Drones

[Werbo]

Hi all I done my oxalic treatment last weekend and when I looked in I saw a few drones in there. Dose anyone else have colony’s that take a few drones through winter with them?


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[Hivemaker.]

The odd colony will sometimes keep a few drones through winter, but it is not normal, if on a nice winters day when they are active/flying you see a lot of drones at the entrance there is usually a problem.

 

[BMH]

Does the colony have a queen that was mated back end of 2017?

 

[Finman]

.
You get the answer, when weathers become better, and you look inside what kind of brood the hive has. Now it is difficult to do anything.

 

[enrico]

Also you might have seen a few old bees that have had their hairs worn off. These look like drones but actually are old bees. At this time of the year you can panic thinking you have paralysis virus as they appear quite shiny.e

 

[Werbo]

Does the colony have a queen that was mated back end of 2017?

No they where well established by the time it was time to kick them out. The guy who mentors me said some colonies do it.


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[Millet]

No they where well established by the time it was time to kick them out. The guy who mentors me said some colonies do it.


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If they are kicking drones out now they may be low on stores also..

 

[Finman]

If they are kicking drones out now they may be low on stores also..

How bees measure their stores?

What about normal hives when they killed drones on autumn?

 

[Millet]

How bees measure their stores?

What about normal hives when they killed drones on autumn?

They all go outside, stand on each others backs and heft the hive simples, do you know nothing.

 

[Swarm]

No they where well established by the time it was time to kick them out. The guy who mentors me said some colonies do it.


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Some colonies do.

 

[birdsandbees]

sounds like the guy that offers you mentoring is quite sensible, far too many would instantly say you had a DLQ or laying worker, if it's just a few then nothing to worry about in a strong colony.
I have a few still knocking around, Spring will give the answer

 

[Buzzlodge]

Me too. I last opened the hive in October and at that time there were lots of capped worker and drone brood (not mixed and correctly placed). Since then there have always been some drones flying, big fat drones.

Time will tell what's actually been happening inside and if there is a problem or not.

 

[beeno]

Hi Werbo, Last mild day we had in January I counted five drones flying from one strong colony. It happens.