Package's vs overwintered nucs.

[Curly green finger's]

Different if you are on OSR?

True we stimulate colonys to build in preparation not really ideal for amms
My local amms don't fair as good as I know anothers bees do on osr which are second gen imports.

 

[pargyle]

To be honest for stock to rear from I don't want colonys come may so big they go into swarm mode, for me it's all about the main flows which is what I thought our local amms are building up for.
Colonys that build up to quick which swarm or need swarm prevention early on are a hassle.

Colonies that build quickly early in the season are what you want ...more bees more opportunities... spring beekeeping is about knowing and watching for the signs of swarming and taking advantage of this natural behaviour... stripping colonies down to a minimum size or seeking to propagate only those colonies that are inherently small and slow to build up wont help your ambitions to become a bee farmer... if you think at this stage that swarm control is hassle....perhaps you should rethink your future ....

 

[Curly green finger's]

Colonies that build quickly early in the season are what you want ...more bees more opportunities... spring beekeeping is about knowing and watching for the signs of swarming and taking advantage of this natural behaviour... stripping colonies down to a minimum size or seeking to propagate only those colonies that are inherently small and slow to build up wont help your ambitions to become a bee farmer... if you think at this stage that swarm control is hassle....perhaps you should rethink your future ....

Well I've been doing all of the above so my future is hopeful.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Colonies that build quickly early in the season are what you want ...more bees more opportunities... spring beekeeping is about knowing and watching for the signs of swarming and taking advantage of this natural behaviour... stripping colonies down to a minimum size or seeking to propagate only those colonies that are inherently small and slow to build up wont help your ambitions to become a bee farmer... if you think at this stage that swarm control is hassle....perhaps you should rethink your future ....

I’d rather my colonies made swarm preps in May and were reunited for July rather than made swarm preps now but maybe I’m doing it wrong?

 

[user 20297]

Healthy bees want to swarm.

I’d rather my colonies made swarm preps in May and were reunited for July rather than made swarm preps now but maybe I’m doing it wrong?

.......one of you is........I wonder which one??? (PS> Rhetorical question....I think I know the answer.)

 

[Erichalfbee]

Healthy bees want to swarm.


.......one of you is........I wonder which one??? (PS> Rhetorical question....I think I know the answer.)

Sorry don’t understand?


yes I do.
Both. Whatever suits

 

[Curly green finger's]

Healthy bees want to swarm.


.......one of you is........I wonder which one??? (PS> Rhetorical question....I think I know the answer.)

Not always to your first reply.
I have healthy bees that don't swarm.

 

[Patrick1]

To be honest for stock to rear from I don't want colonys come may so big they go into swarm mode, for me it's all about the main flows which is what I thought our local amms are building up for.
Colonys that build up to quick which swarm or need swarm prevention early on are a hassle.

Could allways try a bigger box, I use Langstroth, my first year was in Nationals and I soon learnt it was not the best box for me.

 

[user 20297]

Not always to your first reply.
I have healthy bees that don't swarm.

I'm sure you do have bees which don't swarm; because you manage them. But what I'm getting at is that, as we all know well, bees have an instinctive tendency to swarm when they are thriving. So if @Erichalfbee can manage matters so that the bees have been throttled back in May, there's obviously a benefit both in honey production and reduced swarming risk in July.

I thought that was the intermediate levelofbeekeping I should be aiming at?

 

[Curly green finger's]

Could allways try a bigger box, I use Langstroth, my first year was in Nationals and I soon learnt it was not the best box for me.

I am 14x12.
But I like demaree with a national and lots of benefits on a commercial scale with that.
Any one ever had to or demareed 14x12.

 

[ericbeaumont]

we need a change of attitude, some real beekeeper training programs.

Also need beekeepers who actively want more training: they're few and far between (and I don't mean those after another BBKA certificate).

Most are satisfied with the basics of looking at bees in a box (but struggle to keep them there).

 

[madasafish]

My bees are in Lang jumbos. Lots of space. They built up quickly this year for a May which was noted for cold and rain. Fortunately none swarmed - lots of space in brood and supers.

Meanwhile most around here on Nationals have had lots of swarms.. whether on double or single broods.

But then I carefully do not -NOT - requeen from swarmy stock - which most appear to do.
I requeen all swarms to avoid swarms.

I read the BBKA advice and cringe.. it is just so wrong. All about swarm prevention. It should be all about choice of stock.

 

[ericbeaumont]

do not -NOT - requeen from swarmy stock - which most appear to do.

I doubt that much stock is very swarmy, more that trying to keep a prolific colony in a single National is guaranteed to lead to an early swarm.

Too many see a hive as a fixed set of boxes - in catalogues, online - but aren't told that in reality it's a fluid tool that expands and contracts quickly, vertically and horizontally.

Had a call from a beekeeper of 12 years who'd never heard of double brood!

The hive is like an accordion and beekeepers must learn to play the tune bees choose, whether it's adagio, allegro or prestissimo..

 

[user 20297]

The hive is similar to an accordion and beekeepers must learn to play the tune chosen by bees, whether it's adagio, allegro or prestissimo..

...or else they risk the problem of going da capo. (I had to look it up).

 

[Patrick1]

My bees are in Lang jumbos. Lots of space. They built up quickly this year for a May which was noted for cold and rain. Fortunately none swarmed - lots of space in brood and supers.

Meanwhile most around here on Nationals have had lots of swarms.. whether on double or single broods.

But then I carefully do not -NOT - requeen from swarmy stock - which most appear to do.
I requeen all swarms to avoid swarms.

I read the BBKA advice and cringe.. it is just so wrong. All about swarm prevention. It should be all about choice of stock.

Stock selection is one of the most important things, personaly I refuse to collect swarms. " No good deed goes unpunished "

 

[Boston Bees]

Stock selection is one of the most important things, personaly I refuse to collect swarms. " No good deed goes unpunished "

Surely your operation must issue quite a few swarms each year. You refuse to collect them?

Or do you not lose any swarms?

 

[rook66]

Stock selection is one of the most important things, personaly I refuse to collect swarms. " No good deed goes unpunished "

As per Brother Adam, swarms and supercedure queens. Bad news

 

[user 20297]

As per Brother Adam, swarms and supercedure queens. Bad news

Briefly, what did Br.Adam say about that please?

 

[0bee-1]

I bought 4 imported Q’s from Becky’s Bees. 2 installed in May and 2 less than a week ago. The ones installed in May are lovely, prolific Q’s.

What queens did you buy?

 

[ericbeaumont]

Surely your operation must issue quite a few swarms each year. You refuse to collect them?

Swarm collection is for those without a set schedule.

If one day you have a target to get through 30 colonies and a swarm call comes in, which do you choose and where is the greater gain?