Buying some new queens

[Uncle Betty]

Simply because without standardized assessment criteria , comparisons are purely subjective and utterly meaningless.

But B+'s own experience of his local association (just as an example) seems to suggest that people aren't interested in buying into that way of thinking.

In other words, it seems that it isn't what people want from their beekeeping.

It may be perplexing to you and some others that high yields and no stings are not the be-all and end-all of why others are passionate about their bee-keeping.

Nevertheless, there it is. Free country and all that.

 

[Uncle Betty]

What type of bird.

A common bird.

The type you'd be familiar with, if I had to guess.

 

[SDM]

But B+'s own experience of his local association (just as an example) seems to suggest that people aren't interested in buying into that way of thinking.

In other words, it seems that it isn't what people want from their beekeeping.

It may be perplexing to you and some others that high yields and no stings are not the be-all and end-all of why others are passionate about their bee-keeping.

Nevertheless, there it is. Free country and all that.

Then by what criteria do you rate your bees and find them superior to others ? I'm left with you selecting based on how local they are, or do you, as you imply , simply have no interest in selection. Preferring instead to interfere with nature but rely on it to decide for you. If your beekeeping aim is to create a natural bee you need only cease beekeeping.

 

[B+.]

But B+'s own experience of his local association (just as an example) seems to suggest that people aren't interested in buying into that way of thinking.

It's wonderful how people on here can concoct a world of their own from scant information. I would urge anyone who has read this far to disregard everything after the first couple of pages. Sadly, this thread has descended into the usual factional nonsense.

 

[SDM]

But B+'s own experience of his local association (just as an example) seems to suggest that people aren't interested in buying into that way of thinking.

In other words, it seems that it isn't what people want from their beekeeping

It may be perplexing to you and some others that high yields and no stings are not the be-all and end-all of why others are passionate about their bee-keeping.

It may be surprising to you who pointed out the need to read the thread carefully that this one is about exactly those criteria and others by someone who wants to compare bees from multiple sources.
So I have to ask, why are YOU posting?

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

It's wonderful how people on here can concoct a world of their own from scant information. I would urge anyone who has read this far to disregard everything after the first couple of pages. Sadly, this thread has descended into the usual factional nonsense.

@Admin @Hivemaker. : any chance of a "kill"?

 

[B+.]

@Admin @Hivemaker. : any chance of a "kill"?

Are you suggesting an assassination?

 

[Bakerbee]

Please yes

 

[Brian Bush]

Are you suggesting an assassination?

I am willing and able!!! Assassination is cheaper than just breaking their legs!!!

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

I am willing and able!!! Assassination is cheaper than just breaking their legs!!!

Just leave the poor bloody great dane alone #jeremythorpe

 

[SDM]

Just leave the poor bloody great dane alone #jeremythorpe

That particularly incompetent assassin is likely preoccupied for the foreseeable.

 

[B+.]

high yields and no stings are not the be-all and end-all of why others are passionate about their bee-keeping.
.

I'm curious: what do you look for if not these traits?

 

[SDM]

I'm curious: what do you look for if not these traits?

Me too.

 

[Beefriendly]

I'm curious: what do you look for if not these traits?

The local beekeepers in my region seem to be selecting for small colony size, lack of honey production and massive aggression. Every swarm I've picked up with a marked queen in my area has fitted into this pattern. Some of them could also propolise for England.

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

Assuming abundant forage at mating time, how many colonies can create a “microclimate”?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[B+.]

Assuming abundant forage at mating time, how nany colonies can create a “microclimate”?

That's a difficult question to answer.
If you mean, how many drone producing colonies would be required to ensure successful mating for a particular line, I would say around 20. At the island mating stations, they set up many daughters of a particular queen (1 drone colony to every 50 virgin queens in EWKs on the island). This is only because there are no other bees there though and the ratio would have to be much higher for land-based mating stations

 

[jeff33]

I gave up reading after page 3....I can seat in front of the TV and watch Jeremy Kyle for the rest!!!
For my pennies' worth, 4 seasons of open mating to build-up my mongrel workforce gave me the following results:
- Runny on the comb with a tendency to sting but not out of control.
- Stressed (that's me) due to high tendency to swarm
- hardly any honey
- Propolis tastic

I have given up on the idea of raising my own queens unless I can take my virgins somewhere else to be mated....and I re-queened all my colonies last year and getting some new stock this year.

 

[SDM]

I gave up reading after page 3....I can seat in front of the TV and watch Jeremy Kyle for the rest!!!
For my pennies' worth, 4 seasons of open mating to build-up my mongrel workforce gave me the following results:
- Runny on the comb with a tendency to sting but not out of control.
- Stressed (that's me) due to high tendency to swarm
- hardly any honey
- Propolis tastic

I have given up on the idea of raising my own queens unless I can take my virgins somewhere else to be mated....and I re-queened all my colonies last year and getting some new stock this year.

You don't necessarily have to travel too far to get better results. I've apiaries 20 miles from home and about 5 miles apart where anything mated takes a distinct turn for aggressive, but at home temperament is consistently good.

 

[jeff33]

You don't necessarily have to travel too far to get better results. I've apiaries 20 miles from home and about 5 miles apart where anything mated takes a distinct turn for aggressive, but at home temperament is consistently good.

I guess it depends what is out there and topography. We have some suitable areas for mating here but it would probably take me several years to a)get the other beeks in the area to agree to work towards a common goal and b) build -up enough stock to flood the area with drones.

 

[Uncle Betty]

Then by what criteria do you rate your bees and find them superior to others ? I'm left with you selecting based on how local they are, or do you, as you imply , simply have no interest in selection. Preferring instead to interfere with nature but rely on it to decide for you. If your beekeeping aim is to create a natural bee you need only cease beekeeping.

If you can direct me to the post where I made that claim, I would be grateful.