Do224
Field Bee
Just a quick question. Is you winter configuration a double brood plus super?
Brood and a half. Then a super on top filled with fondant and insulation.
Just a quick question. Is you winter configuration a double brood plus super?
I’ve always killed one queen. Listening to Murray’s talk for Somerset beekeepers he said he often doesn’t bother and leaves them to it. It’s not what we are taught but this is a guy who runs a phenomenal operation. Maybe we make too much of this idea that both queens will be killed or damaged.If for example I caught two small casts 5 days apart....could I just put them each in a bb and combine using the newspaper method? Would I need to find and kill one of the queens first or would it still work if I couldn’t find a queen?
If I was in an EFB area I wouldn’t be setting bait hives at all.How about disease though? Shouldn’t swarms of unknown origin be quarantined first? I’m in an EFB area, I wouldn’t want to add a tiny cast swarm to one of my colonies.
Done it once or twice and the colonies were fine afterwards, one of them ended up a massive producing colony the following seasonListening to Murray’s talk for Somerset beekeepers he said he often doesn’t bother and leaves them to it
I think the wisdom out there now is that most of the time the workers stage manage the 'fights' to ensure one queen comes out relatively unscathed.Maybe we make too much of this idea that both queens will be killed or damaged.
I am still at the "every queen is sacred" stage of beekeeping though
I reckon you can do without.get yourself a new mentor this year
I disagree, all my swarms go into my isolation apiary, of the 5 that were in there at the start of winter I have lost 2 late ones that were weak. The other 3 are very busy and have loads of stores. If they are well behaved in the spring I certainly won't be requeening.I suppose this is personal preference, considering that most casts very often don't last and if it was later in the season even more so to requeen.
I'm not one to run around collecting swarms but any that I do collect (or turn up at Brynmair - a regular event) They're given the chance to prove themselves before I decide on the queen's fate,If they are well behaved in the spring I certainly won't be requeening.
I like to give them a chance and see if they have traits I like,
I disagree, all my swarms go into my isolation apiary, of the 5 that were in there at the start of winter I have lost 2 late ones that were weak. The other 3 are very busy and have loads of stores. If they are well behaved in the spring I certainly won't be requeening.
I like to give them a chance and see if they have traits I like,
I reckon you can do without.
I disagree, all my swarms go into my isolation apiary, of the 5 that were in there at the start of winter I have lost 2 late ones that were weak. The other 3 are very busy and have loads of stores. If they are well behaved in the spring I certainly won't be requeening.
I like to give them a chance and see if they have traits I like,
To be honest, starvation, I was in hospital during a critical time during feeding for winter and a number of my hives were too light.what do you think caused your weak ones to perish in the end…not enough bees, varroa, starvation? Or a combination…
Got a phone number for 'Murray' please as I need at least one NICE Q to replace a swarmed job from 2020 that didn't do much last year..I don’t see the need. He’s a beginner. It’s nice to see how they get on. I love catching them and seeing how they grow. They do get requeened in their second year sometimes.
I have a small prime and a cast from the wild bees on the potting shed roof. I’m itching to see how they do this season. The prime queen would be in her third year so I will probably replace her with a queen from Murray
Eric is right. Pre order from Laurence.Got a phone number for 'Murray' please as I need at least one NICE Q to replace a swarmed job from 2020 that didn't do much last year..
Brood cappings I can see and bits of fondant
Or crystalized stores and brood cappings
How can you tell they’re brood cappings…colour? Is that a normal amount to see over a couple of days at this time of year? Seems a lot to me but I have no idea…
Brood cappings have propolis in them and are brown ish.How can you tell they’re brood cappings…colour? Is that a normal amount to see over a couple of days at this time of year? Seems a lot to me but I have no idea…
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