> Current practice for commercial queen breeders is to wait for a good pattern, and to pinch those who do not make it. 

Charles, what on earth is this based on? I don't believe this is true at all. And I am not saying queen breeders are unscrupulous but the standard practice is to get the queen out of the nuc as soon is she is laying. What you are describing would reduce production by about 75%. Who could afford to do that?

PLB

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