Best Breed of Honey Bee

bwallace23350 · October 17, 2016, 12:47:56 AM

I would be shocked if I had more than one hive within several miles of my hives as they are in my fruit orchard which is just a fenced off part of acres of pasture land and bordered by a pond that I know ever tree very well in that is also fished by several people. I am confident a bee hive would have been reported to me. We do have some old barns spotted around and such but we go in them regular so no hives in there. The woods are several miles away. That is why I was curious about the distance drones will go to mate.

Oldbeavo · October 17, 2016, 08:33:21 AM

I have heard they will travel 2-3 km to form a DCA. Virgin queens will also fly the same distance
So the drones my be 4-6 km from you and the young queens will still get there, half distance each.
Will stand to be corrected on the numbers but that is what I heard

bwallace23350 · October 17, 2016, 09:16:58 AM

Thanks. With that information and if the distances hold true then it is possible a wild hive I do not know of could fertilize my queen.

iddee · October 17, 2016, 09:22:38 AM

Although those numbers sound close for one or the other, I have always read that the queens would fly farther than the drones to get away from the drones from their hive and apiary. Reduces inbreeding and increases genetic diversity.

Acebird · October 17, 2016, 10:04:52 AM

It would make more sense if the drones flew farther away. That way only the strongest drones would mate and the queen wouldn't be as vulnerable for getting picked off.

bwallace23350 · October 17, 2016, 01:50:07 PM

I think a bee scavenger hunt might be in store for me soon.

Colobee · October 29, 2016, 08:41:01 PM

The best bees - Buckfast, of course. They are superior in every way to all the mutts, ferals, locals & various pure breds. Gentle, mite tolerant, non-swarming under normal circumstances, great producers, overwinter well, no supersedure (or swarming for 2-3 years), the list goes on, & on & on... They make beekeeping enjoyable.

But what do I know...

bwallace23350 · October 30, 2016, 09:32:12 AM

Never really heard of Buckfast. Where do you get them and what makes them so special?

Colobee · October 30, 2016, 11:29:00 AM

My understanding is that there are a number of US suppliers - google it. For the most part these are good bees, but being produced mostly in the southern US, there is a chance of random AHB crosses - ask me how I know

Most US breeders about have to get their breeding stock from Canada - the only indirect avenue for European Buckfast available as far as I know. Or perhaps they are staying tight lipped about some other source. The Canadian Buckfast stock comes from Denmark. You can buy directly from the Canadian suppliers, but the customs & import fee makes it expensive to get them into the US unless you get a dozen or so.

As for Buckfast bees - there is a great deal of info readily available. They are the result of the lifelong works of Brother Adam, and a dedicated following of beekeepers who still carry "the torch".