In message <B4EB21E96CB94B3CB5D8540D16EDA492@Romulus>, allen 
<[log in to unmask]> writes
>Actually, the question was quite simple and clear: "What is the 
>percentage that I can expect of Queens who  will emerge healthy".

Large snip

>This list is called "Informed" discussion, and those who are truly 
>informed will know from reading past discussions that BEE-L 
>participants are very much against routine chemical interventions, but 
>also understand that they may often be necessary to save a livelihood.

Very glad you responded on this one Allen and you have, in my mind, been 
remarkably tolerant and measured in your response. I just found it 
annoying. My fingers have been itching to hit the keyboard since I read 
it, but restrained myself, telling myself not to respond to what 
amounted (from my perspective) to little more than a troll.

OK, not actually a troll, but an attempt to hijack a perfectly 
reasonable question and drag the issue onto a personal hobby horse.

IMO, a hobby horse founded on a strongly held opinion built up from ill 
informed or uninformed assumptions about the negligent nature of folk 
who, for the most part are actual real hard working and diligent 
suppliers, living in the real world and providing a real and in demand 
service, using the best genetic material available to them.

I am generally an admirer of queen breeders, and the service they give 
to people, and the discipline regarding timing etc that they must adhere 
to. I wish I were better at it myself, but with a bee farm to run and a 
climate that can be a nightmare, I can only work with the time and 
circumstances available to me.

>Let me ask the writer above, what is your experience in purchasing and 
>introducing cells?

Judging by the level of inputs from the poster on other topics I have a 
fair idea of the response you will get to this question, if indeed you 
get one at all.

Queens cells? Have never bought them in but do rear our own in batches 
from high scoring colonies, and transport them around in a couple of 
'Caricell' transporters from New Zealand, which are a very nice piece of 
kit when used as directed. Take rate is generally not too bad, but in 
bad weather or no flow the bees can be pretty hostile to the cells. I 
think the opinion of 70% success overall is not far from the mark, even 
here with our relatively grumpy bees.

-- 
Murray McGregor

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html

Access BEE-L directly at:
http://community.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-LSOFTDONATIONS.exe?A0=BEE-L