Niquot or Jenter System: Egg or Larvae

[DoctorZ]

My first attempt of using a Niquot system completely failed.  None of the eggs that I transplanted into the hanging cell cups fixtures hatched into larvae.

Perhaps I'm doing it wrong? Do I transplant eggs or hatched larvae into the hanging fixtures from the Niquot / Jenter cage?

Thanks for your help.

g

[Robo]

You need to wait until the eggs hatch before you move them to the cell builder. 

http://robo.bushkillfarms.com/beekeeping/queen-rearing/

[Michael Bush]

I have tried as an experiment transferring eggs.  They have never raised a single queen from an egg.  Larvae works, eggs do not.

[DoctorZ]

Thank you Mr. Bush and Mr. Robo. Another newbee operator error!

[Robo]

Another newbee operator error!

Don't feel bad, I did the same thing my first time using the Nicot.

[Michael Bush]

There have been writings over the centuries speculating that queens started from eggs are of higher quality.  I don't see how anyone ever got one started from a egg other than harvesting natural swarm cells...

[DoctorZ]

I've started again today and introduced the Q back into the Niquot "comb".

How long should I keep the Q in the Niquot cage? I'm thinking at least a day, maybe two. Perhaps three so that the nurse bees don't eat the eggs in the cage. (But I run the risk of double lays.)

I'm thinking that if I remove the Q after a day or two, the nurses will "clean up" the artificial comb i.e. eat the eggs before they hatch into larvae.

George

[Robo]

Remove the exclude on the Nicot as soon as the queen has laid in enough cells.   Put it right back in the middle of the brood nest and the nurse bees will care for them as normal.    The nurse bees will only clean them out if you put them in the cell bar and hang them vertical.   Once the eggs have hatched, then it is safe to move them to the cell bar.