How to Graft Cells - Rearing Queens - Grafting Larvae - Queen Cell Grafting

How to Graft Cells - Rearing Queens - Grafting Larvae - Queen Cell Grafting
In this video, I give you an in depth look at how I graft larvae to rear queen bees.
Grafting cells can be tricky but with practise, I believe its the best method for rearing queens.
Queen rearing from grafting larvae from cells means you can select a colony for its traits as opposed to waiting for the colony to start swarm preparations and making splits using swarm cells.
If you want to know how to rear queen bees, grafting cells using a chinese grafting tool will help you make increase in the apiary and select your best colonies to graft from.
Raising queen cells after grafting is all about good nutrition so you must ensure the bees have enough carbs and protein to ensure the queens are well nourished.
Want to know how to graft larvae, how to graft queen cells, how to graft cells, then this video shows you how to do it. You need a good grating frame and a good grafting tool. I prefer the chinese grafting tool and I make my own grafting frame using Nicot queen cups.
Grafting queens for beginners has never been any easier!
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[@Beekeeping4Hope]

This is a quality tutorial. Thank you. Me and my oldest boy are going to give this a go tomorrow

[@stevefox8948]

Brilliant demonstration Lawrence can’t wait to try looking forward to rest of series Thanks

[@BlackMountainHoney]

Cheers Steve. Definitely give it a go..Beekeeping is such an expensive hobby. Grafting is the cheapest and most fulfilling part of it :)

[@JOSIANGREENVLOGS]

How clearly you expain the grafting methods.Congratulations

[@BlackMountainHoney]

Thanks :D

[@donaldlippert6374]

I watch all of your videos and get a lot out of them. Thanks for sharing. (From Papua New Guinea).

[@BlackMountainHoney]

Hey Donald! Thanks for watching and glad you find them useful 👍

[@Wazziify]

Thanks for the video, I tried once before and messed it up. Your tips have made it all make sense now!

[@bluelab5019]

Just booked myself onto a queen rearing course on June 2nd. Should be fun

[@anthonyhodson8924]

Lawrence love all your videos all very direct & to the point. But why doesn’t the first queen that emerges kill all the others when you’ve got a row of queen cells. Thanks Tony

[@drumgerry]

Just as an example of beekeepers' different approaches to this - I never could get the hang of the Chinese plunger style grafting tool. It was always too big and obscured the larvae at the crucial point of getting under them to lift them out. My big breakthrough was starting to use a Swiss style tool which has a very precise small metal spoon on the end. It's also cranked to one side - one version for left handed, one for right handed. This means you can see the larva throughout the process. I can graft a frame of 20 cells in no time now. Good lighting and the use of an Optivisor are crucial parts of my process as well. But whatever works best for you is good.

[@BlackMountainHoney]

Yes exactly. My process is very much based on technique as opposed to seeing what's happening every time. I'm almost going in blind and feeling my way under the larvae. The problem I always had with the solid grafting tools is I punctured the cell bottoms and damaged the larvae. 100% its all about finding what works for you and improving on it :)

[@drumgerry]

@@BlackMountainHoney I think I tried a steel tool a bit like the one in your video and found it worse than useless. The Swiss tool was a completely different beast altogether. It allows for the use of finesse in the process. Might be useful info for any of your viewers who don't get on with the Chinese tool. The Swiss tool is I think still sold by Swienty although it used to be easier to get in the UK

[@BlackMountainHoney]

@@drumgerry Well I think I know what's next on my product review list. Have you got a link to make sure I get the right one?

[@drumgerry]

@@BlackMountainHoney tried to post a llink or two but something must have happened to it. I'll try again. The cost of it from Swienty is ridiculous. I got mine years ago for about £20. en.swienty.com/pi/Swiss-Grafting-Tool---professional-right-hand_4003537_164655.aspx. There are offerings from UK and an Irish supplier if you google swiss grafting tool but not sure if they're the genuine article. Maybe Swienty would send you one for a review video?

[@BlackMountainHoney]

Wowser. Now that is an expensive bent piece of metal dunked in a bit of plastic! Not sure Swienty are too keen on me after I reviewed their poly hives ;)

[@joelsantos8788]

Very nice video

[@ronnev_os]

I am a beginner and I am trying to choose the best queen cells that the bees themselves chose in the nucleus. many beekeepers advise to leave the queen cells that have been fed from the first day or the second (egg), but you use larvae that are 4 or 5 days old, could you explain a little about the process "why"? how many queen cells do you recommend to be left in the nucleus without a queen? Thanks 😊

[@mohdhammad4786]

Do you need to sterilize the tool? And to what to use for sterlization?

[@yogendrathapa5654]

how we prepare hive for queen grafting?

[@fishmut]

I agree this is not easy , I tried a few years ago , did about 10 grafts got one whimpy looking cell that took , so frustrated I haven’t bothered since , maybe I’ll give it ago again .

[@joakimsaxin6135]

Why should I avoid damaging the cell walls? I call nonsense. That said, thanks for great information. I have been grafting from too old brood.

[@seymorewright4176]

My problem is no one has shown how you put the cups on grafting board upside down or what ? I don't buy mine as yet need to get a proper understanding 😂😂

[@joakimsaxin6135]

@@seymorewright4176 yes, the cup must face downward.

[@seymorewright4176]

@@joakimsaxin6135 thanks never expected so quickly

[@elricturbett6883]

I want to do some queen rearing, but the hive I want to graft from is around 40 min it’s away from where I can make a cell builder. How should I transport my grafted cells?

[@BlackMountainHoney]

On a warm day, under a damp tea towel/cloth is how I normally do it. Or donate a frame to a nuc and transfer the nuc over.

[@elricturbett6883]

@@BlackMountainHoney ok I will try that. have been hooked on your videos! This is my first year of queen rearing, is it time to start now or should I wait till May time?

[@BlackMountainHoney]

@@elricturbett6883 In the UK? Probably getting close but there is another cold spell coming it seems. Need to fast forward around 4 weeks from graft to mating so that will take us to mid May. Should be plenty of drones around. We find end of May tends to be most reliable time to get mating but a couple of weeks washout can ruin everything

[@bengibbon9229]

Thanks for sharing, glad the cap is back on 🤣 I’ve started to see drone brood being produced but no drones mooching around the hive yet, so I’m guessing it’s too early to start raising queens here in the UK (Lincolnshire)? Not only does there need to be drones to get the virgins mated, they also have to be sexually mature? Do you have a timetable that you could please share? When will you start your queen rearing? I’ve identified which hives I want to breed from, but that’s as far as I’ve gotten.

[@wayneparker9782]

Get to the point...im interested

[@pottyplotter2462]

Hi, quick question, does it matter which way the frame is facing you, top bar's or bottom bar's, Going to be grafting for the first time in a few weeks. Thank you for all your excellent video's

[@BlackMountainHoney]

Not sure I follow. How do you mean?

[@pottyplotter2462]

@@BlackMountainHoney when you lay the frame down in front of you is the top bar facing you or the bottom bar's? As the cells are naturally slanted upward, does it make taking the graft any easier? Or am I just over thinking it..... probably 😂

[@BlackMountainHoney]

@@pottyplotter2462 Ah never even thought of it. I always approach the larvae from the back of the C so just turn the frame to suit.

[@noahriding5780]

I'd found the hardest part for me seems to be having a steady hand when its so freaking small that the slightest movement can mess everything up.

[@russdean6598]

I know nothing regarding queen rearing, apologies if this is a stupid question, do you have to add royal jelly, and how do you add if. Or do the nurse bees add it ?

[@BlackMountainHoney]

You feed the bees and the nurse bees produce it

[@gordonfrank]

Excellent description of the grafting process.

[@HaselorHoney]

Great idea and nicely explained video 🐝

[@eastsussexbeesandwildlife5801]

Great video as always, must give it a try. Thanks for all the time and effort you put into these, very much appreciated by all of us. Peter

[@BlackMountainHoney]

Hey Peter. My pleasure. I had high hopes for this video and it didnt come out quite how I wanted it to! Hopefully you got the idea 💡🙂

[@Fred-ff6bv]

where’s the link for the digital microscope?

[@Phanbaquy]

Hello video của bạn chia sẻ rất hay thanks bạn

[@jeffbragg1735]

I like the queen right finisher, just for pushing more threw your starter faster. I have very little experience, I really appreciate all your videos! They are so helpful to us new beekeepers. Thank you so much!

[@ivoivanov9818]

Hi, mate! What do you think about Nicot and Karl Jenter system?

[@davidhefner5668]

I heard one may go through several of the Chinese tools before you get one you like. Buy several.

[@ericdawe5329]

do you need royal jelly in the cup first

[@AtuhairweJackline-i1c]

Hi

[@Paulwilliams95]

Superb.. looking forward to seeing all of these.. like you say.. having a 'cat sat on the mat' approach to these videos is so key.. for me anyway... ha! I guess first question is.. where did that frame come from? Any random hive that's just had the bees shaken off it? Or was it specifically set up to have the right age eggs, or just by chance that you find a frame like that? I hope you're ready for all the questions.. 🤣

[@BlackMountainHoney]

Hi Paul. Glad you find them useful. That frame just came from the centre of a strong colony. If you go through, you will generally find a frame like that. You can time by caging queen but for small scale rearing you dont need to. Plenty of the right age larvae at most times of the year. Members questions are always our priority so keep them coming ;)

[@Paulwilliams95]

@@BlackMountainHoney Careful what you wish for! 🤣

[@eastsussexbeesandwildlife5801]

Laurence, just to say that I tried to follow your overwintering system, wow, lots of bees, thanks so much, I think they might swarm soon, if you have a chance can you look at my latest clip, not certain if I should split or wait a bit longer for definite signs of queen cells. Hope its ok to put this specific question to you, Ta so much

[@BlackMountainHoney]

Questions are always fine. They look perfect. Just where you want them. I never split if I can get away with it. Some colonies dont swarm and just store lots of honey. Just stay on top of inspections and then go for a demaree when you see the first cells.

[@eastsussexbeesandwildlife5801]

@@BlackMountainHoney Thanks pal, very much appreciated

[@greghill9958]

4 to 5 days no good 1 or 2 days is lot better.

[@BlackMountainHoney]

Days 0-3 they are eggs. They aren't larvae until day 4

[@robertholdsworth4498]

Looking forward to the next video

[@BlackMountainHoney]

Cheers Robert. Hopefully the sun decides to come back out soon. Its 3c here with hail storms at the moment :(

[@noahriding5780]

Can you use the base of the air roller cages for the grafted larva that will become queens?

[@hassanbagharey321]

Thank you very much x

[@wayneparker9782]

Grafting is not that hard.....sorry, but, it's not. If you have a little trouble see get 3x glasses at your nearest drug store. He's right its takes a little practice......but.....you will have it in no time....