Honey

Capped Brood

Queen Starter Set up ten Frame

Honey

Honey & Pollen

Honey & Pollen

Capped Brood


Capped Brood

Capped Brood

Capped Brood


23/54

Honey

Capped Brood

Queen Starter Set up ten Frame

Honey

Honey & Pollen

Honey & Pollen

Capped Brood


Capped Brood

Capped Brood

Capped Brood


24/54

Queen Starter Set up ten Frame box with follower board

Honey & Pollen

Honey & Pollen


Capped Brood

Capped Brood


25/54

Queen Starter Set up ten Frame box with follower board

Honey & Pollen

Honey & Pollen


Capped Brood

Capped Brood


26/54

Honey & Pollen

Honey & Pollen

Capped Brood

Capped Brood

Brood, capped brood and queen cells

Queen Starter Set up ten Frame box with follower boards


27/54

Any Questions

???


28/54

See you Tomorrow!


29/54


30/54

Nucs and Splits

Taking frames off of a strong hive

Splitting a hive up into multiple Nucs

Set up Nuc yard away from mother hive

apiary.


31/54


32/54

Before you Start Remember.

You will need.

Queens


33/54


34/54

Take a Split off a Hive

Take 5 frames off of a strong hive

2 frames of Honey with Pollen

3 frames of Brood

Queen from Queen cell or Starter nuc.


35/54

Split a hive into nucs

Take 3 - 4 nucs off of a hive

2 frames of Honey with Pollen

3 frames of Brood

Queen from Queen cell or Starter nuc.


36/54

Feed nucs depending on need and Season

Build nucs for winter storage or selling


37/54

H H H H

P

HP

HP

H

P

H

P

H H H

H H H

H H

H

P

B B B B

B B B B

HP

B

H

B

H

B

H

P

H

Ten Frame BoxesAll Mediums Brood Chamber


38/54

H H H

P

H

P

H

P

H H

H H

H

P

B B B B H

P

B

H

B

H

B

H

P

B

H

PB

H

PB

Ten Frame Boxes

Deep Brood Chamber


39/54

Honey

Honey


Capped Brood

Capped Brood

Nuc set up


40/54

Nuc/Split Set up ten Frame box with follower board

Honey & Pollen

Honey & Pollen

Capped Brood

Capped Brood



41/54

Nuc/Split Set up ten Frame box with follower boards

Honey & Pollen

Honey & Pollen

Capped Brood

Capped Brood



42/54

Any Questions

???


43/54

Growing a Nuc

Week One

START FINISH

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

EMPTY

EMPTY

EMPTY

HONEY

BROOD

-1

BROOD

-2

BROOD

3

HONEY

EMPTY

EMPTY

EMPTY

EMPTY

HONEY

BROOD

-1

EMP

TY-Building-1

BROOD

-2

BROOD

-3

HONEY

EMPTY

EMPTY


44/54

Week Two

START FINISH

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

EM

PTY

EM

PTY

HO

NEY

BRO

OD

-1

BROOD

-Building-1

BRO

OD

-2

BRO

OD

-3

HO

NEY

EM

PTY

EM

PTY

EM

PTY

EM

PTY

HO

NEY

BRO

OD

-1

BROOD

-Building-1

BRO

OD

-2

EMPTY-Building-2

BRO

OD

-3

HO

NEY

EM

PTY


45/54

Week Three

START FINISH

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

EM

PTY

EM

PTY

HO

NEY

BRO

OD

-1

BROOD

-Building-1

BRO

OD

-2

BROOD

-Building-2

BRO

OD

-3

HO

NEY

EM

PTY

EM

PTY

HO

NEY

BRO

OD

-1

BROOD

-Building-1

EMPTY-Building-3

BRO

OD

-2

BROOD

-Building-2

BRO

OD

-3

HO

NEY

EM

PTY


46/54

Week Four

START FINISH1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

BROOD

-B

uilding-3

BROO

D-2

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

EMPTY

HONEY

BROOD

-1

BR

OOD

-Building-1

BR

OOD

-Building-3

BROOD

-2

BR

OOD

-Building-2

BROOD

-3

HONEY

EMPTY

EMPTY

HONEY

BROOD

-1

EMPTY-Building-4

BR

OOD

-Building-1

EMPTY-Building-4

BR

OOD

-Building-2

BROOD

-3

HONEY

EMPTY


47/54

Week Five

START FINISH

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

BROOD

-B

uilding-3

BROO

D-2

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

BROOD

-B

uilding-3

EMPTY-B

uilding-5

BROO

D-2

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

EMPTY

HONEY

BROOD

-1

BROOD

-Building

-3

BROOD

-Building

-1

BROOD

-Building

-3

BROOD

-Building

-2

BROOD

-3

HONEY

EMPTY

HONEY

BROOD

-1

BROOD

-Building

-3

EMPTY-Building

-5

BROOD

-Building

-1

BROOD

-Building

-3

BROOD

-Building

-2

BROOD

-3

HONEY

EMPTY


48/54

Week Six

START FINISH

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

BROOD

-B

uilding-3

BROOD

-B

uilding-5

BROO

D-2

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

BROOD

-B

uilding-3

EMPTY-B

uilding-6

BROOD

-B

uilding-5

BROO

D-2

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

HONEY

BROOD

-1

BRO

OD

-Building-3

BRO

OD

-Building-5

BRO

OD

-Building-1

BRO

OD

-Building-3

BRO

OD

-Building-2

BROOD

-3

HONEY

EMPTY

HONEY

BROOD

-1

BRO

OD

-Building-3

BRO

OD

-Building-5

BRO

OD

-Building-1

EMPTY-Building-6

BRO

OD

-Building-3

BRO

OD

-Building-2

BROOD

-3

HONEY

W k S


49/54

Week Seven

START FINISH

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

BROOD

-B

uilding-3

BROOD

-B

uilding-6

BROOD

-B

uilding-5

BROO

D-2

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

BROOD

-B

uilding-3

BROOD

-B

uilding-6

BROOD

-B

uilding-5

EMPTY-B

uilding-7

BROO

D-2

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

HONEY

BROOD

-1

BROOD

-Building

-3

BROOD

-Building

-5

BROOD

-Building

-1

BROOD

-Building

-6

BROOD

-Building

-3

BROOD

-Building

-2

BROOD

-3

HONEY

HONEY

BROOD

-1

BROOD

-Building

-3

BROOD

-Building

-5

BROOD

-Building

-1

BROOD

-Building

-6

BROOD

-Building

-3

BROOD

-Building

-2

BROOD

-3

HONEY

W k Ei ht


50/54

Week Eight

START FINISH

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

BROOD

-B

uilding-3

BROOD

-B

uilding-6

BROOD

-B

uilding-5

BROOD

-B

uilding-7

BROO

D-2

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

BROOD

-B

uilding-3

EMPTY-Building-8

BROOD

-B

uilding-6

BROOD

-B

uilding-7

BROOD

-B

uilding-5

BROO

D-2

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

HONEY

BROOD

-1

BROOD

-Building-

3

BROOD

-Building-

5

BROOD

-Building-

1

BROOD

-Building-

6

BROOD

-Building-

3

BROOD

-Building-

2

BROOD

-3

HONEY

HONEY

BROOD

-1

BROOD

-Building-

3

BROOD

-Building-

5

BROOD

-Building-

1

BROOD

-Building-

6

BROOD

-Building-

3

BROOD

-Building-

2

BROOD

-3

HONEY


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Week Nine

START FINISH

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

BROOD

-B

uilding-3

BROOD

-B

uilding-8

BROOD

-B

uilding-6

BROOD

-B

uilding-7

BROOD

-B

uilding-5

BROO

D-2

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

EMP

TY

BROOD

-B

uilding-3

BROOD

-B

uilding-6

BROOD

-B

uilding-8

BROOD

-B

uilding-7

EMPTY-B

uilding-9

BROOD

-B

uilding-5

BROO

D-2

EMP

TY

HONEY

BROOD

-1

BROOD

-Building-3

BROOD

-Building-5

BROOD

-Building-1

BROOD

-Building-6

BROOD

-Building-3

BROOD

-Building-2

BROOD

-3

HONEY

HONEY

BROOD

-1

BROOD

-Building-3

BROOD

-Building-5

BROOD

-Building-1

BROOD

-Building-6

BROOD

-Building-3

BROOD

-Building-2

BROOD

-3

HONEY

W k T


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Week Ten

START FINISH

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

EMPTY

EMPTY

EMPTY

EMPTY

EMPTY

EMPTY

EMPTY

EMPTY

EMPTY

EMPTY

EMPTY

EMPTY

EMPTY

EMPTY

BROOD

-Building

-3

BROOD

-Building

-9

EMPTY

EMPTY

EMPTY

EMPTY

EMPTY

EMPTY

BROOD

-Buildin

g-

3

BROOD

-Buildin

g-

6

BROOD

-Buildin

g-

8

BROOD

-Buildin

g-

7

BROOD

-Buildin

g-

9

BROOD

-Buildin

g-

5

BROOD

-2

EMPTY

EMPTY

BROOD

-Buildin

g-

3

BROOD

-Buildin

g-

6

EMPTY-Buildin

g-

10

BROOD

-Buildin

g-

8

EMPTY-Buildin

g-

10

BROOD

-Buildin

g-

7

BROOD

-Buildin

g-

5

BROOD

-2

EMPTY

HONEY

BROOD

-1

BROOD

-Building

-3

BROOD

-Building

-5

BROOD

-Building

-1

BROOD

-Building

-6

BROOD

-Building

-3

BROOD

-Building

-2

BROOD

-3

HONEY

HONEY

BROOD

-1

BROOD

-Building

-3

BROOD

-Building

-5

BROOD

-Building

-1

BROOD

-Building

-6

BROOD

-Building

-3

BROOD

-Building

-2

BROOD

-3

HONEY


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Week Eleven

START FINISH

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

EMPTY

EMPTY

EMPTY

EMPTY

BROOD

-Building-

3

BROOD

-Building-

9

EMPTY

EMPTY

EMPTY

EMPTY

EMPTY

EMPTY

EMPTY

BROOD

-Building-

3

EMPTY-Building-

11

BROOD

-Building-

9

EMPTY

EMPTY

EMPTY

EMPTY

EMPTY

BROOD

-Building-3

BROOD

-Building-6

BROOD

-Building

-

10

BROOD

-Building-8

BROOD

-Building

-

10

BROOD

-Building-7

BROOD

-Building-5

BROOD

-2

EMPTY

EMPTY

BROOD

-Building-3

BROOD

-Building-6

BROOD

-Building

-

10

BROOD

-Building-8

EMPTY-Building

-

11

BROOD

-Building

-

10

BROOD

-Building-7

BROOD

-Building-5

BROOD

/HONEY-

2

HONEY

BROOD

-

1

BROOD

-Building-

3

BROOD

-Building-

5

BROOD

-Building-

1

BROOD

-Building-

6

BROOD

-Building-

3

BROOD

-Building-

2

BROOD

-

3

HONEY

HONEY

BROOD

-

1

BROOD

-Building-

3

BROOD

-Building-

5

BROOD

-Building-

1

BROOD

-Building-

6

BROOD

-Building-

3

BROOD

-Building-

2

BROOD

-

3

HONEY


54/54

Week Twelve

START FINISH

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

EMPTY

EMPTY

EMPTY

BROOD

-Building-

3

BROOD

-Building-

11

BROOD

-Building-

9

EMPTY

EMPTY

EMPTY

EMPTY

EMPTY

EMPTY

EMPTY

BROOD

-Building-

3

BROOD

-Building-

11

EMPTY-Building-

12

BROOD

-Building-

9

EMPTY

EMPTY

EMPTY

EMPTY

BROOD

-Building-

3

BROOD

-Building-

6

BROOD

-Building-

10

BROOD

-Building-

8

BROOD

-Building-

11

BROOD

-Building-

10

BROOD

-Building-

7

BROOD

-Building-

5

BROOD

/HONEY-2

EMPTY

BROOD

-Building-

3

BROOD

-Building-

6

BROOD

-Building-

10

BROOD

-Building-

8

BROOD

-Building-

11

BROOD

-Building-

10

BROOD

-Building-

7

BROOD

-Building-

5

BROOD

/HONEY-2

HONEY

BROOD

-1

BROOD

-Buildin

-3

BROOD

-Buildin

-5

BROOD

-Buildin

-1

BROOD

-Buildin

-6

BROOD

-Buildin

-3

BROOD

-Buildin

-2

BROOD

-3

HONEY

HONEY

BROOD

-1

BROOD

-Buildin

-3

BROOD

-Buildin

-5

BROOD

-Buildin

-1

BROOD

-Buildin

-6

BROOD

-Buildin

-3

BROOD

-Buildin

-2

BROOD

-3

HONEY

queen rearing making splits

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