Grafting Calculator

Date to set up cell builder - This is based on Bell Farm's method of creating a cell builder, as explained in our Queen Rearing Class.

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Cull queen cells - Dates to remove rogue queen cells that the cell builder has started.

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Arrange builder and other dates related to Cloake board - This is based on Bell Farm's method of setting up and managing a cell builder, as explained in our Queen Rearing Class.

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Date queen cells are capped - Queen cells can be removed from builder and placed into an incubator, if desired.

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Sensitive wing development day - A period of 3 days when the new queens' wings are developing. It is recommended not to disturb the cells during this time.

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Date to move queen cells into queenless splits - In warm weather, cells may emerge early, so it is a good idea to place queen cells into splits on this date. Also, the optimal dates for treating with OA are based upon having queenless splits made up on or before this date.

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Date virgin queen emerges - Queen cells should emerge on this date.

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Orientation flights - Your virgin queen will take a series of orientation flights on these days.

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Queen mating flight window - Your virgin queen should go on her mating flight sometime within this 3 day window, weather permitting. Avoid moving the hive or changing anything about its appearance during this time.

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Check colony for presence of eggs - The queen may begin laying before this date, but we suggest waiting until this date to start looking for eggs.

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​Start of OA 3 day treatment window - When requeening a hive with a queen cell, there will be a window of approximately 3 days when the hive has little to no capped brood. This is an ideal time to kill mites by treating your hive with oxalic acid.

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Combine with Queenright colony - If you still don't see eggs by this date, we would suggest combining your hive with another colony to avoid laying workers.