Did splits on 2-4-21 pulled 2 frames with queen and 3 new frames, did checks today all 3 frames built out, 5 good frames of brood and decided to split again, 2 capped frames and a shake with queen, 3 frames in the other, did Ots on them.[attachment=0][/attachment][attachment=1][/attachment] queen cells found on one that was bursting at the seams .
Have a great day
I remember when you did them because I had no drones in mine at that time 30 min west of you.
You did good. Nice looking frame of brood.
Quote from: rast on March 04, 2021, 09:17:22 PM
I remember when you did them because I had no drones in mine at that time 30 min west of you.
im sure you have drones now, I watch a guy on YouTube outdoors with Steve I think he is in the chaz area. My bees are doing the best in my last 6 years of keeping knock on wood, I believe the brood breaks I?ve been making with ots and really keying in on nutrition has been key. Now to try and make a little honey.
Plenty of drones now, did a few swarm prevention splits using OTS. Steve lives down closer to New Port Ritchey.
Great job well done great looking brood pattern.
Awesome!
What is OTS?
Quote from: FatherMichael on March 05, 2021, 12:47:14 PM
Awesome!
What is OTS?
Father
It is on the spot queen rearing https://www.mdasplitter.com/ (https://www.mdasplitter.com/) Mel has a wonderful book and there are some great YouTube lectures with him explaining it
Good for small queen batches
Thanks, medic.
Quote from: jtcmedic on March 05, 2021, 01:20:14 PM
Quote from: FatherMichael on March 05, 2021, 12:47:14 PM
Awesome!
What is OTS?
Father
It is on the spot queen rearing https://www.mdasplitter.com/ (https://www.mdasplitter.com/) Mel has a wonderful book and there are some great YouTube lectures with him explaining it
Good for small queen batches
OTS by Mel Disselkoen I have that book real good information.
That sounds like you?ll easily hit your goal this year. Just finished our splits yesterday. Now I?ve got 30 Nucs that need a new home.
OTS queen rearing seems to be...
Instead of pulling one walk a way split out of a queen right hive, the beek creates a single nuc with the old queen, and let's the old hive create a bunch of QCs for future nucs. Perhaps I am missing something, but isn't this an old, established practice already? Why the new name?
Basically the OTS system is instead of grafting larva you notch the cells that you want the bees to raise queens from. Once you have the frame notched you put that frame in a queenless hive.
Quote from: Barhopper on March 06, 2021, 09:08:27 AM
That sounds like you?ll easily hit your goal this year. Just finished our splits yesterday. Now I?ve got 30 Nucs that need a new home.
nice I?m gonna sell 5 if they take off and split again in July
Well went back in the 2 frame nucs with the over wintered queens and they built out all the new frames and the queens packed them, gonna try on more split on these and 10 frame the other 9.
[attachment=0][/attachment]
Good stuff, medic.
Thank you
Well to follow up had made 19 splits this year, and just checked my last retuning queens , and had 1 not return and 1 drone layer, so not to bad, reloaded them with eggs and will let them bee.
I was able to make the biggest jump in my hives this year. Also just got a call from my brother in law my swarm traps are full. So will be a late night tonight
Oh wee, wall to wall brood, that is beautiful. Most queens leave room at top for food. Kinda rare to see such a full, I mean, laid frame to frame. That queens should get a gold star.
Also, I don?t see flying nervous bees. Are the bees calm on the frame, just walking without a care. Ok, that queen gets another gold star.
Medic, you have a jewel of a queen. Raise queens from that lil Lady, she is a doll for sure. Good thing I live far away or I would be sneaking into your apiary and oh wait, Father M. is on this thread. Er uh Blessings.
I would invite you to pick your brain on grafting, it is something I plan to start. The ots system has worked for me in growth. But hard to just make one queens offspring. Thank you
quote author=Ben Framed link=action=profile;u=44847 date=1617017558]
Quote from: jtcmedic on March 29, 2021, 06:24:37 AM
I would invite you to pick your brain on grafting, it is something I plan to start. The ots system has worked for me in growth. But hard to just make one queens offspring. Thank you
These are not my ideas but ideas I like. I in return invite you to pick Bob Binnies Brain. Good stuff here.
https://youtu.be/c28O916sy48
Quote from: jtcmedic on March 29, 2021, 06:24:37 AM
I would invite you to pick your brain on grafting, it is something I plan to start. The ots system has worked for me in growth. But hard to just make one queens offspring. Thank you
Medic, I like the nicot system for queen rearing, except for the queen laying cage which I don?t use. The hair roller cages are great to hold and protect the queen cell are excellent for banking or introducing a queen. The removable larva cups are a big plus. I can place a small larva cup next to the cell containing the larva, then scoop of the larva and place the larva in the cup which fits perfectly in the larva cup holder on the frame. After the cell is capped, then into the hair roller cage. All nicot parts fit like a glove.
Grafting is fairly easy, just takes practice, My first attempt was about 20% success, next 40% then just gets better with each graft. There is a simple learning process of organizing: laying frames of larva at a slant, adjusting a magnifying light or jeweler hood, placement of the frame for a smooth transfer of larva. It is little things you will learn to make the grafting process easy. As far as grafting tool, I can make any work, my favorite is a jzbz which cost about $1 or the Chinese grafting tool with the push out very flexible lip which is less than $1, so you might purchase both and see which is your favorite.
Your grafting layout most likely will be clumsy at first, mine was. But you learn how critique little things: my cell cups go here, cell holder there, larva frame here, grafting tool on top of waxed out frame... just little things to make the process if grafting go smoothly.
BTW, it is totally cool to see your queens hatch in your hair roller cage: one day nothing, next day walking queens that are a delight to the eye.
Medic, I have used the Nicot Method and it is a good way to do it especially if you might be apprehensive about actually doing the graft. I have moved on to the Bob Binnie way of Queen Raising and don?t think I will going back to other ways. If you are interested in the Nicot System PM me.
Beautiful frame of brood.
Quote from: Ben Framed on April 01, 2021, 11:23:34 AM
Medic, I have used the Nicot Method and it is a good way to do it especially if you might be apprehensive about actually doing the graft. I have moved on to the Bob Binnie way of Queen Raising and think I will going back to other ways. If you are interested in the Nicot System PM me.
Thanks I may take you up and pm you later
Quote from: Nock on April 01, 2021, 04:55:19 PM
Beautiful frame of brood.
thank you I just took the picture girls did the hard work
Quote from: van from Arkansas on March 28, 2021, 11:39:43 PM
Oh wee, wall to wall brood, that is beautiful. Most queens leave room at top for food. Kinda rare to see such a full, I mean, laid frame to frame. That queens should get a gold star.
Also, I don?t see flying nervous bees. Are the bees calm on the frame, just walking without a care. Ok, that queen gets another gold star.
Medic, you have a jewel of a queen. Raise queens from that lil Lady, she is a doll for sure. Good thing I live far away or I would be sneaking into your apiary and oh wait, Father M. is on this thread. Er uh Blessings.
I couldn't agree more!