Hi all,

I read Bob H.'s post with interest and wanted to comment on the use of queen
cells and timing issues.

Bob wrote:

Important:
If you make your nucs up too early ( 24-48 hours before cells placed) and do
not cut out the cells the bees raise or even start  the bees will honor the
cells they have made. When this happens you might say up to three weeks to
get a queen in full production due to the time difference between a mature
ready to hatch queen cell and a cell started by the bees using a 24 hour old
larva.

I often install cells after up to three days of queenlessness (sometimes we
have to play catch up) and of course the bees are already raising cells. It
seems to me that they often take the new queen from the cells regardless. 
I usually like to wait at least 24 hours until I install the cells, thinking
that the bees would be more receptive. I never tear down cells that are
already started.

Often I will release "walkers" that have hatched out in the incubator into
new splits, that are very fresh, and the bees ignore them. They just walk on
down. I have had success with releasing virgins, provided the bees have been
queenless for a while and the virgins have just hatched out that morning.
Sometimes we spray them with sugar water.

I would like to hear from others as to their experience with cells. I am
always curious what others have tried with success, even though conventional
thought is otherwise. 

Bees never cease to surprise me. 

Kirk Jones 

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