Worldwide Beekeeping
Beekeeping => General Beekeeping => Topic started by: keeperofthebees on February 10, 2014, 01:30:45 am
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If you guys are trying to cull out the really unmanageable(MEAN) bees, then let me know if it's ok to pm you. We'll chat for a bit & exchange info, then I'll mail you a small folded up screenbox postage paid with a jar of apple honey, for a nasty mean queen bee & a handful of workers. Theres no sense in pinching the queens, if some knucklehead like me could make use of them by tucking them in an old tree(with removeable mini nuc frames so they can be inspected for disease) ;D That's all assuming that they will make it... The weather will have to calm down up here in wisconsin though. Bring it on! Theres not a bee out there that I can't handle!!!
I'm looking for grumpy european bees, russians, etc that can't be worked with. NO AFRICANIZED BEES.
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If every beekeeper got rid of the worst 10% of the Queens that are not desirable the standard of all the bees will get better in the immediate area. ;)
mvh Edward :P
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If every beekeeper got rid of the worst 10% of the Queens that are not desirable the standard of all the bees will get better in the immediate area. ;)
mvh Edward :P
Beekeepers in the U.S. Don't like mean bees for some reason lol
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you would have to come get them. Consider it a vacation of sorts.
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you did say you could handle any BEES lol
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BEES, Barry, BEES. Not big yellow hornets... :laugh:
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BEES, Barry, BEES. Not big yellow hornets... :laugh:
I've got some of those big black & white "bees" that like to make the egg shaped nests in trees. 3 stories high on a ladder in the night is fun(2 stories from an airing porch deck 1 level up).
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I would send you the queen bee I plan to pinch when my queens come but I promise she has some African genetics. She is also a survivor and mother of some serious honey producers
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"I've got some of those big black & white "bees"
the black and white bees keeper, are bald faced hornets, they are not as aggressive as the rest of the hornet family unless you start messing with them.
ie, 3 stories up on a ladder at night...... :D
"I would send you the queen bee I plan to pinch when my queens come but I promise she has some African genetics.She is also a survivor and mother of some serious honey producers"
and to what gypsi said, seems the hotter hives are the better honey producers, i keep russian's now, they can be a little more temperamental, but they sure are good honey producers. i overlook it, but then we don't have the problem with AHB up here in north country.
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and to what gypsi said, seems the hotter hives are the better honey producers, i keep russian's now, they can be a little more temperamental, but they sure are good honey producers. i overlook it, but then we don't have the problem with AHB up here in north country.
My point exactly...mean-not african, hence winter survival...with trade off of grumpy being better. You just don't keep them in your backyard in town.
p.s. I know what a bald faced hornet is ;D
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keeper, i don't know that it's 'mean' genetics that produce a better wintering bee? us northerners are very fortunate to not have to worry about or deal with AHB. i remember one member's story, cracker, and the AHB bees went after his chickens, yikes!!!
the russian bees get a bad rap on this, (aggressive and mean) and folks really have no idea what they are talking about sometimes. are they gentle, yes and no, but i have chosen to keep them for various reasons; success in overwintering, mite and disease resistant, good honey producers and success year after year with them is good enough for me, and if i have to wear a veil or gloves to work them so be it. they are more 'sensitive' to all changes and have some quirks about them, and will let you know when you lift the lid. when they are happy, you could probably work them like any other bee.
as far as bees getting grumpy, all bees get grumpy for one reason or another, we as beeks ought to be able to figure out why within a short period of time why they are grumpy and resolve the issue.
i haul some of my russkie hives to my suburban residence. a lot of city ordinances require the keeping of gentle bees....oops....LOL. on occasion i have had one or two get pretty snarky, but they have never bothered my neighbors, just me, when the lid is lifted. i correct the problem. the truth is my neighbors are stung more by yellow jackets, wasps and hornets and even though some of our city neighbors would like to blame our bees for this, it's typically not the honey bee but the other aggressive bees.
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I think most men think they've pinched a queen. :):)
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Aggressive is subjective when you keep them in a quarry somewhere.
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ha... seems lazy shooter make a most excellent point.
of course whether some stock is or is not africanized could be subject to a lot of debate.
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I'm looking for grumpy european bees, russians, etc that can't be worked with
WHY?
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I'm looking for grumpy european bees, russians, etc that can't be worked with
WHY?
They take care of themselves ;D If they make 20 lbs of honey per year for me, i don't care. As long as they make it through the winters. They tolerate the cold weather better.
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Angry unworkable bees don't produce more honey than gentle bees , if you discuss it with Queen breeders
The angry gene is not linked to the honey gathering gene.
It is more likely that the angry hives are left alone by the beekeeper to get on with it with minimal disturbance. It takes 24hrs for the bees to get things back into order after the beekeepers messed with the hive.
mvh Edward :P