queen rearing

I need some info on raising queens.Ive been grafting larve and have been having fair results but i rarely have over a 50% take on the newly grafted queen cells.Im using day old larve,I use a queenless hive for the starter hive then move the grafts to queen right hive above a excluder.Most of my methods are low tech.I use a large pencil as my cell cup maker and just put 40-50 cells on the bottom of a honey super frame.Any ideas how i could improve my % without spending alot of money.

Hi,
Take a look at this. Let me know if it's helpful.
Luck

I must be tired, here's the link:
members.aol.com/queenb95/queenrear.html

Thank you for the reply.Thats basicly how i graft mine but i still have a low % take not 90% like some of the pro's claim.I have also had problems with the Queens not hatching and dying at the stage were they are showing color in there eyes.

Hi Frank,
90% claims are reserved for those grafting under optimum conditions. At the link they suggest 75% is customary and you indicated 50%. I also wondered if your geographic location might be a factor. I haven't grafted in a while and even then only to familiarize myself with the method. Check out what's done by the beekeeper at this link: www.gsu.edu/~biojdsx/qncelnb.htm

Thank you for the information and links.My rates of takes have increased as the day lenght increases and we had a strong honey flow for awhile.Well i'll keep trying I wonder if any of the other methods would have a higher %

hello
I have been raiseing queens for over 48 yrs and all you need to do is keep trying.
love to chat with on this subject.
I still rear queens and the weather does have a lot to do with it too

Don

frank, try buying a commercially available wax queen cell. they are cheap and are generally made of alot cleaner wax than an individual may have. i use those from walter kelly. my acceptance went up when i switched to them.
good luck
martin