Author Topic: Drones (Read 7975 times)

crazy8days · « **on:** May 08, 2014, 06:02:51 pm »

checked hives last week. All doing super. 1 hive had 1 frame that was loaded with drone cells. I located the queen. She is last years stock. She is laying strong. Yesterday I noticed many drones at the entrance and in front of the hive in the grass. What's going on?

Beeboy · « **Reply #1 on:** May 08, 2014, 06:19:20 pm »

I wish I knew what was going on because I have one just like it.

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brooksbeefarm · « **Reply #2 on:** May 08, 2014, 07:07:31 pm »

Have you checked for mites? Mites love big juicy Drones.

Jack

Perry · « **Reply #3 on:** May 08, 2014, 08:11:05 pm »

I have some hives with lots of drones, some with hardly any. The bees know what's going on, and I don't try to second guess them.

Woody Roberts · « **Reply #4 on:** May 08, 2014, 08:26:19 pm »

Quote from: Perry on May 08, 2014, 08:11:05 pm

I have some hives with lots of drones, some with hardly any. The bees know what's going on, and I don't try to second guess them.

Me too

Jen · « **Reply #5 on:** May 08, 2014, 08:54:28 pm »

Hey Crazy

I had what I would call an excess of drones for a couple of months now. And I also had to peel away a bunch of wonky drone comb off of the frames. Didn't seem to matter, the bees still made more drones. But within the last 2-3 weeks there doesn't seem to be as many.

rcannon · « **Reply #6 on:** May 08, 2014, 09:03:23 pm »

Me, too. Plenty of drones this year.

crazy8days · « **Reply #7 on:** May 08, 2014, 09:20:22 pm »

Jack, I did remove last week some extra comb with larva and yes, there were varroa. Glad to hear what I'm seeing is normal. The extra drones that is.

Bamabww · « **Reply #8 on:** May 08, 2014, 09:21:55 pm »

Some of my hives are loaded with drones and some are about what I'm used to seeing. I just let the girls decide how many they want to keep around.

Woody Roberts · « **Reply #9 on:** May 08, 2014, 10:12:29 pm »

I'm foundationless so I'm accustomed to seeing several drones in the spring. Drone comb and brood in strong hives. Weaker hives that are about to be or are being superseded will have far more drones in it than they could have raised.

The boys know where there might be some action.

These are just my thoughts and observations. Sometimes they both get derailed. Sometimes they need to be.

tbonekel · « **Reply #10 on:** May 08, 2014, 10:17:32 pm »

I have been slowly converting to foundationless. As I do, more drone comb is produced. I have a lot of drones in one of my hives. Not my choice, but I will let them do it.

brooksbeefarm · « **Reply #11 on:** May 08, 2014, 10:54:18 pm »

Drone brood makes fantastic Blue Gill bait during the spawn on Stockton Lake.

Jack

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #12 on:** May 10, 2014, 08:39:44 pm »

YES! Blue Gills and Crappie LOVE Drone brood! They hit the line as fast as it hits the water!

blueblood · « **Reply #13 on:** May 11, 2014, 09:13:53 am »

I never thought of using them for fish bait, good idea!

Bakersdozen · « **Reply #14 on:** May 11, 2014, 09:17:21 am »

Quote from: blueblood on May 11, 2014, 09:13:53 am

I never thought of using them for fish bait, good idea!

Chickens love em too!

pistolpete · « **Reply #15 on:** May 12, 2014, 02:31:43 am »

I have heard that drones are good for colony morale. It would seem that hives that have the normal proportion of 10 to 15% drones are happier and more productive, where hives that have a lack of drones due to foundation and culling are more irritable and less productive. I am wondering if anyone had seen research that backs up that claim, or if it's just conjecture.

brooksbeefarm · « **Reply #16 on:** May 12, 2014, 09:35:46 am »

Pete, let's see now? If a hive had 10% or 15% of Perry's, Iddee's, Lazy's, ect. hanging around the house all day every day waiting to be fed and groomed by, Squirt, Jen, Baker12, ect. day after day that this would be a happy productive hive???

. Really though, i find that the strong hives with less drones and tend to be on the mean side are my best honey producer's. I'm goig to catch it for that, but i couldn't help it Pete.

Jack

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #17 on:** May 12, 2014, 09:49:32 am »

Quote from: brooksbeefarm on May 12, 2014, 09:35:46 am

Pete, let's see now? If a hive had 10% or 15% of Perry's, Iddee's, Lazy's, ect. hanging around the house all day every day waiting to be fed and groomed by, Squirt, Jen, Baker12, ect. day after day that this would be a happy productive hive??? . Really though, i find that the strong hives with less drones and tend to be on the mean side are my best honey producer's. I'm goig to catch it for that, but i couldn't help it Pete. Jack

With that line up those ladies would be entertained and smiling. A DEFINITE moral booster!!!!!!

Edit;
Of course they would not make as much honey, they are too busy hangin out with me, Perry and Iddee! Cant expect to get as much work done with those handsome devils nearby!!

riverbee · « **Reply #18 on:** May 12, 2014, 10:36:17 am »

LOL!!!...........

CpnObvious · « **Reply #19 on:** May 12, 2014, 12:08:51 pm »

Quote from: brooksbeefarm on May 08, 2014, 10:54:18 pm

Drone brood makes fantastic Blue Gill bait during the spawn on Stockton Lake. Jack

*** Isn't that kind of like feeding your babies to the lions at the zoo?

Besides... who REALLY fishes for bluegill?