Where do forum members (those who buy their queens) buy their queens from?

[Curly green finger's]

I’ve only really got queens from ceri Morgan first queens were in 2020.
I’ve been selecting from queens/nucs I also got from him in 2021 I still have 90% of these queens and daughters and grand daughters which I’ve selected for amm traits
They have performed well up here on the south Shropshire hills and I’ve really enjoyed working with them.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I’ve only really got queens from ceri Morgan first queens were in 2020.
I’ve been selecting from queens/nucs I also got from him in 2021 I still have 90% of these queens and daughters and grand daughters which I’ve selected for amm traits View attachment 38557
They have performed well up here on the south Shropshire hills and I’ve really enjoyed working with them.

You had plans to get queens from Michael Collier, is that still on?

 

[Curly green finger's]

You had plans to get queens from Michael Collier, is that still on?

I have been trying to contact him Dani to know avail.
I’m going to the agm so I’ll see what I can muster .

 

[Ely]

Exmoor bees and beehives. Great queens but sadly no long chats on the phone anymore with Pete

 

[Erichalfbee]

Is Rob Wilson selling Queens?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Is Rob Wilson selling Queens?

no, he was new into the game when Ricky died and I think is still trying to find his feet

 

[wightbees]

Exmoor bees and beehives. Great queens but sadly no long chats on the phone anymore with Pete

Our conversations ended up talking about fishing .
Great Queens

 

[Ely]

Our conversations ended up talking about fishing .
Great Queens

I enjoy fishing. I'm hopeless at it though. I went a few times in Autumn on the Norfolk broads. I tried to catch Perch and Pike with lures. I got nothing

 

[Paulypaul]

I got some beautiful dark (AMM) queens from a guy in Aberdeen called Stiliyan Georgiev (You’ll find him on Facebook), really good value queens and my favourite queens i’ve bought, really gentle and productive colonies and a he is a really helpful guy!
I also second mbc queens, I have a couple of those that are also really good.

Here?
https://www.facebook.com/groups/627787760608040/user/100014710209455/

 

[elainemary]

Like others I have used Jon Getty and jolanta queens via black mountain honey .

What’s your assessment of Jolanta queens pls? What are their best characteristics? Any downsides?

Have you tested their daughters?

Be interested in your views.

Always thinking about genetics but need to be locally adapted rather than queens bought in from Greece etc. I need good hardy bees.

Appreciate your feedback
Elaine

 

[Erichalfbee]

no, he was new into the game when Ricky died and I think is still trying to find his feet

He posts on Twitter and seems to be fairly happy with his progress. His dad had lovely queens and he could talk the A*** off a donkey. Bless!!!!

 

[Murox]

What’s your assessment of Jolanta queens pls? What are their best characteristics? Any downsides?

Have you tested their daughters?

Be interested in your views.

Always thinking about genetics but need to be locally adapted rather than queens bought in from Greece etc. I need good hardy bees.

Appreciate your feedback
Elaine

I have only had one from Jolanta, first full season last year. I have not taken any daughters yet. So far so good, bees calm on the frame and built up from a nuc in late June very well indeed using all new 14X12 frames drew all out by Aug. Easy to handle, no stinging attempts at all. As I recall she was uk mated, I think its only the early queens that are from Greece. Beekeeping here is decidedly marginal so I also need hardy bees here, generally poor forage and interminable wind and rain, but her workers provided a good return in honey. No sign of chalk brood (Getty Q is prone to it I think). I can see the carniolan in her but I don't have a problem with that.
Yes I would certainly use Jolanta Queens again.

 

[Ambler]

I've only ever bought queens from Exmoor bees and beehives.
I'm sure there are many other good suppliers but as far as I'm concerned, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[Rory Fields]

You had plans to get queens from Michael Collier, is that still on?

I've never had success contacting him tbh

 

[NickM]

What’s your assessment of Jolanta queens pls? What are their best characteristics? Any downsides?

Have you tested their daughters?

Be interested in your views.

Always thinking about genetics but need to be locally adapted rather than queens bought in from Greece etc. I need good hardy bees.

Appreciate your feedback
Elaine

I bought a Jolanta queen from BMH late in 2022 - very gentle, overwintered well and built up strongly in Spring 23, but disappeared (presumed swarmed) in April.

Her daughter (Queen Mary) is currently my best queen; gentle, calm, built up quickly, didn't show signs of swarming, and delivered her share of honey in an overall bad year. She has a strong winter cluster, and her girls have been out flying on sunny days until this recent cold snap. I can't say I have seen any downsides yet, and I plan to breed from Mary this coming year if she makes it through the winter.

 

[Curly green finger's]

I've never had success contacting him tbh

I’ve tried quite a few times Rory , have you tried contacting Erica his partner as well?

 

[Erichalfbee]

I’ve tried quite a few times Rory , have you tried contacting Erica his partner as well?

Perhaps a shortcut would be to book one of his courses?

 

[Curly green finger's]

Perhaps a shortcut would be to book one of his courses?
View attachment 38574

Thanks Dani I did have his mobile somewhere.

 

[elainemary]

Perhaps a shortcut would be to book one of his courses?
View attachment 38574

I met Michael Collier last year at a conference. He’s spending most of his time queen rearing & breeding for Willie at Chain Bridge

 

[Mabee]

Here?
https://www.facebook.com/groups/627787760608040/user/100014710209455/

Yes, that's him