Confession Time

[Erichalfbee]

It happens.
Good news about the swarm though, and best of luck.
I got a cast last year and they have done very well.....given me honey already. They are mean though so a new queen is required.
Over the years I've changed my attitude to my beekeeping skills or lack of.
I used to be dead keen on getting as much honey as I could, fantasising over labels and trying to sell it everywhere; driving my poor long suffering husband mad.
I've given up the Farmers' market as too much hassle and I'm happy to plod along keeping the bees as well as I can.
Last year taught me how to survive without any honey and the winter taught me that stuff happens and how generous folk can be.
I'm much more relaxed about things now. What will be will be.
I'm still blooming annoyed about this missing leg

 

[midnight sun]

It happens.
Good news about the swarm though, and best of luck.
I got a cast last year and they have done very well.....given me honey already. They are mean though so a new queen is required.
Over the years I've changed my attitude to my beekeeping skills or lack of.
I used to be dead keen on getting as much honey as I could, fantasising over labels and trying to sell it everywhere; driving my poor long suffering husband mad.
I've given up the Farmers' market as too much hassle and I'm happy to plod along keeping the bees as well as I can.
Last year taught me how to survive without any honey and the winter taught me that stuff happens and how generous folk can be.
I'm much more relaxed about things now. What will be will be.
I'm still blooming annoyed about this missing leg

Application form on it's way!

 

[Erichalfbee]

Thanks MS
BTW
Have a look at this picture from LASI's blog
Do you notice anything strange about this queen?
Or is it my imagination?

 

[midnight sun]

Thanks MS
BTW
Have a look at this picture from LASI's blog
Do you notice anything strange about this queen?
Or is it my imagination?

Well to be honest, the picture doesn't come up well on my screen (blurred), but...
The abdomen looks liked it's 'kinked' or deformed. It has a look of an 'elongated worker' rather than a Queen. Is this the queen you received? Looks like it's been roughly handled in my opinion, although I could be completely off track. Is this what you were looking for as an answer, or am I going to be totally embarrased because I am way off? Plus the front rhs leg seems to be missing unless the picture is deceiving me.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I was hoping somebody might suggest she is one front leg short

 

[midnight sun]

I was hoping somebody might suggest she is one front leg short

Yes. Definately one leg short. Agree with you there. What about the abdomen looking as though it is 'bent'? This would suggest it's been badly handeled during 'packing'...or certainly no QC done before sending. Perhaps if you contact the supplier and say that you have had a concensus of opinion from this forum, they may resupply a healthy Queen to show good will and the fact that it may reflect 'badly' on sales if they don't Can't be such a big cost to them for just one replacment. You can but try. Send them the picture.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Good idea.
I've sent them a screen shot of their blog page

 

[BeeJayBee]

Have a look at this picture from LASI's blog
Do you notice anything strange about this queen?
Or is it my imagination?

No, it isn't your imagination and it does seem a remarkably small 'queen' too.

They should have chosen one of their best-looking queens as an 'advert', so maybe the blog is maintained by somebody who has nothing to do with the queen rearing.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

They should have chosen one of their best-looking queens as an 'advert', so maybe the blog is maintained by somebody who has nothing to do with the queen rearing.

Maybe it is the best one they had! perhaps magic queens are like unicorns - strangely deformed due to all the inbreeding.

 

[midnight sun]

Good idea.
I've sent them a screen shot of their blog page

Go Girl! fingures crossed!

 

[maddydog]

Swapped a leg for a duster maybe? Saves the bees biting leg off when it's introduced using the smoke only method

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Saves the bees biting leg off when it's introduced using the smoke only method

 

[Obee1]

That queen definitely looks to have one leg too few. Has anyone else been reminded of the Pete n Dud unidexter sketch. It will cheer you up

 

[Tremyfro]

Obee1.....I haven't seen that for years...hilarious.
The reason that Ericalfbees queen is lacking a leg is so that once the colony is up to strength she can demonstrate ALL the roles that hygienic bees must undertake. She does this by screwing in the relevant cleaning tools....a feather duster...mop....and of course all the tools which come with the bee vacuum. If you look closely...you will see the smoke detector hanging from her neck.....this aids the colony by giving early warning of incoming smoke so they all have time to hide their heads in a nectar cell.

 

[Erichalfbee]

That queen definitely looks to have one leg too few. Has anyone else been reminded of the Pete n Dud unidexter sketch. It will cheer you up

Brilliant
I used to love those two.

Now cool it you lot They are sending me another one

 

[Swarm]

Result! Well done.

 

[Brigsy]

"I've got nothing against your left leg, the trouble is, neither have you!"

 

[midnight sun]

Brilliant
I used to love those two.

Now cool it you lot They are sending me another one

Well worth the effort me thinks! Don't ask...don't get. Good result Erica

 

[Obee1]

Ooh. Well done!

 

[Erichalfbee]

I'm pleased.
Just have to keep the nuc ticking over.
They can have a frame of sealed brood from my mean hive when I look in next
I might put them into my spare Paynes poly brood box and make an underfloor entrance for it ......keep the wasps away