Drones

[Wildflower 123]

Hi there, Just done my second inspection, found the queen and marked her. Yaay. Not knowing her age as this was from a swarm I marked her white and made a note on the record that she is marked white, age unknown. Released her back onto the frame and she flew away!!! Panic stations. Managed to fetch her back and made sure she went down into the frames this time.
The thing I noticed most on this inspection was the lack of drones and drone capped brood. Its all workers and worker brood as far as I can see. Is this normal?

 

[Erichalfbee]

Yes. Colonies building up don't need drones

 

[Moobee]

Hi there, Just done my second inspection, found the queen and marked her. Yaay. Not knowing her age as this was from a swarm I marked her white and made a note on the record that she is marked white, age unknown. Released her back onto the frame and she flew away!!! Panic stations. Managed to fetch her back and made sure she went down into the frames this time.
The thing I noticed most on this inspection was the lack of drones and drone capped brood. Its all workers and worker brood as far as I can see. Is this normal?

Any idea if a prime swarm or cast swarm? Think I read somewhere that virgin queens can be a bit flighty…. I had one fly off too last year. I lost her but thankfully she came back.

 

[Wildflower 123]

Any idea if a prime swarm or cast swarm? Think I read somewhere that virgin queens can be a bit flighty…. I had one fly off too last year. I lost her but thankfully she came back.

No clue at all which it was. I am inexperienced but I feel she is well settled. Perhaps I was just a bit clumsy with her. It's my first time containing and marking.

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Hi there, Just done my second inspection, found the queen and marked her. Yaay. Not knowing her age as this was from a swarm I marked her white and made a note on the record that she is marked white, age unknown. Released her back onto the frame and she flew away!!! Panic stations. Managed to fetch her back and made sure she went down into the frames this time.
The thing I noticed most on this inspection was the lack of drones and drone capped brood. Its all workers and worker brood as far as I can see. Is this normal?

I use a Crown of Thorns. Much less risk of such shenanigans.

 

[Ian123]

I use a Crown of Thorns. Much less risk of such shenanigans.

Until you stab them that is

 

[Wildflower 123]

I use a Crown of Thorns. Much less risk of such shenanigans.

I got one of these. So easy even I can use it.

 

[Moobee]

No clue at all which it was. I am inexperienced but I feel she is well settled. Perhaps I was just a bit clumsy with her. It's my first time containing and marking.

Generally a prime swarm would be quite big with a mated queen which would be bigger (as full of drone sperm). Cast swarm, smaller amount of bees, wouldn’t fill a nuc box, skinny virgin queen.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Generally a prime swarm would be quite big with a mated queen which would be bigger (as full of drone sperm). Cast swarm, smaller amount of bees, wouldn’t fill a nuc box, skinny virgin queen.

Yes the first swarm leaving a colony can have around 70% of the bees with it though not always with a mated queen and not always big
View attachment IMG_1461.mov

 

[Moobee]

Yes the first swarm leaving a colony can have around 70% of the bees with it though not always with a mated queen and not always big
View attachment 32201

Great video Dani

 

[Wildflower 123]

Generally a prime swarm would be quite big with a mated queen which would be bigger (as full of drone sperm). Cast swarm, smaller amount of bees, wouldn’t fill a nuc box, skinny virgin queen.

The swarm was caught by someone else who kept it for a few weeks to make sure the queen was laying and the temperament was decent, who then passed it on to me.

 

[Moobee]

The swarm was caught by someone else who kept it for a few weeks to make sure the queen was laying and the temperament was decent, who then passed it on to me.

That was kind of them.

 

[Wildflower 123]

That was kind of them.

yes it was extremely. and I am sure I will pay it forward with a split, in the years to come when someone is looking to start up the hobby.