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Post by MsAli on Jan 20, 2020 22:11:42 GMT -5
It's really interesting to me. I may have to pick his brain later. One last question. What strain of bees? Black ones and yellow ones... I guess basically carniolian and Italian. I plan to order 50 Rufer (Minnesota) Hygenic queens at $29.00 each. And may I say, that’s an expensive bug! Not cheap bugs at all That is the fairly going rate for a queen. I paid 177 for 3lbs of Saskatraz and going to drop another 180 or so to have some buckfast shipped in from Texas. Not to mention all the supply cost Adds up pretty fast |
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Post by knave on Jan 20, 2020 23:25:24 GMT -5
Not cheap bugs at all That is the fairly going rate for a queen. I paid 177 for 3lbs of Saskatraz and going to drop another 180 or so to have some buckfast shipped in from Texas. Not to mention all the supply cost Adds up pretty fast That’s crazy expensive. If I recall correctly when I was in it a package with queen was around $40. Worst part is there’s no guarantee they will survive the winter. |
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Post by MsAli on Jan 21, 2020 6:53:51 GMT -5
My uncles, grandad and dad have had bees from the time I was born. Strains that dont even exist anymore.
Dad hasnt had a hive survive a winter in years.
Dad thinks they are bred for profit now and no matter what you do, you wont get em through a winter.
We shall see
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Post by knave on Jan 21, 2020 7:36:17 GMT -5
Amid all the attention to mites and CCD, some people (not your dad) pay a little less attention to winter food stores. Happened to my dad. Lots of the dead ones one year were light, no honey left.
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Post by fernwood on Jan 21, 2020 7:55:05 GMT -5
Same thing happened to a former neighbor of mine. My fiance told her to be sure to provide food for the bees. Also to protect the hive from the Winter temps/elements.
She did not have enough $ to purchase food for a month. When she finally got some and opened the hive all the bees were dead.
At first, she said they were just hibernating. Spring arrived and she had dead bees. No honey, as they had eaten all of the honey.
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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 21, 2020 13:16:09 GMT -5
I use beeswax for blades and bits, too. Great stuff.
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Post by fernwood on Jan 23, 2020 5:17:27 GMT -5
Here is what I received. Looking forward to experimenting with it.  |
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Post by knave on Jan 23, 2020 5:21:27 GMT -5
Glad to see the package made it. Put some in an old saucepan with water and heat it. Strain it all through a paper towel to get cleaner wax. The wax will float on the water.
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