Bees- the drones are flying!

Mid July and the drones (the boy bees) are flying. These bees were hived on April 23rd, and are doing quite nicely in my Top Bar Hive. I have let my hive requeen on their own, for I am trying to get bees that are naturalized for this region.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Bees
• Top
• Bar
• Hive
• Beekeeping
• Permaculture

[RockerboyJohn]

I just wanted to say to the author of this video, discipleofralph, as I'm sure you're aware of, be careful when you get a natural queen because the temperment affects the whole hive, so you never know if you're going to have nice bees or mean bees.

[discipleofralph]

I know that by allowing my bees to requeen naturally I may get a hot hive, but it 's not an either or thing. My hive has requeened, and while the bees aren't as docile as the Italian bees I hived, they are still friendly, I just use the smoker a little now. If the hive were too hot to work I would consider requeening, but why do it before then. As long as they are healthy, productive, and workable, I'll trust them to make their own queens.

[jett888]

I allow my bees to requeen naturally too- and believe the same as you- as long as there isn't a problem I think a natural selection to a point is important. But it is the Drones who would be bringing in the AHB's to the genetic pool- not the queen. But I guess that's why people like to order a mated queen-the mating has been controlled. oh well, so much for mother nature! lol

[discipleofralph]

I live in an area without AHB, so far. At this point I'm not too worried about it, I am on beekeeping lists with people who keep AHB, and they manage. TBHs have an advantage with AHB because one can keep most of the hive closed while working the in it. I love the vigor of my feral bees, the package bees I tried didn't do very well, they had been raised too dependent on meds. I am a natural beekeeper and don't use meds.

[jojojoroxx]

Drones who normally loaf around the hive eating, but gathering no nectar or pollen, do leave the hive to relieve themselves. They seem to buzz much louder when they fly. Show offs!

[discipleofralph]

Well, they also leave the hive to mate. Drones are funny, they don't have stingers, so they can be handled without worry. Drones are mainly around in summer, and few to none are in the hive in winter. The queen only lays them when needed.

[4tari]

zerg rush

[workwithnature]

Topbar hives are really the best :)

[jett888]

I'm with you- I've n ever had a colony collapse problem and my bees are from feral swarms and I allow them to requeen as well. I think they become stronger when allowed to forage naturally and not be medicated. I know a lot of commercial bee owners whose hives have been wiped out and they medicate and feed soy products. Hives that have a little aggression also protect their colonys better

[RockerboyJohn]

Well, as long as they don't cause any problems, some times you run the risk of aggressive bee genes.