Tudorcd queen introduction (New Zealand)

[For want of a better word]

Using an unlimited brood box we have found that the Italian queens favour the beautiful pattern of brood, pollen and honey which are cuts across the nest, rather than the commercial methods which force the queen into limited space. And this method gives the wall to wall brood which the commercial bk's like.

How quickly do the AMMs build up after winter, and do they go brood less ?

http://1drv.ms/1MD7q5h

These bees are NZ Italian line bred for about 10 years with occasional additions from the originating colonies in the South Hams area of S Devon.
Allowed free reign in a TBH the brood pattern is very different than in standard UK Nationals... I have tried the 14 inch Jumbo frames and Langstroths, but have never seen a proper brood pattern with the NZs

The native bees seem not to have a broodless period here in Cornwall... and although slower to pick up in the Spring, rapidly overtake the Italians when the first nectar flows start... although they do get onto the early Spring garden flowers , Daphne, Mahonia, Hellibore, Crocus and snowdrops.... I suspect collecting pollen to get the brood well fed!


Yeghes da