Buying some new queens

markjadams · Jun 2, 2018

Hi,

I have raised a few queens this years but I also want to buy a few different ones in to see how they all perform.

I follow the youtube videos for "The Bee Man" who is based in Scotland and I was wondering if anyone else have purchased queens from him and what they were like.

I am based in Wales and dont like the idea of imported queens but thought that his climate would be a good match.

Thank you

Poly Hive · Jun 2, 2018

Sorry to say but his fame has passed me by so could you post a link to his video please?

PH

beebopper · Jun 2, 2018

http://www.the-beeman.co.uk/

linoleum bonypart · Jun 2, 2018

PM Hive maker or B+.... They sell good queens

markjadams · Jun 2, 2018

Where is Hive maker based and are they uk reared queens?

Plenty of honey · Jun 2, 2018

markjadams said:
Hi,

I have raised a few queens this years but I also want to buy a few different ones in to see how they all perform.

I follow the youtube videos for "The Bee Man" who is based in Scotland and I was wondering if anyone else have purchased queens from him and what they were like.

I am based in Wales and dont like the idea of imported queens but thought that his climate would be a good match.

Thank you

You have to remember that buying one or two single queens is not necessarily a true reflection of that breeders queens. You need to be buying queens over several years and assess their performance.
I would hope no one in their right mind would be finger pointing unless they had several of said queens , over several batches, that were consistently bad for whatever reason.

I have followed Mike Waites videos, his instagram, and his facebook and never heard anything contrary to the quality of his queens. He's also very helpful. Ask him personally!!

He would not be in business if they weren't performing. You can ask about any breeder on here and you would always get mixed results, for many reasons. Some because of incompetence by the beekeeper, some because of specific weather and climate patterns after purchasing the queen and obviously, through poor crosses or the odd queen that just dose not perform. It does happen!!

My point is, whatever you buy and whoever you buy from, remain open minded. Your still, buying in underlying good genetic material that will enhance your apiary the following year(may be not this year now) with drones from the line. Thats what you should remember.

enrico · Jun 2, 2018

markjadams said:
Where is Hive maker based and are they uk reared queens?

North Somerset\ Devon and yes. I am sure he will respond
E

Beefriendly · Jun 2, 2018

markjadams said:
Where is Hive maker based and are they uk reared queens?

Exmoor Bees. is the website. Bred in UK, designer mongrels though

....called Buckfast. Be warned they are addictive.

MartinL · Jun 2, 2018

beebopper said:
http://www.the-beeman.co.uk/

Doesn't sound like there's any genetic provenance with them?
"taken to mating nucs throughout the area. They are left in the mating nucs for 14-21 days"

Open mated with any local drones?

linoleum bonypart · Jun 2, 2018

No one can with buckfasts
If you want Welsh bees
http://www.cardiganbayhoney.co.uk/bees-and-queens.html

jenkinsbrynmair · Jun 2, 2018

markjadams said:
I am based in Wales and dont like the idea of imported queens but thought that his climate would be a good match.

Thank you

Why go that far? more than one reputable and reliable queen breeder but a stone's throw over the border in Ceredigion

markjadams · Jun 2, 2018

Hi jenkinsbrynmair,

You are just around the corner from me, I am in upper Brynamman/Garnant.

Where do you get your Queens from? I want to try a few different places, just out of interest to see how they all do.

Swarm · Jun 2, 2018

jenkinsbrynmair said:
Why go that far? more than one reputable and reliable queen breeder but a stone's throw over the border in Ceredigion

Seconded, smashing bees.

jenkinsbrynmair · Jun 2, 2018

markjadams said:
Hi jenkinsbrynmair,

You are just around the corner from me, I am in upper Brynamman/Garnant.

Where exactly?

Just PM'd you

Poly Hive · Jun 2, 2018

I have a strong feeling the OP has not really thought this through.

PH

markjadams · Jun 2, 2018

Why do you say that Poly hive? I have great respect for "The Bee man" he really seems to know what he is doing and wants to produce the best queens possible.

I also want to try a few different queens, I fully understand that its not a representative sample but it gives a random selection from different suppliers.

It is just for my own personal interest to see how different queens perform.

Angry_Mob · Jun 2, 2018

When I was searching old threads for queen producers a name that cropped up was Ged Marshall of British Honey Producers Ltd. He is based in Milton Keynes direction.

beebopper · Jun 2, 2018

MartinL said:
Doesn't sound like there's any genetic provenance with them?
"taken to mating nucs throughout the area. They are left in the mating nucs for 14-21 days"

Open mated with any local drones?

Cannot give any particular recommendation - just the website. When I enquired about this I was told that they are mated at isolated locations which I think is as good as you get for UK queens. Happy to be corrected on this. The queens seemed ok but only had a couple.

I know they are often out of stock however.

stevebrowning · Jun 2, 2018

Angry_Mob said:
When I was searching old threads for queen producers a name that cropped up was Ged Marshall of British Honey Producers Ltd. He is based in Milton Keynes direction.

I can highly recommend Ged's bees, as well as Peter Little's

coffindodger · Jun 3, 2018

A few years ago I ordered well in advance from Beeman; told approximate date of expected availability. When date arrived, told bees at collection point, but not enough for all orders, so first come first served.

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