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Author Topic: Bee Weaver Buckfast Bees, what's the latest status of behavior?  (Read 7187 times)

Offline Ark

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Thinking about getting some of these Bees for the first time. I did a search on this forum and back in 08 there seemed to still be some issues with aggressiveness. That was 4 or 5 years ago, not much talk about them any more, just experiences past... So am I to assume Bee Weaver has succeeded in calming down their Bees and everyone is happy now?

I don't really want to know about 5 years or even 3 years ago. Has anyone purchased bees from them last year or even received any this year yet and how are they?


Offline Vance G

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Re: Bee Weaver Buckfast Bees, what's the latest status of behavior?
« Reply #1 on: April 18, 2013, 04:00:43 pm »
I think R Weaver has the buckfast not Bee Weaver.  Different operations even if run by brothers.

Offline gov1623

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Re: Bee Weaver Buckfast Bees, what's the latest status of behavior?
« Reply #2 on: April 18, 2013, 04:32:49 pm »
I got some R weaver buckfast queens last year to try out and they are doing great. Not the calmest bees i have but far from aggressive. Two deeps full of brood and working on their second box of honey. Sorry i cant tell you about Bee Weaver but the R weaever Buckfast queens are pretty good.
Who Dat!!!

Offline Ark

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Re: Bee Weaver Buckfast Bees, what's the latest status of behavior?
« Reply #3 on: April 18, 2013, 05:27:19 pm »
@ Vance Maybe I was misinformed.

Can anyone clarify what type of Bees they are and back to the original question.

Thanks

Offline duryeafarms

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Re: Re: Bee Weaver Buckfast Bees, what's the latest status of behavior?
« Reply #4 on: April 18, 2013, 07:57:56 pm »
If you are ordering from Beeweaver.com they are sold out.

Offline tecumseh

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Re: Bee Weaver Buckfast Bees, what's the latest status of behavior?
« Reply #5 on: April 18, 2013, 09:23:17 pm »
just for the record I sometime work for BWeaver.  RWeaver and BWeaver are distant cousins.  R Weaver sell several variety of bees including Buckfast and BWeaver sell one variety of bees that are treatment-less.
I am 'the panther that passes in the night'... tecumseh.

Offline Vance G

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Re: Bee Weaver Buckfast Bees, what's the latest status of behavior?
« Reply #6 on: April 18, 2013, 09:31:28 pm »
I stand corrected, I was told they were brothers or misremembered.  I have heard nothing but good things about both.  I have heard of hot bees froim both but all here say.

Offline Ark

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Re: Re: Bee Weaver Buckfast Bees, what's the latest status of behavior?
« Reply #7 on: April 18, 2013, 10:41:33 pm »
If you are ordering from Beeweaver.com they are sold out.

Gee wiz. I just checked (A couple days ago) and they were only sold out up to May 5th. someone got a huge order!

Offline capt44

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Re: Bee Weaver Buckfast Bees, what's the latest status of behavior?
« Reply #8 on: April 19, 2013, 01:07:04 am »
I bought 2 packages from Bee Weaver 3 years ago.
They are the Buckfast.
In the spring they are very calm and not aggressive.
But in July look out, them gals get onery quicker who thought it.
I have got them mostly Italian now from re-queening.
As far as Mites I had to treat with Formic Acid, but the colony is very strong now.
I checked the Drone brood and did the powdered sugar roll.
During this springs health inspections we found no mites but signs of small hive beetles.
The inspection was March 4th, 2013
All hives are very strong.
Richard Vardaman (capt44)

Offline tecumseh

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Re: Bee Weaver Buckfast Bees, what's the latest status of behavior?
« Reply #9 on: April 19, 2013, 07:48:37 am »
I think Capt that you may have gotten the buckfast in the last year that BWeaver actually produced distinct lines of bees.  As a side question I would like to know.... are the two hives created from the two packages still alive?
I am 'the panther that passes in the night'... tecumseh.

Offline Ark

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Re: Bee Weaver Buckfast Bees, what's the latest status of behavior?
« Reply #10 on: April 19, 2013, 08:01:11 am »
Capt, where did you get your queens from to requeen?

Offline Ark

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Re: Bee Weaver Buckfast Bees, what's the latest status of behavior?
« Reply #11 on: April 19, 2013, 08:06:13 am »
just for the record I sometime work for BWeaver.  RWeaver and BWeaver are distant cousins.  R Weaver sell several variety of bees including Buckfast and BWeaver sell one variety of bees that are treatment-less.

What are they considered to be now?

Offline tecumseh

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Re: Bee Weaver Buckfast Bees, what's the latest status of behavior?
« Reply #12 on: April 20, 2013, 07:50:14 am »
Ark writes...
What are they considered to be now?

tecumseh...
what is what considered to be now?  I simply do not understand what you are asking...
I am 'the panther that passes in the night'... tecumseh.

Offline gov1623

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Re: Bee Weaver Buckfast Bees, what's the latest status of behavior?
« Reply #13 on: April 20, 2013, 11:41:14 am »
B weaver queens are now basically survivors "mutts".  They mixed all their breeds together to make one type.
Who Dat!!!

Offline crane

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Re: Bee Weaver Buckfast Bees, what's the latest status of behavior?
« Reply #14 on: April 23, 2013, 03:48:04 am »
Ark

I bought a package of B Weaver bees last spring. They were one of two hives I started with. The other was a nuc I got from a friend. Both hives wintered well and numbers are really great on both. The bees in the nuc from my freind actually came out a little ornery at first, but have settled down now. Weaver bees have been no problem at all and are filling a super as we speak.

I am VERY happy with both sets of bees. I would buy from them again.

For what it's worth
Walley

Offline capt44

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Re: Bee Weaver Buckfast Bees, what's the latest status of behavior?
« Reply #15 on: April 24, 2013, 12:58:19 am »
I think Capt that you may have gotten the buckfast in the last year that BWeaver actually produced distinct lines of bees.  As a side question I would like to know.... are the two hives created from the two packages still alive?
Yep they're still alive.
Each one has around 50,000 or more bees right now.
I've split them every year.
But I have a cloake board on one and they're very aggressive.
Most of the time they are gentle in the spring and hateful in the fall.
But since I'm rearing queens in that particular hive, I've been in it quite abit.
Them gals are fussy and will follow me to my shop around 100 yards away.
I've got to where I use the smoker on me more than I do the bees. :laugh:

Oh yes the state Apiary board advises me not to purchase bees from that area of the southwest because of the Africanized bee traits.
Richard Vardaman (capt44)