Assembled 10-Frame & 8-Frame Cloake Board

Develop a structured queen-rearing setup with the Assembled Cloake Board from Hornsby Beekeeping Supplies.

The Cloake board was invented by New Zealand beekeeper Harry Cloake as a way to raise queens with a minimum amount of equipment.

It consists of a wooden frame and metal tray and is used through a series of stages that divide the colony into a queenright lower section and a queenless upper section.

This arrangement is designed to improve the acceptance of grafted larvae.

Developed by Harry Cloake

The Cloake board takes its name from New Zealand beekeeper Harry Cloake.

Its purpose is to provide a queen-rearing method that can be carried out with a relatively limited amount of equipment while using one colony through staged changes in queen status.

Wooden Frame & Metal Tray

The assembled board consists of two principal components:

• Wooden frame
• Metal tray

The metal tray is used as part of the staged process that changes how the upper and lower sections of the colony interact.

The product is supplied assembled, so the basic board structure is ready for incorporation into a suitable queen-rearing setup.

Queenright Lower Colony

Part of the Cloake board process maintains a queenright lower colony.

The queen remains associated with this lower section during the staged queen-rearing method.

Queenless Upper Colony

The process also creates a queenless upper section.

This temporary queenless condition is used to improve acceptance of grafted larvae in the upper part of the setup.

The board therefore allows one colony to be managed through different stages rather than requiring a completely separate arrangement for each queen status.

Designed to Improve Grafted Larvae Acceptance

Improved acceptance of grafted larvae is the central purpose of the Cloake board method.

For beekeepers already experienced with grafting, this provides a structured way to incorporate the colony into a queen-rearing program.

Requires Grafting Knowledge

The Assembled Cloake Board is not simply a general hive divider.

Successful use requires knowledge of grafting larvae and an understanding of the staged queen-rearing method.

Beekeepers new to queen breeding should become familiar with grafting and the Cloake board process before putting the equipment into use.

Key Features

• Invented by New Zealand beekeeper Harry Cloake
• Designed for queen rearing
• Supplied assembled
• Wooden frame
• Metal tray
• Creates queenright lower and queenless upper sections through staged use
• Designed to improve acceptance of grafted larvae
• Uses a minimum amount of queen-rearing equipment
• Requires knowledge of grafting larvae

For experienced queen rearers looking to use the Cloake method, the assembled board provides the core wooden-frame and metal-tray equipment required for the system. Order the Assembled Cloake Board from Hornsby Beekeeping Supplies today or call 02 9477 5569 for queen-rearing equipment assistance.