My wife and I pulled honey from one of our Russian hives yesterday afternoon. They are the gentlest bees we have. I am really pleased with the genetics. Incidentally they were a new package this spring. Really pleased with the honey production too.
David
I have Russians and some ferals as well. I to like my Russians they are usually pretty gentle they built up fast this spring and have produced a ton of honey. I am really happy with them.
Keith
I have 5 Russian colonies, as well as Italian, Buckfast, German, NWC, and a few colonies of Ferrel's. Trying to find, the one that I like best . The Russians are fast to build up, not as aggressive as the Buckfast. You have to stay one-up on them or you will find them hanging from a tree and a paniced neighbor on the other end of the phone. When I start next years expansions, I think that Russians will make it in the top 2 for our choice to buy, Buckfast, will be at the bottom of the list.
Good luck,
Marc
We have Italians, Carniolans and Buckfast too. I agree, we put the Russians right up there at the top.
Quote from: dpence on August 05, 2008, 02:02:13 PM
We have Italians, Carniolans and Buckfast too. I agree, we put the Russians right up there at the top.
where did you get the stock from :) RDY-B
I am curious about how quickly they built up. Are they in deeps, mediums? How many do they have drawn out? I, also, would like to know where to get a couple packages of Russians.
They started on one deep with plasticell April 15th, I added the second deep the last of May. I put the first medium super on mid June and have pulled fully capped honey this week. All the frames (10) in the super were drawn out, a few not completely capped (3) I left them in the hive. The packages came from Walter T. Kelly. I will admit the hives are on a 40 acre farm with lots of nectar and pollen sources.
David
Way to go David. Even with all the rain they are still doing well! OUr Russians are doing fine as well. I agree, they are some of the most easy going of all of our hives.
Dennis
Thanks Dennis, I have some buckwheat blooming. Not much but some. I tilled up another strip this week and planted it, hopefully it isn't too late for it to bloom.
David