I would invite you to pick your brain on grafting, it is something I plan to start. The ots system has worked for me in growth. But hard to just make one queens offspring. Thank you
Medic, I like the nicot system for queen rearing, except for the queen laying cage which I don?t use. The hair roller cages are great to hold and protect the queen cell are excellent for banking or introducing a queen. The removable larva cups are a big plus. I can place a small larva cup next to the cell containing the larva, then scoop of the larva and place the larva in the cup which fits perfectly in the larva cup holder on the frame. After the cell is capped, then into the hair roller cage. All nicot parts fit like a glove.
Grafting is fairly easy, just takes practice, My first attempt was about 20% success, next 40% then just gets better with each graft. There is a simple learning process of organizing: laying frames of larva at a slant, adjusting a magnifying light or jeweler hood, placement of the frame for a smooth transfer of larva. It is little things you will learn to make the grafting process easy. As far as grafting tool, I can make any work, my favorite is a jzbz which cost about $1 or the Chinese grafting tool with the push out very flexible lip which is less than $1, so you might purchase both and see which is your favorite.
Your grafting layout most likely will be clumsy at first, mine was. But you learn how critique little things: my cell cups go here, cell holder there, larva frame here, grafting tool on top of waxed out frame... just little things to make the process if grafting go smoothly.
BTW, it is totally cool to see your queens hatch in your hair roller cage: one day nothing, next day walking queens that are a delight to the eye.
