Great Thread !!!
Yeah, but no one has stepped up to sell Mike a hive.
But that is ok... ;)
I knew the outcome, the responses, the angles, etc. The conclusion of my supposed "purchase" of bees was already cast. It was presented that I wanted to kill the bees. Or that my study would be slanted to only one conclusion. It reaffirms and allows the repeated response that others who have gone down that path have had to deal with.
I was pleasantly surprised that some chimed in with thoughtful comments. That the genetics are at play. That selection is a contributor. And that there is more to the story of smallcell than the often repeated message sent to many new beekeepers. Anyone who simply thinks they will regress bees and somehow all their problems go away, they will be sadly mistaken.
I have no desire to purchase bees. My finding would mean nothing by doing the same thing I already have accomplished. My desire was to have a conversation perhaps to help others reading this thread that maybe they should think about both sides, consider all the ideas, and not base their decisions on one persons website, or one narrow view expressed.
Beekeeping is full of claims. Whether it bee smallcell, Warre hives, TBH, FGMO, vinegar machines, etc. Most have agendas or are out to promote their product, their position, ego, etc.
I enjoyed this thread. Conversations such as this is banned or not allowed on some of the forums by the very people who are out promoting one way of keeping bees or another. That should tell you something. And that is why I will never put on blinders, promote one type of beekeeping, and limit other beekeepers from access of the full range of knowledge from across the board. New beekeepers should be on alert of the snake oil approach to claims, systematically controlled by others, and any idea that attacks those with dissenting views.
And you should be thankful for having a place like this forum to do it all in..... ;)