BobsHoneyBees

Friday 3rd May.

I grafted a further 20 Queen cells into a queenless hive this afternoon.

Although I did see the results from earlier last week in the form of 3 out of 9 Grafts taken Today they were all covered in brace comb, so even if I left them to mature probably the new queen would not have been able to hatch. The girls are not playing the same game as me yet.

Wednesday 1st May. 

Ok everybody season has now started, at last I hear you say. But not in Scotland Snow is forecast for Friday 3rd May.

I grafted some test Queen cells last Sunday and Monday, out of 9 cells here in Rainham only 3 look like they might end up capped.

Today I grafted 40 cells at Broomfield Farm, started at 12.30 finished at 15.30 Back aching tonight. No gloves worn, but no stings, my bees continue to be good tempered carrying on from last year.

So 16 days Queens should hatch, 2-3 days to mature, Then after being introduced into a nucleus hive and subsequent mating with some Drones another 17-20 days before I see some eggs. Thats if the weather is good for us this year. It remains to be seen. By the 17th June I could, with lots of luck, have some Nucs ready for collection.

Tuesday 7th May.

Not having much luck so far with grafting Queen cells. Grafts seem to be just left in the cells, and dry up. Did another 20 this evening. 

Might have to increase number of bees in the queenless brood box. Maybe not warm enough yet for the girls to want to increase.

Some progress being made but still very slow, some hives are bursting and now have a single Super on. But other hives have only 3 seams of bees. Weather has still to change for the better, night time temperatures are well below normal for this time of the year. Even some Snow last week in Cornwall.

I have 4 Nucs on the go made up from not grafts, but from the brood inside the Q-less mating breding hive. All they do is clean out the grafts. I did another 40 tonight. Time is marching on. I,m thinking of providing 3 frame Nucs to get my people interesed in bees this year, and provide new queens later when they will become available. FOC. So you can have confidence in trying to get started, Late in the season. Price to be worked on. contact me if you are interested at bobshoneybees @ yahoo. co. uk No gaps.