I want to breed some queens but only want a couple

[SlickMick]

I want to breed some queens from a really great lady but I only want less than a handful. How can I do this... easily?

Mick

[jdpro5010]

Take a frame of eggs and make a queenless nuc.  This should give you a couple of good cells that you can cut out or leave in the nuc as desired. You may even want to take several frames of eggs and make more than one nuc.  Just an idea have fun!

[bugleman]

Along the same lines as posted above, make a strong queenless nuke with allot of nurse bees.  Next take a frame of eggs (this must be wax foundation) and cut out a section of suitable size to you.  You then punch out the eggs in 2 out of 3 cells in both directions leaving a 3x3 matrix of viable eggs.  Shim up the cut out section over the top bars of the nuke so they can draw out queen cells and place a "short" super and lid over the top of the nuke.  Be sure to cut out the queen cells B4 they hatch but not too soon.

[Meadlover]

Mike,

how did you go with the queen breeding?
This is something I would like to try once I have a bit more experience under my belt (and have identified a really good queen).

ML

[SlickMick]

Mat, the hive went queenless and when I last looked in there were 3 queencells that had been closed but were then open so I am guessing that I have a young virgin or recently virgin queen in there.

Mick

[Meadlover]

I guess nature did it for you then!

[Michael Bush]

I wrote up a simple method, in case you want it for later:
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesafewgoodqueens.htm

[JWPick]

Thanks for the link and post MB. I really enjoyed the insight provided, as with all of your readings.

[Meadlover]

I wrote up a simple method, in case you want it for later:

Excellent, thanks for that Michael

[SlickMick]

Thanks for that post Michael. A great lesson for those of us who are looking to make a few queens for ourselves

Mick