Hi Kathy & All, >I would like to know the way to raise queens for a hobby beekeeper. I have >14 >hives, so I don't need 100 queens. Is there a good method that does not >involve buying new equipment? > The URL below will give you a good idea of some simple methods of rearing and mating some queens, I use a version of the alley method. http://www.gobeekeeping.com/queen_rearing.htm You may want to join in on the bee breeders guild I have started so you can begin to breed local bred queens in your area and start a local chapter in your location. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/abahbb/ If I may quote from Bee Culture's magazine December 2003 issue. "Dr. Marla Spivak’s wonderful, J.I. Hambleton, talk to the Eastern Apiculture Society in August, 2003. She basically said that everyone in the room (mostly small or hobby beekeepers) had to stop using pesticides now. We need to be the leaders in the process of selection for Varroa resistance because we can take the hit of losing colonies for a few years until progress is sufficient for the Winter losses to end." It is not only time for Beekeepers to unite in Alaska to breed a good stock for Alaska but it is time for beekeepers across America and the Globe to unite to breed bees for the health and welfare of the honey bee. Marla thinks that small hobby beekeepers can be responsible for accomlplishing this task, and I think so too, not to say that we would not need help from larger even commercial beekeepers and breeders. . . .. Keith Malone, Chugiak, Alaska USA, http://www.cer.org/, c(((([ Caucasian Bee Keeper, http://takeoff.to/alaskahoney/, _________________________________________________________________ Find high-speed ‘net deals — comparison-shop your local providers here. https://broadband.msn.com :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: -- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/BEE-L for rules, FAQ and other info --- ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::