Carniolan bees wanted

[1275gt]

I am just starting out and would like to buy some Carniolan bees for a new national hive i live in cumbria. Thank you

 

[fox403]

U might be in luck...sure Carlisle auction on tomorrow ...type it Google find it....

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[Tom Bick]

I am just starting out and would like to buy some Carniolan bees for a new national hive i live in cumbria. Thank you

Are you confident at swarm control as your Carniolan Bee is well known as a swarmy bee.

Have you considered a Buckfast type bee. Originally developed in this country, a gentle bee, hard working, and reasonably slow to swarm.

One chap on this forum called Hivemaker supplies them and specialises in queen rearing.

You may also get directed to a few other suppliers of bees,

 

[Erichalfbee]

I am in Kendal and I'm sure my one colony bought as "local bees" in 2010 is mostly carniolan. The nuc swarmed in its first year and twice last year with a third attempt thwarted just in time. I will be re-queening with a Buckfast.

 

[Black Comb]

I started with carnies and they swarmed then swarmed then swarmed.
I would not want them again.

 

[MuswellMetro]

I am in Kendal and I'm sure my one colony bought as "local bees" in 2010 is mostly carniolan. The nuc swarmed in its first year and twice last year with a third attempt thwarted just in time. I will be re-queening with a Buckfast.

my 2011 Greek bred buckfast, that i did a bailey change on, decided to fill the TWO 14x12 boxes with brood ...in three weeks,,,and produce 32 queen cells..by 10th April..seems suspiciously like a buckfast/carnie cross, phenomenal build up to 18 frames of almost solid brood right to the edge of the frames...converted half a gallon of syrup to brood

 

[Erichalfbee]

my 2011 Greek bred buckfast, that i did a bailey change on, decided to fill the TWO 14x12 boxes with brood ...in three weeks,,,and produce 32 queen cells..by 10th April..seems suspiciously like a buckfast/carnie cross, phenomenal build up to 18 frames of almost solid brood right to the edge of the frames...converted half a gallon of syrup to brood

GROAN.
This lot are in a 14x12 with a super under (put it there when it got cold after first putting it on top at the end of the mild spell in March when they were on 7 frames brood)
Hubby checked them yesterday as I'm away to report that the brood is wall to wall on all frames with just a thin arch of honey above.
Top bar hive keeping anyone?

 

[Tom Bick]

my 2011 Greek bred buckfast, that i did a bailey change on, decided to fill the TWO 14x12 boxes with brood ...in three weeks,,,and produce 32 queen cells..by 10th April..seems suspiciously like a buckfast/carnie cross, phenomenal build up to 18 frames of almost solid brood right to the edge of the frames...converted half a gallon of syrup to brood

Was that from Bickerstaffs MM? I don’t think all is well with that supplier ive had a couple of problems and others I know have reported a few grumbles.

 

[psafloyd]

U might be in luck...sure Carlisle auction on tomorrow ...type it Google find it....

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Great profile pic.

 

[susbees]

Was that from Bickerstaffs MM? I don’t think all is well with that supplier ive had a couple of problems and others I know have reported a few grumbles.

Well yes, they import open-mated pure breeds...so the grumpy generation comes around faster?

 

[fox403]

Thanks psafloyd got her from a rescue centre she's been kept in a cage all her life and used for churning out hundreds of puppy's,,,because of her age 11 she sat rescue for two more years so took pity on the poor girl....she's been fantastic ....

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[Tom Bick]

Well yes, they import open-mated pure breeds...so the grumpy generation comes around faster?

Yes that can be the case but its not grumpy bees that is the problem quite the opposite and I have split and the new queens are also gentle. However I am yet to try a further split.

My problem is or it seems and others have moaned a bit to is the queens seem to fail early or as in my case a complete non layer and the attitude of Bickerstaffs was less than helpful and made me think all is not well with that operation.

 

[For want of a better word]

I keep a couple of colonies of Carnies at an out apiary.. first crosses with local Buckfast Type... good guard bees.. will chase off too intrusive grokkles and the like who should be on the footpath 100m away, but seem to think they have a right to wander through privately owned property... would not mind so much if they shut the gates and took home their pasty wrappings!... grokkles not bees !!

Get some local bees from a local breeder who is not importing from far far away IMLO of course!!

 

[DanBee]

my 2011 Greek bred buckfast, that i did a bailey change on, decided to fill the TWO 14x12 boxes with brood ...in three weeks,,,and produce 32 queen cells..by 10th April..seems suspiciously like a buckfast/carnie cross, phenomenal build up to 18 frames of almost solid brood right to the edge of the frames...converted half a gallon of syrup to brood

That's not an unusually large colony, in fact it's about the strength I like to run my colonies at. Equivalent to Commercial double brood. You need to recalibrate your assessment of sufficient space or you will simply hit compression swarming that much earlier. For that reason it's not something I'd recommed for a beginner.

 

[Beehive]

Can I just ask, why not a British black bee (AMM)? They are the native bee that has evolved for the climate and will produce even in poorer weather.

 

[wightbees]

Can I just ask, why not a British black bee (AMM)? They are the native bee that has evolved for the climate and will produce even in poorer weather.

Do you know where to get any ?

 

[Drinkstone]

So if you have Carnies does replacing the queen mean you no longer have Carnies? I know my queens are carnies but as a newbie do not have enough knowledge to comment one way or the other, have had a swarm already though.

 

[psafloyd]

Thanks psafloyd got her from a rescue centre she's been kept in a cage all her life and used for churning out hundreds of puppy's,,,because of her age 11 she sat rescue for two more years so took pity on the poor girl....she's been fantastic ....

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That is outrageous, but she is absolutely beautiful. Let's hope she has a long and happy 'retirement'.

 

[Polyanwood]

I love the dog story.

I agree that it is not much fun as a beginner to get Carniolan bees, because they are so swarmy. Why not get a local mongrels or Buckfast and then after a few years get Carnies?

Fragile P (they of the heavy, cheap boxes) say they have some AMM nucs for sale. I'm a bit sceptical. As yet they have not got a good reputation in bee sales.

If someone gets them I'd love to know what they are like.

 

[jallen]

one of my coloneys are from fragile p and have been going stroung for 4 years know