Buckfast queens

theBeeLord · January 07, 2015, 10:42:10 AM

I know through the years there has been talk of buckfast queens on the forum.
i'm hoping for an up-to-date answer: where can i buy buckfast queens (besides texas).
I live in Kentucky. interested in purchasing 2-4 buckfast queens for my own breeding/experimentation

Michael Bush · January 07, 2015, 11:11:16 AM

There is a Canadian firm, Ferguson, who sells Buckfasts. But the paperwork to import queens is cumbersome, so unless you want a lot or can piggyback on a shipment someone else is getting it's not very practical.

jalentour · January 07, 2015, 11:25:55 AM

I did a search too.
Texas, Canada or Europe.
I thought their availability was more wide spread. Is that because of patents?

theBeeLord · January 07, 2015, 11:32:04 AM

so i guess the question now is: who is ordering a shipment of buckfast queens from Canada that i can piggyback off of?
or are there enough interested parties that we could start a larger shipment?

troyin17331 · January 07, 2015, 03:05:31 PM

i was thinking about add some buckfast genetics last year but could not find anyone that wanted in on an order where are you located

theBeeLord · January 07, 2015, 03:35:50 PM

Louisville, Kentucky (don't hold that against me - i'm not from here) LOL

jalentour · January 07, 2015, 05:14:45 PM

Alan,
I'm in Lawrenceburg Indiana, about 1.5 hrs away from you.
I would be interested in working something out next winter, I have all my orders in for 2015.
Joe

mlw · January 07, 2015, 10:15:22 PM

Why not Buckfast queens from Texas? Have I missed something?

Merle

theBeeLord · January 07, 2015, 10:28:10 PM

from my research - buckfast queens from Texas have a risk of having some africanized genes in the gene pool. i've heard of several people who ended up with crazy hot hives that they had to get rid of, often times they would kill whatever queen they would try to re-queen with.

Michael Bush · January 08, 2015, 10:15:36 AM

>Why not Buckfast queens from Texas?

First they probably are not really "Buckfast" anymore and second the last ones I had from there were the most vicious angry bees I've ever seen...

Steel Tiger · January 08, 2015, 10:31:06 AM

Quote from: mlw on January 07, 2015, 10:15:22 PM
Why not Buckfast queens from Texas? Have I missed something?

Merle

I got Buckfast from Texas last year. They were extremely productive but much too aggressive. I split them, requeened with Carniolan queens and put the Buckfast out in the woods away from everything. If they survive this winter, I'll make a better clearing in the woods to keep them.
It hard to kill something that produced as much and as fast as they did. It took less than 3 months for them to draw out a deep and 4 mediums worth of frames.

theBeeLord · January 08, 2015, 10:58:55 AM

so, Steel Tiger - when you say aggressive - how aggressive were they?

my hives are split across three properties (people's back yards). i can't have aggressive bees.

theBeeLord · January 08, 2015, 01:09:13 PM

just heard back from ferguson apiaries in Canada.
queens are $35 a piece, with $90 a package shipping/health fee (regardless of whether you get 1 or 100 queens).
if there is anyone in my area that is interested - please let me know.
their queens come from Denmark.

salvo · January 08, 2015, 01:59:27 PM

A guy here in the Commonwealth smuggled three in a couple of years ago.

I saw them. They looked "normal", just like any other queen. I took one of his old Spartans.

I haven't heard from him in a while.

There's no hiding today. Big Brother is watching.

I hope he's OK.

Sal

theBeeLord · January 08, 2015, 02:18:43 PM

that's too funny.
i remember when we went to Canada - had a harder time going over, than coming back. they freaked out because we were spending a week in Canada, but only had hotel reservations for 3 days. tried to explain to the border patrol that we like to play it by ear and go wherever we find something interesting. apparently a young couple and 3 kids driving around Canada was cause for suspicion.
I can totally see bringing back a few queens.

my long-term goal is to replicate some of the breeding strategies of Brother Adam and continue with a local supply of Buckfast bees here in the US.

Michael Bush · January 08, 2015, 04:32:17 PM

>$90 a package shipping/health fee
>I can totally see bringing back a few queens.

Pay the $90. Your phone call to your lawyer will cost more than that...

texanbelchers · January 08, 2015, 06:24:41 PM

$90 is cheap insurance/tax. My in-laws drove up and looked at Niagara Falls a few years back. They decided to take an unplanned trip into Canada and completely forgot about their backup cash and handgun in the glove box until the officer asked about weapons. They were lucky and only lost the gun, $500-1000 cash (the officers said they didn't find any cash), a lot of sweat, and a couple of hours.

OPAVP · January 08, 2015, 09:47:01 PM

Hi guys,
I get a couple of queens(Buckfast) from Ferguson Apiaries every summer. Very docile,I work in short sleeve shirt,have no gloves and use a veil rarely. Good produvers too.
But then,I live in Alberta.
Have a good year y'all!
Cor Van Pelt.

jalentour · January 08, 2015, 10:03:22 PM

Alan,
I just got this in my email tonight. I put myself on their mailing list but I don't remember why.

Hi,

Please find attached 2015 price list for packages, nucs and woodenware for
yourself and other beekeepers. Italian packages are only available this year,
as in the past 1 extra queen is provided for every 10 packages ordered.
Packages are from Georgia this year. Packages and Nucs are inspected and have
Health Certificate before pickup. I will also have Nucs with Italian or
Buckfast queens and complete hives available in May made up from my survivor
stock here in Kentucky. Package pickup dates this year are April 10 or 11,
2015. Additional Italian Queens are also available. Also, Buckfast and Russian
queens will be available, please call or email for details.

References provided on request.

Italian packages: bees are relatively gentle and calm, Good brood rearing that
provides a large population for nectar collection, did very well last season
with overall customer satisfaction.
If you have any questions please feel free to email or call me at 859-620-3174
or email [email protected]

Thanks for your time, interest and support,
Jack & James Hunt

Steel Tiger · January 08, 2015, 10:17:09 PM

Quote from: Alan on January 08, 2015, 10:58:55 AM
so, Steel Tiger - when you say aggressive - how aggressive were they?

Whenever I went into their hive, they were all over me. I mowed near them and they attacked. I got nailed a dozen or so times before I got away.

I'll be keeping them in the woods if they survive the winter and hope the deer don't knock them over.

Buckfast queens

salvo