Mr. Steppler I think your will like those Buckfast bees. I have had a version of them for 25 years, and if they are anything like mine you will also have a lot less problems with mites. I haven't treated for 20 years.
If your going to start marking may I suggest OIL based pens from Zeyar, medium point. Ive used them and the girls can't remove the paint. I got the idea from Black mountain honey in the UK.
Ian I’ve the same queens and they are corner to corner wall-to-wall of brood. A truly lovely Queen. They do need a small bit more winter feed. But that’s more for spring build up compared to the European black bee that are slower to build up so use less stores.
I have been adding true Italian for the last two years so I can have more bees early in the season, trying to split before blueberry. They eat everything over winter, 3 times as much as konas. Will Italian winter well in singles, we shall see. I feed Italians a month sooner than konas. Pray for a short winter.
I got some buckfast queens last year - made some nucs with their daughters… had the best overwintering I’ve had and a lot of them were booming out of winter. They are some nice queens!
Buckfast queen's are brilliant here in the UK. Your going to love them, did a demaree she drew out 11 frames of foundation full of eggs within 2 weeks in the bottom box.
Have you ever tried Carniolian Queens crossed with Italian Drones or the reverse of that. I've been retired from beekeeping for about 10 years now but that is what I would buy. They were harder to work with but they would produce honey! I had my in a area east of LaCrosse, Wi. Some places the honey flow would start in May and I darn will better have plenty of boxes on my pickup or I would be making another trip.
I saw that golden queen as you pulled the fram out, wow they are so much easier to see. Good to see that things are starting to smooth over for you. I'm eager to get updates on the over wintered hives that we're small. I know that some were stumbling. I was of the belief that the genetics would kick in and bring a speedy recovery typical of Carnelian bees, I know that they are a mix.
So happy to see things going better. The upcoming long flow hours will put you in an even better mood. Maybe every 5 yrs or so buy a small amount of queens in to see if there are any traits and genetics you might want to include into your genetics. Also when you send that bottle of whiskey tell your guy to make note of which supplier it was that provided the ones you like.
Around 85% of the Queens here are Italian. The one things we notice is that they are far more uniform and that makes some parts of management smoother.
A good Buckfast is the best you can have. Gentle, hardworking, very resistant to brood diseases and almost no swarming behavior. They need massive clusters to go thru the winter, they have a greater susceptibility to varroa, and they starve quickly, so be careful. I'm a little scared for the Italiens. As you probably know, the climate in Italy does not have much to do with the Canadian one. Good luck, and thanks for sharing your expieriences unmasked.
From where I'm standing, I think you would need some genetics closer to where Bob Binnie is going something about half and half Carniolan-Caucasian crossed, but then again what do I know about keeping bees in Manitoba, here the canola flow ends mid april and the cotton flow doesn't start til end of july
When you manage that many hives, how do you keep notes on which queens are doing great but the bees are trying to supercede, which are questionable, which are totally fine, etc? Just mental notes?
I'm reluctant to suggest because I'm a novice and learning from your channel. You probably have this well in hand. You spoke before about cross contamination with Nosema water on top of the buckets. You said on your last video about foul and Sac brood. Could equalising by swopping frames, using the same gloves and tools, between hives and yards. Also be cross infecting your stock?
When i switched to buckfast i had to remove supercede cells for a month till she has her own daughters in the colony. Think they can smell genetics are different. I did have more chalk brood, so had to cull some queens.
They will build FAST . Big honey producers.Also eat a lot . They will swarm fast if you are not careful. Split Split Split . BUT I WOULD NOT RUN ANYTHING BUT Italians . Hang on for the ride . Good luck hope they work out for your operation .
They brood massively, watch the swarming tendencies and as far as mite treatments go they have brood late into the season and sometimes don’t shut down Completely. Great for building bees, some make a lot of honey some don’t.
Are you going to try formic pro this summer? I’m almost as north as you in Buffalo NY and I’ve used it for 4 years before the fall flow and I get great numbers going into winter
so far in our experience having had ITALIANS for many years I can say that they are an absolute beauty regarding brooding being specially liked by queen producing operations but LESS so in honey production. ALSO at the end of crop--MASSIVE ROBBING behavior. Good luck and keep an eye for what I described🌞🌻
I have mixed feelings about the buckfest queens. The buck fest queens I purchased a couple years ago did really well out of the gate. I am weeding them out of my operation, though for the main reason for me… I find they tend to get a lot of mites come fall time, and I find the nest really dwindle over winter. But are they ever a gentle and calm bee
You're right Ian, Italian Queens are so much easier to find then the darker Queens. I have bought carniolan and Italians and I find that carnies are meaner, and swarm more and consume much less stores in the winter. But as far as honey production and brood rearing the Italians have been just fine no advantage with the Carney's.
That depends on your climate. Italians are great if you have long seasons and short and mild winters. But they don't winter well and need a lot of winter stores. A more northern bee copes better with short seasons and harsh winters. Not as much honey output for sure, but there is less forage and a highly compressed season. That seems far more like what Ian has to cope with.
I'm surprised to hear you say that. I've worked with carnica for decades and never had any problems with aggression or swarming. It probably depends on how much control your supplier has over the mating area.
A word of caution: although they are prodigious brooders and good honey producers, this can be a double edged sword. They will continue brooding later in the season than other bees so, in your climate, they could eat you out of house and home. Beware! Probably the best way to use these packages is to use them as honey producers / take frames of brood to form your nucs /etc -but replace the queens with your own proven stock to over winter. This may sound like a negative but they do have their uses. Just don't become seduced by their strengths. They also have some quite serious flaws.
Buckfast bees EAT EVERYTHING and convert it to brood. And there brood smells like pig manure. Use to see old queens laing eggs and new queens hatching at the same time. They don't swaem easily.
I’ve had my operation on the product for a number of years now. This year no different. Thank goodness for that bump. I loose the edge due to disease and weather problems. I fight back with an edge with nutrition and medication
I'm wondering on checking the health of a hive by watching the entrance and not having to go in. Would appreciate comments on this focus as opposed to working to open them all up so often. I watch this one for hours trying to learn as much as possible. th-cam.com/video/VOlq3RROT2E/w-d-xo.html
"Another job to do." Wow, just what you needed. Looking real good brother. God's peace.
Happy, positive videos from Ian make my day. So, today I'm smiling.
Glad to see these bees doing well Ian!
Mr. Steppler I think your will like those Buckfast bees. I have had a version of them for 25 years, and if they are anything like mine you will also have a lot less problems with mites. I haven't treated for 20 years.
That queen isn't just shining, she's positively glowing :D Looks like you're going to have a great recovery!
If your going to start marking may I suggest OIL based pens from Zeyar, medium point. Ive used them and the girls can't remove the paint.
I got the idea from Black mountain honey in the UK.
Ian I’ve the same queens and they are corner to corner wall-to-wall of brood. A truly lovely Queen. They do need a small bit more winter feed. But that’s more for spring build up compared to the European black bee that are slower to build up so use less stores.
I’ve always had Italian queens and have been very happy with them!! Thanks Ian!
hope you like them as good in the fall as you do now
I always worry about bringing in new bees, wondering if they are coming from a good source, loving it when they turn out so nice.
I have been adding true Italian for the last two years so I can have more bees early in the season, trying to split before blueberry. They eat everything over winter, 3 times as much as konas. Will Italian winter well in singles, we shall see. I feed Italians a month sooner than konas. Pray for a short winter.
I got some buckfast queens last year - made some nucs with their daughters… had the best overwintering I’ve had and a lot of them were booming out of winter. They are some nice queens!
Liking the buckfast then 😊
Buckfast queen's are brilliant here in the UK. Your going to love them, did a demaree she drew out 11 frames of foundation full of eggs within 2 weeks in the bottom box.
Have you ever tried Carniolian Queens crossed with Italian Drones or the reverse of that. I've been retired from beekeeping for about 10 years now but that is what I would buy. They were harder to work with but they would produce honey! I had my in a area east of LaCrosse, Wi. Some places the honey flow would start in May and I darn will better have plenty of boxes on my pickup or I would be making another trip.
Very happy to see things are heading in the right direction for you
So far those buckfast look like keepers
I saw that golden queen as you pulled the fram out, wow they are so much easier to see.
Good to see that things are starting to smooth over for you.
I'm eager to get updates on the over wintered hives that we're small. I know that some were stumbling. I was of the belief that the genetics would kick in and bring a speedy recovery typical of Carnelian bees, I know that they are a mix.
Seconds on some, heading into the flow,
Next weeks job after the packages get worked over
I Love my Buckfasts as well.
So happy to see things going better. The upcoming long flow hours will put you in an even better mood. Maybe every 5 yrs or so buy a small amount of queens in to see if there are any traits and genetics you might want to include into your genetics. Also when you send that bottle of whiskey tell your guy to make note of which supplier it was that provided the ones you like.
Ian we could see that shiny queen as you lifted that frame up! Talk about easy identification! That bee importer deserves some real good 👍 Wiskey.
Around 85% of the Queens here are Italian. The one things we notice is that they are far more uniform and that makes some parts of management smoother.
A good Buckfast is the best you can have. Gentle, hardworking, very resistant to brood diseases and almost no swarming behavior. They need massive clusters to go thru the winter, they have a greater susceptibility to varroa, and they starve quickly, so be careful.
I'm a little scared for the Italiens. As you probably know, the climate in Italy does not have much to do with the Canadian one. Good luck, and thanks for sharing your expieriences unmasked.
From where I'm standing, I think you would need some genetics closer to where Bob Binnie is going something about half and half Carniolan-Caucasian crossed, but then again what do I know about keeping bees in Manitoba, here the canola flow ends mid april and the cotton flow doesn't start til end of july
When you have decided to stop🤔you have to look at that 🤨next frame.😂
did you swipe Carries hive tool?
When you manage that many hives, how do you keep notes on which queens are doing great but the bees are trying to supercede, which are questionable, which are totally fine, etc? Just mental notes?
Mental notes, white board and then allowing the colonies to fall into anonymity
Number one for the Italian queen bee, bukpast, brood
Is there a way of knowing the age of the larvae using thermal imaging?
lookin good Ian! Bracing for the flow!
yeaaaahh an other Buckfast fan.. 🥰
I'm reluctant to suggest because I'm a novice and learning from your channel. You probably have this well in hand. You spoke before about cross contamination with Nosema water on top of the buckets. You said on your last video about foul and Sac brood. Could equalising by swopping frames, using the same gloves and tools, between hives and yards. Also be cross infecting your stock?
Yes. But these are all dynamics that a commercially run operation needs to accept. I can’t manage individual colonies. It’s an operation thing
When i switched to buckfast i had to remove supercede cells for a month till she has her own daughters in the colony. Think they can smell genetics are different.
I did have more chalk brood, so had to cull some queens.
Hey Ian when are going to eye tally
Maybe Italy (small irk for me) It Tally
I have had good luck with the Italian Buckfast. Would sure like to know where they get their queen markers?
Mann lake
Are you using grated plywood on your pallets?
They will build FAST . Big honey producers.Also eat a lot . They will swarm fast if you are not careful. Split Split Split . BUT I WOULD NOT RUN ANYTHING BUT Italians . Hang on for the ride . Good luck hope they work out for your operation .
Florescent colors seem to pop out better. Pink instead of red. Light blue and green over the darker.
They brood massively, watch the swarming tendencies and as far as mite treatments go they have brood late into the season and sometimes don’t shut down Completely. Great for building bees, some make a lot of honey some don’t.
Are you going to try formic pro this summer? I’m almost as north as you in Buffalo NY and I’ve used it for 4 years before the fall flow and I get great numbers going into winter
Sure is hot up here
so far in our experience having had ITALIANS for many years I can say that they are an absolute beauty regarding brooding being specially liked by queen producing operations but LESS so in honey production. ALSO at the end of crop--MASSIVE ROBBING behavior. Good luck and keep an eye for what I described🌞🌻
From Italy?
I have mixed feelings about the buckfest queens. The buck fest queens I purchased a couple years ago did really well out of the gate. I am weeding them out of my operation, though for the main reason for me… I find they tend to get a lot of mites come fall time, and I find the nest really dwindle over winter. But are they ever a gentle and calm bee
Time will definitely tell the tale. As of right now, brood is key. So many available queen stock even lacks the start.
2:21 one on the other side too :)
You're right Ian, Italian Queens are so much easier to find then the darker Queens. I have bought carniolan and Italians and I find that carnies are meaner, and swarm more and consume much less stores in the winter. But as far as honey production and brood rearing the Italians have been just fine no advantage with the Carney's.
That depends on your climate. Italians are great if you have long seasons and short and mild winters. But they don't winter well and need a lot of winter stores. A more northern bee copes better with short seasons and harsh winters. Not as much honey output for sure, but there is less forage and a highly compressed season. That seems far more like what Ian has to cope with.
I'm surprised to hear you say that. I've worked with carnica for decades and never had any problems with aggression or swarming. It probably depends on how much control your supplier has over the mating area.
A word of caution: although they are prodigious brooders and good honey producers, this can be a double edged sword. They will continue brooding later in the season than other bees so, in your climate, they could eat you out of house and home. Beware!
Probably the best way to use these packages is to use them as honey producers / take frames of brood to form your nucs /etc -but replace the queens with your own proven stock to over winter.
This may sound like a negative but they do have their uses. Just don't become seduced by their strengths. They also have some quite serious flaws.
Buckfast bees EAT EVERYTHING and convert it to brood.
And there brood smells like pig manure.
Use to see old queens laing eggs and new queens hatching at the same time. They don't swaem easily.
i love my caramel colored queens, and ive got a bunch of them
Does every colony get the biologix?
I’ve had my operation on the product for a number of years now. This year no different. Thank goodness for that bump. I loose the edge due to disease and weather problems. I fight back with an edge with nutrition and medication
Problem with Italians is they will take more to over winter in the shed unlike a Carnie/Cauc.
Buckfast the best
Crown Royal?
Anything but Windsor.
Boa noite,vc aí trabalha só com as eropeias
I wonder what will happen to your own breeding programm? I guess you have had a well adopted stock since you breed from your own stock since years?!
I’ll continue on with our selection process as usual next year
I'm wondering on checking the health of a hive by watching the entrance and not having to go in. Would appreciate comments on this focus as opposed to working to open them all up so often. I watch this one for hours trying to learn as much as possible. th-cam.com/video/VOlq3RROT2E/w-d-xo.html
You can certainly tell a lot by what Is found at the entrance
Are those Queens artificially inseminated?