Drones in Michigan

BlueBee · November 21, 2012, 07:48:23 PM

I have been making a few design changes to some of my hives/nucs this week as I'm experimenting with numerous systems this winter. We've been enjoying unseasonably warm weather this week in Michigan (mid 50s, 10C) so this is probably my last chance to make any changes.

My bees are really looking strong at this point, the jumbos are just packed with bees....and drones! Had the distinctive sound of drones buzzing my head as I did some hive rearranging. I also found a descent amount of capped brood, and more drones in a couple of nucs I made design changes to. I was a little surprised to find drones in nucs at this point.

How are the rest of you doing drone wise?

oblib · November 21, 2012, 08:57:55 PM

I'm well south of you but I am still seeing drones on days it is warm enough to fly.

BlueBee · November 23, 2012, 04:56:18 AM

One shot, 9 drones in the frame....in Michigan.....in late November. :?

tefer2 · November 23, 2012, 09:12:30 AM

Seems strange that you would have that many, all together, in one hive. Sure you don't have drone layer in there? :shock:

Finski · November 23, 2012, 10:34:10 AM

.
Normaölölyu my bees kill drones in lte summer when night temp gpoes under 10C and food are rare on fields.

I had one hive last week and it had much drones. It often indicate that hive has unmated queen.
It found a fat queen but I changed it.

RHBee · November 23, 2012, 10:50:36 AM

I have seen drones in all six hives goin in and out. I have only gone into one hive and found three frames of brood in various stages of development.

Finski · November 23, 2012, 11:10:33 AM

Quote from: Ray Bayless on November 23, 2012, 10:50:36 AM
I have seen drones in all six hives goin in and out. I have only gone into one hive and found three frames of brood in various stages of development.

Forecast of Monkeys Corner

20C
15C
15C
17C

Seems to be sewere winter there

Lets look Siberia Yakutsk

- 30C
-32 C
-28C

.

Jim134 · November 23, 2012, 11:31:12 AM

Quote from: Finski on November 23, 2012, 11:10:33 AM

Forecast of Monkeys Corner

20C
15C
15C
17C

Seems to be sewere winter there

Lets look Siberia Yakutsk

- 30C
-32 C
-28C

Finski .......

Do you live in Siberia Yakutsk :? I can not find Siberia Yakutsk in Finland ???

BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)

RHBee · November 23, 2012, 11:33:13 AM

LOL. :th_thumbsupup: :-D Not much of a winter at all yet. The local club advises to leave at least 35 pounds of honey on each colony for winter stores. I think 5 medium frames is enough.

Finski · November 23, 2012, 11:34:07 AM

-
Jim, my location is Finland. If you know where it is.

we have just now+7C

But I know that there are 12 Moscows in USA and in Russia only one.

Jim134 · November 23, 2012, 11:44:31 AM

At a 10:40 AM it is -7C getting HOT

BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)

BlueBee · November 23, 2012, 04:12:00 PM

I agree tefer, it is strange. I'm not sure why this hive carries drones into winter. Same thing happened last year. This colony is a group of darker bees, of Carniolan stock. This is not a drone layer, there are 10's of thousands of worker bees in this hive. This hive is a monster.

Some of my other hives have a few drones coming and going, but not to this extent. Keep in mind that my hives are very well insulated and they're loaded with plenty of stores and lots of bees. Still, it is strange :?