NICOT queen rearing system

You don’t need this system to expand your Apiary: You’ll probably wind up expanding it naturally by collecting swarms.

Next Spring, look for swarm cells. Each week, check for cells and make spits off of those cells. I’ve also taken the queen and 3 frames out of the hive (honey/pollen and a frame to lay eggs) and place her and the frames in a nuc box. She will keep laying and that will be the start of a new hive. The main hive will make many new queen cells and then you can use those to make splits the same way you made the split with the old queen.

This works really well also: https://www.kelleybees.com/Shop/21/Queens-Bees/Queen-Rearing/4069/Mating-Box
Just put a frame of eggs/nurse bees on sealed brood/food into each compartment and they will draw queen cells. The queens will hatch, mate, and start laying in each compartment. it’s a lot of fun too.

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