Wondering. Does anyone have the low down on what types of queens that are used as a preferred choice by commercial bee farmers. Bearing in mind inspection times are bound to be limited and somewhat more clinical
Commercial queens
- Thread starter dryar
- Start date
Help Support Beekeeping & Apiculture Forum:
Midland Beek
Drone Bee
The ones I would think most of them breed themselves, in an attempt to keep costs down more than anything else.
- Joined
- Jun 20, 2009
- Messages
- 2,428
- Reaction score
- 2
- Location
- Kingsbridge, South Devon
- Hive Type
- None
- Number of Hives
- 0 - Now in beeless retirement!
Location is an important factor. A bee farmer in Dorset is using Buckfasts. The breeder queens came from Denmark but he has his own programme to breed the numbers required in the UK.
However, the Buckfast does not seem to do as well in Scotland.
A Finnish bee farmer I know uses Buckfasts and Italians, all imported from places like France and Italy. The mix and source is more to do with how many queens he can get, than preference for a specific type as he needs large numbers and a single breeder may not be able to supply enough.
However, the Buckfast does not seem to do as well in Scotland.
A Finnish bee farmer I know uses Buckfasts and Italians, all imported from places like France and Italy. The mix and source is more to do with how many queens he can get, than preference for a specific type as he needs large numbers and a single breeder may not be able to supply enough.
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2008
- Messages
- 1,219
- Reaction score
- 113
- Location
- Cyprus and Greece
- Hive Type
- Langstroth
I could tell you, but it would be seen as commercial advertising........
Winker
Drone Bee
- Joined
- Jan 4, 2011
- Messages
- 1,365
- Reaction score
- 2
- Location
- Bedfordshire
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 22
carniolan's are becomming a popular choice.
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2009
- Messages
- 161
- Reaction score
- 4
- Location
- Devon uk
- Hive Type
- None
- Number of Hives
- More than a hundred...Langstroth Jumbo
Buckfast Queens for me..... Bought in ....
I have tried various sources for them as do not have time to breed my own....
As I have a "Real " job too......
Also had Italian queens earlier on with some success...
I have Langstroth Jumbo hives to accomodate them and IF they get beyond 9 frames of brood I reduce them by making up a Nuc.
They will sometimes fill the entire 10 frame box with brood if not held back....
I have tried various sources for them as do not have time to breed my own....
As I have a "Real " job too......
Also had Italian queens earlier on with some success...
I have Langstroth Jumbo hives to accomodate them and IF they get beyond 9 frames of brood I reduce them by making up a Nuc.
They will sometimes fill the entire 10 frame box with brood if not held back....
adrian wilford
House Bee
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2011
- Messages
- 201
- Reaction score
- 1
- Location
- malton
- Hive Type
- 14x12
- Number of Hives
- 30
are you somewhere near coral bay? coming to cyprus on 29th april, it would be nice to visit some beeks
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2008
- Messages
- 1,219
- Reaction score
- 113
- Location
- Cyprus and Greece
- Hive Type
- Langstroth
No, sorry I live at the other end of the island.
- Joined
- Dec 25, 2008
- Messages
- 382
- Reaction score
- 7
- Location
- Gloucester - UK
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 1
Buckfasts I would always vouch for nucleus production but I have a large amount of colonys that are Carniolans now. All of which are bought in.
Beefarmers intent on managing sustainable apiaries raise their own queens from their own locally adapted stock.
- Joined
- Jun 13, 2011
- Messages
- 254
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Newington Kent
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 50+
Hi I use Buckfast queens & breed them myself as best I can! I find them quiet on the comb making inspection much quicker, and they do the job well for getting honey etc.
