Queen cell Builder Box Feb 2023 @ Pineywoods
ueening Builder Box Class @ Pineywoods Beekeepers Apiary
https://www.pineywoodsbeekeepers.org/
Feb 2023
Taught by Robert Jones
Robert demonstrates and explains the process of creating
a “Builder Box” for grafted queen cells.
An empty box is added to a hive on top of a queen excluder.
The box is loaded with a feeder, 2 frames of uncapped brood,
a frame of pollen and honey, and 2 empty frames.
The hive is closed.
*end of video*
What happens next...
The bees will crawl up to the new box and
go to work pulling wax on the empty frames.
When those frames are pulled out they are moved over
and new empty frames are added.
During that time the beekeeper grafts eggs
to make queen cells which are added to the box.
The bees care for the grafted eggs
until the beekeeper removes them which is before
the queens emerge.
Techniques to observe:
Smoking a hive
Opening and inspecting a hive
Shaking bees off frames
Inspecting frames for open brood, pollen, and honey
Remove 3 frames that are needed for new box
Adding new frames in place of the frames removed from the hive
Brushing bees from the removed frames
and ensure the queen is not on them
Adding a queen excluder
Adding a new box
Adding a feeder to a new box
Stacking a builder box with contents in the correct order:
Next to the feeder add a frame of uncapped brood,
then a frame of honey and pollen,
then a frame of uncapped brood, then 2 new frames
Lids are shaken in front of the hive
to remove bees before closing it up.
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