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GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. / Re: Variations in genetics at different apiary yards

« Last post by Bill Murray on Today at 07:50:40 am »

Thanks Les, this is something I also found amazing when I dumped the queen racket.  So I have saw huge changes for the good across all yards.  What was also evident was the subtle differences just in the same yard. But I found it had more to due with the time of year they were mated. The earliest mated queens, were the ones I like the best build up and production wise. They are almost jet black and on the large side. The next group tend to be more of a brownish color and are also quite good queens. The next ones to come are the yellow large ones, Some are ok some not I keep about 50% of them these are the ones produced around the end of march through April. Then come the what My granddaughter calls the stubbys big and fat, My opinion they just dont cut the mustard. What I have tried to do is replace everything across the board with the black or browns. I try and keep some in nucs so after I pull supers I can requeen any that need replaced.
Temperament can arise any time, they get purged if I cant work them no matter how much honey the produce. I have also  fallen away from requeening every year. On the 3rd year. I requeen anything with a 3rd year queen, because I always seem to lose them that fall, at the most in-opportune time.
 

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GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. / Variations in genetics at different apiary yards

« Last post by Lesgold on Today at 03:45:49 am »

Hi Folks,

Just thought I?d raise a topic for discussion in relation to variations in bees located at different yards and how the local conditions can impact on genetics and hive performance. I have two yards where I keep bees. Most of my hives are on our two acre block with another five hives located 12km way as the bee flies. About ten years ago I took some hives from the home yard and located them on a small paddock owned by the school I used to work at. I have not bought a queen for ten years and have allowed the bees to naturally re queen as required. During this time, I have noticed some interesting genetic changes in the bees. The variations are visibly distinct and the general temperament of the hives are now quite different. These developments have been slow to appear but the variations have grown in magnitude over time. The changes are obviously caused during the mating process and therefore the drones that are present in each areas are responsible. I have found it quite fascinating watching the changes over the years and how the hives have developed. The bees in my home yard are quite large and very dark.  They are good honey producers and don?t go overboard in relation to the use of propolis within the hive. Some of these bees are reasonably passionate and are often happy to meet up with you. At the other yard, the bees are very small in comparison and are also a much yellower colour. They are pleasant to work with and also produce well. These bees tend to use a lot more propolis throughout the hive for some reason.  The second bee yard is on sand and only about 500m from the beach. The SHB love the sand and their numbers are much higher in this area.  The vegetation that grows in this block is also completely different to the home yard and I get some interesting honey varieties from this area. The biggest advantage is that I have pollen and nectar coming in at this site throughout the year. Not enough for a flow but there is sufficient to keep the hives strong. We are only a week from hitting winter and these hives were inspected and tested today. It was interesting to see white wax still being made and also drones present within the hives. In comparison, the home yard hives have all but shut down. I find it amazing that a short distance can have such a huge impact on the bees and how they survive. I would be interested to hear similar stories and ideas as to why these situations occur.

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GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. / Re: What did you do in your Apiary/Bee yard today?

« Last post by Lesgold on Today at 02:59:06 am »

Just finished alcohol wash tests for varroa. It still hasn?t arrived but it could arrive anytime. I won?t have to test now until spring. A few hives are struggling with little to no stores. I may move these hives to a location that will provide pollen and nectar stores during the winter period.

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HUMOR IS A FUNNY THING / Re: Run o' the Mill Jokes

« Last post by Salvo on Today at 12:31:19 am »

My wife sat down next to me as I was flipping channels.
She asked, "What's on TV?"
I said, "Dust."
That's when the fight started.

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HUMOR IS A FUNNY THING / Re: Run o' the Mill Jokes

« Last post by animal on May 22, 2024, 11:05:19 pm »

Why did the Buddhist refuse Novocaine when he had a tooth pulled?

He wanted to transcend dental medication. 

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GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. / Re: What did you do in your Apiary/Bee yard today?

« Last post by The15thMember on May 22, 2024, 08:34:29 pm »

What's the consensus on just removing that board? BTW, temps are up into the 80s for now.

It depends on how much they are fanning and how congested the entrance seems.  Some fanning is not an indication of anything wrong, just bees working the A/C or removing moist air from curing honey/syrup.  If the entrance seems congested to the point that the fanners keep getting jostled from their positions, there are a lot of fanners (like, say, more than 5), or there is a crowd of bees waiting to enter, then I'd remove it.  If you do, absolutely remove the feed (which honestly, you are probably safe to do at this point anyway).  We are grazing the 80s now and I pulled the reducer from my largest colony this week.

I'll be prepared to add another deep brood box if they look like they're ready. Should I pyramid it? They seem to be doing well enough, I can't even open the side port to look in any more because it's loaded with bees in there and they come out the hole when I open it up, making it hard to put back in without killing some.

I have never done the "pyramid scheme" (sorry, couldn't resist), so I can't speak to that.  It depends on how full of bees the hive seems.  Just based on how they looked last time and the growth curve they are likely on, I'm not even sure they are going to need another box, but you won't know how they really look in there until you open them up. 

That box is medium and I do want a deep there. Thoughts on what to do with that? And when should I inspect it?

 
I also don't have experience with swarm traps, but I might be inclined to give them about a week without an inspection, just to allow them to get settled, but if all is well they should have brood in 4-5 days and by that time they won't abscond on you, so that would probably be a good minimum window.  But that's just what I'd do having never actually done it before.    As far as switching out the box, you could either just trade it out if they aren't really in the medium, or if they are, you could add a deep underneath it when they need more room.  By that time, I'd assume your season would be far enough advanced that if that breaks up the brood nest, it would be okay. 

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GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. / Re: What did you do in your Apiary/Bee yard today?

« Last post by Terri Yaki on May 22, 2024, 07:32:29 pm »

Looking to tomorrow's chores. I'm going to inspect my nuc and see if I can arrange things properly. Last week, I made a new entrance reducer and gave them two doors to use. Pictures attached. The one on the left in the straight on picture is the top one on the side shot. The one on the left/top is used as an exit only and has some bees fanning there. The one on the right/bottom is used as a primary for the entrance with some exiting there and some fanning going on there. What's the consensus on just removing that board? BTW, temps are up into the 80s for now.

I'll be prepared to add another deep brood box if they look like they're ready. Should I pyramid it? They seem to be doing well enough, I can't even open the side port to look in any more because it's loaded with bees in there and they come out the hole when I open it up, making it hard to put back in without killing some.

I'm going to move the swarm hive tonight and leave it there and deal with whatever they do. They did perform orientation flights all day on Monday and I wish I'd have just left them in their new home in the first place. I was able to get a good look in the bottom box on that hive and I did not see a lot of activity down there nor did I see any comb being added to the frames. They are using the top entrance for the most part. That box is medium and I do want a deep there. Thoughts on what to do with that? And when should I inspect it?

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GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. / Re: What did you do in your Apiary/Bee yard today?

« Last post by Terri Yaki on May 22, 2024, 06:35:26 pm »

It was inadvertent and incidental but the bees quickly found the wheelbarrow full of algae that I skimmed off of my swimming pool as I prep it for the summer season. That stuff has to be like the MD 20/20 of drinking water.

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HUMOR IS A FUNNY THING / Re: Run o' the Mill Jokes

« Last post by animal on May 22, 2024, 05:31:08 pm »

Cool meme, Teri ... I stole it
Sal, call this one revenge 
A guy living on a bay in Florida befriended a dolphin and became obsessed with it. He spent every moment possible swimming with it, petting it, etc. Then his job was transferred to Georgia and he had to move. Unable to do without his friend, he bought a house with the largest swimming pool he could find and set it up for the dolphin. When he was ready, he went back, captured his old friend and returned to Georgia. He got away with it, but the dolphin refused to eat anything he was given. The only thing the dolphin had eaten were a few small fish that were inadvertently trapped when it was trapped. So the guy decides to go back to the bay, catch a huge load of small fish and take them back in his truck. As soon as he crossed back into Georgia, the cops pull him over. The huge load of fish looked suspicious so they investigate. The charge? Transporting minnows across the State line for an illegal porpoise.   

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HONEYBEE REMOVAL / Re: This Girl has the JP//Schawee Touch!

« Last post by Ben Framed on May 22, 2024, 01:41:44 pm »

Glad I didn?t have a drink in my mouth as I read this !!!!!   lol.