What did you do in the Apiary today?

[Moobee]

That is a lovely looking Queen

Can’t beat a local queen IMHO. Just hope she was mated properly so late in the season, although I still have drones in several hives so fingers crossed.

 

[Curly green finger's]

Checked on the nuc that had a sealed QC four weeks ago and a new queen is wandering around and laid up a couple of frames of brood so looking ok.
One of the mini mating nucs has also produced a nice dark queen - eggs but no brood & a lack of space as the nuc is rammed with bees. Moved them to a BS 6 frame nuc with 3 frames (stuffed the other half with wool) & managed to cut out the eggs & stores and put them in a frame with elastic bands and added some drawn comb with a block of fondant on top. They’re fairly small & the wasps are still about so reluctant to give them syrup.View attachment 41376

Nice queen, I’ve still got drones in colonies- I’ve had some late supersedures which look like they have mated ok but it’s a 50/50 chance I’d be interested to know how she starts next season keep us informed

 

[The Poot]

Checked on the nuc that had a sealed QC four weeks ago and a new queen is wandering around and laid up a couple of frames of brood so looking ok.
One of the mini mating nucs has also produced a nice dark queen - eggs but no brood & a lack of space as the nuc is rammed with bees. Moved them to a BS 6 frame nuc with 3 frames (stuffed the other half with wool) & managed to cut out the eggs & stores and put them in a frame with elastic bands and added some drawn comb with a block of fondant on top. They’re fairly small & the wasps are still about so reluctant to give them syrup.View attachment 41376

Nice queen - clearly a Coldplay fan……?

 

[The Poot]

Nice queen, I’ve still got drones in colonies- I’ve had some late supersedures which look like they have mated ok but it’s a 50/50 chance I’d be interested to know how she starts next season keep us informed

It’s odd how different things can be. I’ve not seen any drones since early September.

 

[pargyle]

It’s odd how different things can be. I’ve not seen any drones since early September.

Yes ... they were being kicked out of my colonies in that cold snap second week of September .. I can't decide whether it's weather or lack of forage that prompts them to dump the drones .. probably a bit of both.

 

[Mint Bee]

Checked on the nuc that had a sealed QC four weeks ago and a new queen is wandering around and laid up a couple of frames of brood so looking ok.
One of the mini mating nucs has also produced a nice dark queen - eggs but no brood & a lack of space as the nuc is rammed with bees. Moved them to a BS 6 frame nuc with 3 frames (stuffed the other half with wool) & managed to cut out the eggs & stores and put them in a frame with elastic bands and added some drawn comb with a block of fondant on top. They’re fairly small & the wasps are still about so reluctant to give them syrup.View attachment 41376

I have used wool but kept finding a significant number of dead bees entangled in it, even when bagged up - they kept eating away at the bags. Tend to use Kingspan off cuts to make dummy frames now instead. just have to tape up edges so they don't burrow into them instead

 

[Curly green finger's]

Yes ... they were being kicked out of my colonies in that cold snap second week of September .. I can't decide whether it's weather or lack of forage that prompts them to dump the drones .. probably a bit of both.

I will admit the colony’s which have drones have lots of stores and are good sized colony’s - I would say it’s more to do with resources
There was drone brood in colony’s in September only small amounts, I was speaking to @mbc yesterday and he also was saying colony’s are looking good this autumn

 

[pargyle]

I will admit the colony’s which have drones have lots of stores and are good sized colony’s - I would say it’s more to do with resources

I hadn't taken my all honey off at that stage so there were lots of stores .. more likely to be the availabiity of forage than stores.

 

[Curly green finger's]

I hadn't taken my all honey off at that stage so there were lots of stores .. more likely to be the availabiity of forage than stores.

Probably more variables than that even
Colony strength, queen age just to name a few

 

[pargyle]

Probably more variables than that even
Colony strength, queen age just to name a few

Just curious ... why would queen age have anything to do with influencing the Drone Eviction Committee ?

I would think the bigger the colony the more chance of drones being evicted .. more mouths to feed and more workers to assist with the evictionn orders ..

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

up early this morning - Last night,forecast didn't look too promising for the day, especially the afternoon and I had my large Sunday apiary to feed and vape.
Timed it just right, when I went up to let the chickens out it was a steady, miserable heavy drizzle, although the bees at the home apiary were ignoring it totally and there was a heavy traffic of foragers hammering the ivy, by the time I'd breakfasted and my brain had booted up it had dried up (with even the occasional glimpse of blue sky) and although dull, it was not cold at the range for me to unload all the syrup for that apiary, top up the feeders and crank up the varrox. Midday arrived and I had just packed up and caught the end of the archers as I drove home - and the rain arrived with a vengeance, it's been pissistently ever since

 

[The Poot]

up early this morning - Last night,forecast didn't look too promising for the day, especially the afternoon and I had my large Sunday apiary to feed and vape.
Timed it just right, when I went up to let the chickens out it was a steady, miserable heavy drizzle, although the bees at the home apiary were ignoring it totally and there was a heavy traffic of foragers hammering the ivy, by the time I'd breakfasted and my brain had booted up it had dried up (with even the occasional glimpse of blue sky) and although dull, it was not cold at the range for me to unload all the syrup for that apiary, top up the feeders and crank up the varrox. Midday arrived and I had just packed up and caught the end of the archers as I drove home - and the rain arrived with a vengeance, it's been pissistently ever since

You timed it right for the Archers too then….

 

[Penninetrader]

Can’t beat a local queen IMHO. Just hope she was mated properly so late in the season, although I still have drones in several hives so fingers crossed.

You are right I believe. I bought in 3 queens this last 6 weeks, none have worked out. I want to introduce new genes but mixed with local drones so I think Virginin queens will be my route next year. I have a bit of a theory.

 

[Penninetrader]

I have used wool but kept finding a significant number of dead bees entangled in it, even when bagged up - they kept eating away at the bags. Tend to use Kingspan off cuts to make dummy frames now instead. just have to tape up edges so they don't burrow into them instead

The foil backed foam and taped edges, I do the same. I make mine a good fit which enables me to expand or shrink the box by sliding across

 

[Moobee]

I have used wool but kept finding a significant number of dead bees entangled in it, even when bagged up - they kept eating away at the bags. Tend to use Kingspan off cuts to make dummy frames now instead. just have to tape up edges so they don't burrow into them instead

I’ve taped half a sheet of acetate over that side so they can’t fall in hopefully!

 

[Moobee]

You are right I believe. I bought in 3 queens this last 6 weeks, none have worked out. I want to introduce new genes but mixed with local drones so I think Virginin queens will be my route next year. I have a bit of a theory.

Interesting as I bought in 3 queens earlier in the season and I can’t say i am over impressed with them. My homies are much gentler and calmer and just as productive.

 

[Moobee]

Hive 7 chucking the last of the drones out...
View attachment IMG_9842.mov

 

[Penninetrader]

Interesting as I bought in 3 queens earlier in the season and I can’t say i am over impressed with them. My homies are much gentler and calmer and just as productive.

My girls like yours are remarkably tolerant. It has always been a worry that any incomers could bring with them problems. Even a swarm that arrived in the rain on my gazebo roof has the same traits even though they are clearly a different strain of bee. I am starting to think local drones play an important factor beyond the obvious. Bringing in virgins will test my theory.

 

[The Poot]

Hive 7 chucking the last of the drones out...
View attachment 41380

It’s really quite sad isn’t it? Poor old things!

 

[boywonder]

My girls like yours are remarkably tolerant. It has always been a worry that any incomers could bring with them problems. Even a swarm that arrived in the rain on my gazebo roof has the same traits even though they are clearly a different strain of bee. I am starting to think local drones play an important factor beyond the obvious. Bringing in virgins will test my theory.

Except for the fact that, by introducing your 'foreign' VQs you'll effectively be helping to dilute the characteristics of the local drone pool, given that the male progeny of those VQs will comprise solely imported genetic material.

Double edged sword, I guess. Over the years, I have had many goes at bringing different strains into my apiary, to try and 'improve genetic diversity' and promote 'hybrid vigour'.

Experience has led me to conclude that's just a total waste of time and money for a hobbyist like me. Bee characteristics were patchy.

Now I just keep 'local' bees, and all is good and stable.

Given the length of time bees have thrived on these isles, nearby DCAs must already be serving up sufficient diversity (plus, locally adapted genetics).

Unless you're in the business of attaining the 'perfect bee' or chasing huge honey yields, I now don't see the point. In fact, my two best honey harvests have come since I stopped t*tiing around with buying in Q's, but have instead focused on the health of the bees I have.

Good luck with your trials! I'll be keeping an eye out for the results of your local matings of those brought-in Queens.