Poll
Question:
What Type of Honeybee do you have?
Option 1: I use/raise 3 Banded Italians
votes: 13
Option 2: I use/raise Buckfast Bees
votes: 0
Option 3: I use/raise Starline Bees
votes: 0
Option 4: I use/raise Midnight Bees
votes: 0
Option 5: I use/raise Russian Bees
votes: 3
Option 6: I currently raise several types of honeybees
votes: 1
Option 7: I have had honeybees in the past but currently don't have any
votes: 0
Option 8: I'm just learning about beekeeping, I want to know more about all the types
votes: 3
Option 9: I have honeybees, but honestly I'm not sure which type
votes: 1
Option 10: I'm trying New World Carniolan Queens
votes: 1
Option 11: I'm using Smart Queens
votes: 0
Option 12: In my hives it looks like the United Nation - all kinds of offspring
votes: 1
I'm very interested in the different queens being offered today. I've always had italians, but there are alot of qualities being discussed and I would like as much information as I can get. I've read about NWC's, buckfast, russians, smart queens, starline, and midnites. Lots of conflicting information in different posts on Bee-L, and of course the queen breeders sites. If I had a dozen hives, I would order a couple of each, requeening this fall, and draw my own conclusions.
Unfortunately, at this time, I'm very limited as to what I can do, and waiting 2 or 3 years to make evaluations under variable conditions isn't very revealing. My preference is making comb honey, so I like huge populations with as little propensity for swarming as can be bred for. What is everyones experience with these various types?
I have Italians, but I'd like to try Buckfast one day.
Beth
I have had Italians for a year. They were ok, but several hives got a little hot. This spring I installed 6 NWC queens. Those hives can now be worked without smoke. I also picked up a hive of feral bees that are very gentle.