Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => REQUEENING & RAISING NEW QUEENS => Topic started by: twb on December 30, 2008, 08:37:55 pm

Title: Making a queen cell bar frame, medium depth
Post by: twb on December 30, 2008, 08:37:55 pm
I plan to make a dozen or so queens this season and I am transitioning to all mediums.  Should I add a cell bar about half way down a medium frame or would it be fine to simply attach the queen cells to the underside of the top bar?  And, should I graft twice as many as I want in case they don't all "take"?
Title: Re: Making a queen cell bar frame, medium depth
Post by: Brian D. Bray on December 30, 2008, 10:09:38 pm
I plan to make a dozen or so queens this season and I am transitioning to all mediums.  Should I add a cell bar about half way down a medium frame or would it be fine to simply attach the queen cells to the underside of the top bar?  And, should I graft twice as many as I want in case they don't all "take"?

Yes to all questions.  If you haven't grafted before I'd only expect maybe and 25% success rate, unless you're one of those that bathe in dumb luck.
Title: Re: Making a queen cell bar frame, medium depth
Post by: justgojumpit on December 30, 2008, 10:21:57 pm
I made a frame with a bar halfway down, then put cell cups on the underside of the top bar and the mid-way bar.  That was in a deep though.  I think it would work fine in a medium too.  Just need to check on the length of the queen cells and make sure that leaves enough room!

You may also want to look into the hopkins method... I'll be using that next year because it just seems so simple and effective!

justgojumpit
Title: Re: Making a queen cell bar frame, medium depth
Post by: jsmob on December 30, 2008, 10:35:47 pm
 I am going to be raising queens this year for the first time. I have been told to start at least twice as many queens as you need. Also I have been told that using the Jenter Queen System will increase your chances. No grafting, just moving plugs.
Title: Re: Making a queen cell bar frame, medium depth
Post by: Michael Bush on December 31, 2008, 06:59:44 am
I make a double row.  One at the top and one that splits the space for the cells top and bottom. I only have a picture of the Jenter version but I also have these for standard cell cups: http://www.bushfarms.com/images/MissedQueenCell.JPG
Title: Re: Making a queen cell bar frame, medium depth
Post by: twb on December 31, 2008, 03:49:23 pm
Thanks all.  I will make one before the day is over(hopefully).