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Author Topic: AHB Concern  (Read 15475 times)

Offline Shawn

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Re: AHB Concern
« Reply #20 on: March 11, 2008, 12:22:46 am »
Thats good news to know.

Offline Joseph Clemens

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Re: AHB Concern
« Reply #21 on: March 11, 2008, 01:00:54 am »
I guess migrating Northern and Eastern hives into the West and Southwest and then taking them back again might be intentionally/unintentionally spreading the dreaded AHB. Oops, hasn't that been what's been going on each Spring in the California Almond groves? Hives from across this nation and many bees from as far away as Australia (I wonder what their policy is on importing bees from other nations) get together each Spring, go out and socialize among the almond blossoms, swarm together, drink from the same water fountains -- possibly have a few AHB colonies share some usurping queens with their non-AHB neighbors. I wonder if those bees recently immigrating here from down-under, would be welcome home, even if they were returned, free-of-charge.

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Offline BMAC

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Re: AHB Concern
« Reply #22 on: March 11, 2008, 09:00:45 am »
I guess migrating Northern and Eastern hives into the West and Southwest and then taking them back again might be intentionally/unintentionally spreading the dreaded AHB. Oops, hasn't that been what's been going on each Spring in the California Almond groves? Hives from across this nation and many bees from as far away as Australia (I wonder what their policy is on importing bees from other nations) get together each Spring, go out and socialize among the almond blossoms, swarm together, drink from the same water fountains -- possibly have a few AHB colonies share some usurping queens with their non-AHB neighbors. I wonder if those bees recently immigrating here from down-under, would be welcome home, even if they were returned, free-of-charge.
I don't believe the bees coming in from Australia are coming in hive form.  The Aussies are selling packages to the US in Dec-Jan for Almonds.  Very expensive to buy them, and they stay here in the states.  I spoke with Terry Brown (Brown's Bees in Australia) and he said it is almost impossible to import bees into Australia.  Maybe we should have taken that stance with our borders, but have failed to do so....
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Offline KONASDAD

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Re: AHB Concern
« Reply #23 on: March 11, 2008, 11:06:23 am »
undoubtedly, migrating beeks are spreading everything asssociated w/ bees, good and bad.
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Offline Brian D. Bray

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Re: AHB Concern
« Reply #24 on: March 11, 2008, 10:52:51 pm »
Thats not good news.

Realize that elevation also affects the viability of AHB spread.  I would not expect Denver to be infected by AHB because conditions of climate in the Mile High City put it on a climate par more like Oregon or Washington.  The AHB wouldn't survive the winter in most of Colorado.
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Offline Shawn

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Re: AHB Concern
« Reply #25 on: March 12, 2008, 02:34:53 am »
We are about 3,000 feet above see level where Denver is in the 6,000. I guess if it happens it happens.

Offline Ross

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Re: AHB Concern
« Reply #26 on: March 12, 2008, 06:23:22 pm »
Quote
Seems one Texas producer is shipping Queens w/ AHB genes.
In a word, prove it.  That's just unconfirmed bashing.  Texas queen producers are inspected.  Can they have a hot queen?  Of course, but so can any other producer.  Weaver's, both of them, ship thousands of queens and packages a year, many to the big boys.  Don't you think it would be pretty obvious by now (10 years) if they were shipping AHB? 
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Offline Understudy

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Re: AHB Concern
« Reply #27 on: March 12, 2008, 11:02:14 pm »
My ferals ended up being European. A hive can be hot without being AHB.

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Offline KONASDAD

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Re: AHB Concern
« Reply #28 on: March 13, 2008, 12:42:55 am »
Quote
Seems one Texas producer is shipping Queens w/ AHB genes.
In a word, prove it.  That's just unconfirmed bashing.  Texas queen producers are inspected.  Can they have a hot queen?  Of course, but so can any other producer.  Weaver's, both of them, ship thousands of queens and packages a year, many to the big boys.  Don't you think it would be pretty obvious by now (10 years) if they were shipping AHB? 
Refer to MAAREC for their studies. Thats where I got info. Thats the info given to me an NJBA exec meeting to be passed along to our membership. Thats how positive they are. This was after genetic testing too. And yes, hives can be hot w/o AHB genes. Thse particuluar hives were all requeened by queens from one breeder or were packages from same source.
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Offline sarafina

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Re: AHB Concern
« Reply #29 on: March 13, 2008, 01:54:13 am »
Well, that does not leave me with a warm, fuzzy feeling.  Our local beekeepping association recommended buying my package bees and queen from R Weaver in Navasota and we are driving up on April 5th to pick them up.  This is my first hive - I am a complete noob - so I hope I get a good queen and a good group of girls!

Offline sarafina

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Re: AHB Concern
« Reply #30 on: March 13, 2008, 02:02:16 am »
Quote
Seems one Texas producer is shipping Queens w/ AHB genes.
In a word, prove it.  That's just unconfirmed bashing.  Texas queen producers are inspected.  Can they have a hot queen?  Of course, but so can any other producer.  Weaver's, both of them, ship thousands of queens and packages a year, many to the big boys.  Don't you think it would be pretty obvious by now (10 years) if they were shipping AHB? 
Refer to MAAREC for their studies. Thats where I got info. Thats the info given to me an NJBA exec meeting to be passed along to our membership. Thats how positive they are. This was after genetic testing too. And yes, hives can be hot w/o AHB genes. Thse particuluar hives were all requeened by queens from one breeder or were packages from same source.

I went to MAAREC's site and I did not find any recommendations about not buying bees from Texas producers on the AHB Action Plan 2006 document, but perhaps there was another document I missed.  Also nothing on a Texas producer shipping Queens with AHB genes.

Since I am purchasing package bees and a queen from a local Texas producer I would like to follow up on this - can you provide a link?

Offline Michael Bush

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Re: AHB Concern
« Reply #31 on: March 13, 2008, 07:49:45 am »
You are in Texas.  Buying Texas bees makes sense when you live in Texas.
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Offline BMAC

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Re: AHB Concern
« Reply #32 on: March 13, 2008, 08:31:36 am »
Quote
Seems one Texas producer is shipping Queens w/ AHB genes.
In a word, prove it.  That's just unconfirmed bashing.  Texas queen producers are inspected.  Can they have a hot queen?  Of course, but so can any other producer.  Weaver's, both of them, ship thousands of queens and packages a year, many to the big boys.  Don't you think it would be pretty obvious by now (10 years) if they were shipping AHB? 

Ross you make a great point.  There is no real point in bashing anyone or anyone state.  Besides it does not much matter about the AHB genetics spreading throughout the US.  They are here.  They are not leaving.  The best thing we can do now is intentionally breed the hotness and the habit of obsconding out of them.  Several queen breeders believe they can successfully do that with just a few seasons.  It would be nice to see it happen, of course to be real successful we beekeepers would have to intentionally allow our swarms to actually swarm and go off into the wilderness and breed with the AHB queens......
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Offline Jerrymac

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Re: AHB Concern
« Reply #33 on: March 13, 2008, 09:54:40 am »
The AHB started down in South America in the 1950s. All these years and all the spreading and breeding with other bees and they are still "Hot", so they say, and now someone thinks it can be bred out of them in a few years?
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Offline Cindi

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Re: AHB Concern
« Reply #34 on: March 13, 2008, 10:11:40 am »
Sarafina, I am concerned that you are getting a little bit scared about getting a hot hive.  This will be your first colony and don't let this kind of stuff give you the willies.  Personally, I need to console you a little bit.  The place where you are getting your colony from is obviously reputable, otherwise your local beekeeping association would not have recommended you to get them from T Weaver.

I am not saying that there isn't the possibility that the hive may not be hot, that can happen to anyone, but please, don't let it worry you too much.  I doubt that the hive will be hot.  Just wanting you to not get scared off.  It is a frightening thing for a new beekeeper to hear of hot hives, and don't let this govern how you feel about getting your bees.  Things will be OK, I have faith in that.

Look at it this way, if the hive is calm that is good, if the hive is hot, (which I don't think so), you will not know the difference anyways, hee, hee, as you have nothing to compare to.  Just deal with the bees any which way you can, and things will be well.  Get your bees on April 5, you will be happy, any which way.  Have a wonderful and beautiful day, Cindi
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Offline KONASDAD

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Re: AHB Concern
« Reply #35 on: March 13, 2008, 10:42:23 am »
First let me say I am not State bashing. I am passing on info I received from NJBA MAAREC rep . I trust this info. If you choose not to, by all means do so.
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Offline Understudy

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Re: AHB Concern
« Reply #36 on: March 13, 2008, 11:07:04 am »
I don't want to come off as callous but I will be blunt.

If you want to be a beekeeper you need to be prepared for the things that can happen.
Much like being an electrician, it is very likely you will get shocked. You do your utmost to avoid it but sooner or later something will happen.

Beehives can be hot for a number reasons. Understanding and respecting the bees for those reasons makes you a better beekeeper.

Do not live in fear of what might happen. Come at with understanding it will happen. Treat each hive as if though it has the potential to be hot and you will be better off.

You can buy a hive from a reputable dealer. You can buy queens from the finest breeders. You can do all the right things and something will go wrong. Because bees make up their own mind.

Let's look at the some of the reasons a hive can go hot.
1. Loss of queen.
2. Recent robbing attempt.
3. Weather change.
4. Lack of food
5. Hive is ready to swarm.
6. Odors in the area have upset the hive
7. You drop a hive

1. The loss of a queen especially if it is a recent loss will set the bees into a very defensive mode. Old beekeepers will tell you the hive has more of roar sound than a buzz sound.
2. Bees that have had a robbing attempt or recent animal attack. Are already in a defensive mood. You are just another problem to them.
3. On a nice sunny day. A sudden cold front or sun shower will make bees very unhappy.
4. Bees that are starving are not happy bees.
5. When a hive is ready to swarm half the bees, half the honey and the old queen are getting ready to leave. They are not kind to having the process in it's final stage disturbed.
6. Sometimes some odor natural or man made has come across with the wind. This why beekeepers recommend against eating things like banana before going into a hive.
7. Nice bees go ballistic when you get clumsy.

When you look at that it seems awfully scary. Why in the world would anyone keep bees under situations where things like that can happen. Because it is on the same par with cooking on the stove. You can have the pot of water get knocked. You can burn the bread. You can bump into the burner. The pilot light on the gas stove can go out and fill the house with gas.

In the world things can happen. If you live in fear of everything that can go wrong nothing will get done. Bees are stinging insects that defend themselves and their home. We don't blame them for that. We try to work with them. But you have to understand you are the intruder. You can give all the sugar water and pollen patties to your bees and even talk nice to them. None of that provides you with any guarantees.

And out of this experience comes wisdom.

Dealers try to do the right things. They receive inspections. Health certificates are required with postal shipments. So if a dealer is given a notice of concern. That is not a bad thing it means the system is working. In Florida they don't advocate open air breeding because of the AHB issue. However the rates of supercedure on AI queens shows that they aren't doing as well as everyone would like. If there are concerns about a dealer be practical don't purchase queens from that dealer until they have issued a clean bill to them.

There are a lot of things to look into when buying your products. Smart shopping is always a good idea. And opinions will vary.

Rule #1 for beekeeping is have fun.
Rule #2 is remember bees sting and that can be no fun.

Now I have to go and play in traffic. :)


Sincerely,
Brendhan

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Offline Jerrymac

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Re: AHB Concern
« Reply #37 on: March 13, 2008, 11:29:38 am »
3. On a nice sunny day. A sudden cold front or sun shower will make bees very unhappy.

I'm not sure I know what a sun shower is. Raining down happiness maybe?
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Offline Understudy

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Re: AHB Concern
« Reply #38 on: March 13, 2008, 11:36:05 am »
3. On a nice sunny day. A sudden cold front or sun shower will make bees very unhappy.

I'm not sure I know what a sun shower is. Raining down happiness maybe?

A sun shower is when the sky is sunny and small rain cloud comes over your area. It doesn't block out the sun so it's sunny and rainy at the same time. Similar to having that small gray cloud that follows you around sometimes.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

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Offline Cindi

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Re: AHB Concern
« Reply #39 on: March 14, 2008, 12:31:24 am »
Brendan, lovely!!!  That was a very well written and awesome story your wrote, I loved it and it is all so true, all of it.  Keep on keepin' on, man, you're doin' a good job.  Best of this wonderful day and those to come.  Cindi
There are strange things done in the midnight sun by the men who moil for gold.  The Arctic trails have their secret tales that would make your blood run cold.  The Northern Lights have seen queer sights, but the queerest they ever did see, what the night on the marge of Lake Lebarge, I cremated Sam McGee.  Robert Service