Transfer of queen cells from one hive to another

[tillie]

A couple of years ago I went to a workshop on cell punch queen rearing.  The guy used a circular punch of his own devising to cut the queen cell out of the comb and then put it on top of a frame to raise the queens.  I am wondering if you can cut a queen cell out like that and then insert it into a similar punched out hole in the comb of another hive. 

What would you do to hold the circular cutout in the new frame of wax?

I ask because I have just gotten a nuc that Jennifer Berry says is full of queen cells and a living queen.  She says we should cut the queen cells to prevent swarming.  I've never done that so I don't know about whether I will unless I for sure see the queen ....  and then what if the bees don't like the queen they have???

Anyway I have a friend with a queenless hive and was curious if I could transfer one of these queen cells to her hive with this cut-out method?

What do you think?

Linda T in Atlanta

[Robo]

I would definitely give it a try is they are swarm cells and not supercedure cells.   

You just need to be very careful handling the cell, which can be a challenge when trying to cut it out depending upon how old the comb is.   Also keep in mind that you don't have to attach it to comb in the donor hive.   You can wedge it, or hang it between 2 top bars, it that is easier.   Sometimes if you cut out extra comb above the cell,  you can mold it around a toothpick  and then just set the toothpick across 2 top bars.   Or even put the cell in a plastic cell protector and hang that.    Just make sure the cell is not going to fall to the floor.

[iddee]

1... Cutting the cells out won't stop swarming. It will only leave the nuc queenless when they swarm anyway. To prevent swarming, remove the queen and start another nuc or give to your friend.

2. Many times I will cut about a 2 inch square out of a frame with queen cells and cut the same out of another frame and install the cell that way. I try to cut the side with the cell a bit larger then the other side, so the square tapers to the rear. Then I slide the square in and the bees repair it after the queen emerges.

[Jahjude]

Yeah Iddee your #2 option sounds pretty much like the way to go

[tillie]

My friend Julia and I installed two of Jennifer Berry's nucs today.  There were no queen cells.  These were the most beautiful bees I have ever seen.  Unlike most nucs they were on new frames of beautiful comb and the queen in each nuc was gorgeous.  I think Jennifer will do well with her new business: http://www.thequeenery.com/  The queens both looked just as lovely as the queen picture on this page. 

I'm glad for this post, though, because I have another hive that I rescued - abandoned bees who had been in the same box with only one super above for four years.  The hive is more than boiling over with bees and when I inspect it this weekend, I expect to find swarm cells.

I am of the school that says don't cut queen cells because you won't prevent the swarm, rather leave the hive queenless, but taking a couple of queen cells from a hive with more than 10 or 15 shouldn't harm and I'll get to experiment with this.

Linda T always eager to learn more in Atlanta

[David LaFerney]

I wonder if you could use a biscuit cutter to cut circles out to swap from one hive to another?

[tillie]

A biscuit cutter is probably too large.  The man who taught the class on cell punch queen rearing at Young Harris cut a section about the size of a nickel.  I would need to cut one a little larger than that, but not as big as a biscuit.  I'm hoping to find swarm cells in the abandoned hive this weekend and try this out.

Linda T in Atlanta

[iddee]

A hole drill set with the center guide out may be just the thing. Choose the size you want. It even has the saw teeth to cut rather than crush the comb.

[Scadsobees]

I have fairly good luck just cutting the swarm cell out with a knife.  Then in the new hive just lodge that queen cell carefully between two frames.  In event of a swarm cell there are usually more than I need so it don't matter if I accidentally off one or two.

Rick