Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: golfpsycho on May 30, 2004, 01:29:08 am

Title: what type queens/bees are everyone keeping?
Post by: golfpsycho on May 30, 2004, 01:29:08 am

I'm very interested in the different queens being offered today.  I've always had italians, but there are alot of qualities being discussed and I would like as much information as I can get.  I've read about NWC's, buckfast, russians, smart queens, starline, and midnites.  Lots of conflicting information in different posts on Bee-L, and of course the queen breeders sites.  If I had a dozen hives, I would order a couple of each, requeening this fall, and draw my own conclusions.  

Unfortunately, at this time, I'm very limited as to what I can do, and waiting 2 or 3 years to make evaluations under variable conditions isn't very revealing.  My preference is making comb honey, so I like huge populations with as little propensity for swarming as can be bred for.  What is everyones experience with these various types?

Title: what type queens/bees are everyone keeping?
Post by: Beth Kirkley on May 30, 2004, 09:47:20 am

I have Italians, but I'd like to try Buckfast one day.

Beth

Title: what type queens/bees are everyone keeping?
Post by: Ross on June 03, 2004, 06:39:10 pm

I have had Italians for a year.  They were ok, but several hives got a little hot.  This spring I installed 6 NWC queens.  Those hives can now be worked without smoke.  I also picked up a hive of feral bees that are very gentle.