Making Queen Cups with Mike Cullen

Although you can get kits to do this, Mike prefers using his own method of making queen cups. He uses his own wax and demonstrates how it can be done without the use of a kit.
#bbka #beekeeping #mantelfarm

[@ME_MeAndMyBees]

Nice Queen Cell making Video.
Hope to make own Queens this year here in Scottish Borders 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Just Subbed too. 😎
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Happy Beekeeping 2023
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[@MantelFarm]

Thanks for the lovely comment. I wish you the best of luck raising your own queens this year.
Personally I've only raised queens from splits when swarming has been imminent and or I need to produce a queen to replace a failing queen.
It is a very satisfying thing to do. Providing she mates properly and the colony go on to accept her. 👍🏻🙂

[@dominicanbeekeeper6686]

It's great to see different ways of doing things, great video. Keep them coming

[@MantelFarm]

Thanks for the comment. Appreciate the feedback. :)

[@davecavana1031]

Is it possible to allow the queen to directly lay in the cups rather than grafting?

[@MantelFarm]

Hi Dave,
Personally I haven't had any eperience of doing this method, but I would have thought that this would actually work if the bees were in the right frame of mind (during swarm season). I have found that some comb I've used before that has a 'W' cut in it or pointed edges to be where the bees decide to make plenty of cells persistently. However, with a frame that may appear slightly alien if it doesn't already have eggs placed in it, might not be as succesful.
Josh