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Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: BrentX on March 14, 2012, 10:09:03 AM

Title: Drones for splits
Post by: BrentX on March 14, 2012, 10:09:03 AM
Who has drones flying?

I have drone brood, but haven't seen any drones flying.

I would like to do some splits, but need drones for the new queens.

I read that drones need three weeks to become fertile after hatching.  And the drone brood need nearly two weeks to hatch after being sealed.  So if the drone brood I saw is the first of the season in the area, then It could be five weeks before virgin queens get their desires filled.  Which would suggest waiting two to three weeks to do the splits.
Title: Re: Drones for splits
Post by: Vance G on March 14, 2012, 02:02:33 PM
The drones need ten days or so to mature before they are ready to mate.  When the drone brood has purple eyes, that means that they are within a day or two of emerging.  If you start queens then, their will be drones ready to service them. 
Title: Re: Drones for splits
Post by: BrentX on March 14, 2012, 06:59:28 PM
I just inspected the strongest hive, which is busting with bees.  Saw three just emergrd drones, and at least 20 drone brood. I was relieved there were no swarm cells in this hive.  This hive is very strong.

I decided to wait about a week to split, giving the hive more time to build up.
Title: Re: Drones for splits
Post by: CapnChkn on March 15, 2012, 12:40:30 AM
I've had drones for weeks now.  Opening the hives there are a lot of sealed brood, but I'm seeing but not hearing drones flying.  I'm also seeing a few crawling on the ground, with malformed wings.
Title: Re: Drones for splits
Post by: theriverhawk on March 15, 2012, 01:05:58 AM
Made 12 splits today.  Couple of hives were PACKED with drones.  Adding the queen cells Thursday or Friday.  Queens due to emerge Sunday.  Of course, I'm alot farther south of you!!
Title: Re: Drones for splits
Post by: luvin honey on March 15, 2012, 09:27:43 PM
I have drones also. Not sure of their age. How long could a drone live through winter?
Title: Re: Drones for splits
Post by: hardwood on March 16, 2012, 12:11:17 AM
We've been splitting here for over a month now. Made 140 just today.

Scott
Title: Re: Drones for splits
Post by: alkaline19 on March 16, 2012, 01:25:00 AM
Quote from: luvin honey on March 15, 2012, 09:27:43 PM
I have drones also. Not sure of their age. How long could a drone live through winter?

I thought drones were all uncerimoniosly ejected in the fall?
Title: Re: Drones for splits
Post by: ronwhite3030 on March 16, 2012, 01:51:53 AM
how many hives do you have these days scott?
Title: Re: Drones for splits
Post by: hardwood on March 16, 2012, 09:30:34 AM
I only have a couple hundred now...I had some heavy losses last year. There's another beek here that I help out when he needs me and he helps me when I need him. He's up to about 1000 now and we've made 800 or so splits from his bees so far.

Scott
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