Starter Finisher Box is used in the starting or first phase of the Doolittle method of raising queens. It is prepared by shaking in about 5 lb. of nurse bees from colony frames containing open brood.Pollen and nectar frames are provided and the grafted larvae are added a few hours laterNurse bees start the cells, which are transferred in 24 hours to the “starter finisher box” colonyOne well stocked box will start about 100 queen cellsThe ventilated bottom section allows excess heat to escape as the queen cells are drawn outAdd a sugar syrup soaked sponge to the bottom compartment to “fuel” the queen cell building processAdd a pollen patty to the box to increase the amount of royal jelly stored in each cellHolds 5 deep framesThe use of the starter finisher box is described in Successful Queen Rearing by Marla Spivak and in many other queen rearing texts.
