The latest cold snap may have us turning the heat back on for a bit, but the bees wait for no one and our first 2 sets of grafts are in. The grafts are the careful transfer of day-old eggs onto frames which are dropped into what’s called a cell builder. This is a strong “swarmy” hive made artificially queenless and prompting the girls to try and raise new queens with ample resources. We believe in well-nourished queens and like to see the excess royal jelly as proof that she had ample food.
The virgins will emerge into cages where they will remain until we have a couple days of good weather in early April. We are timing everything to be in place for well-mated queens: good flying weather & active drones.