Buckfast package bees...

SteveSC · January 03, 2007, 08:55:18 AM

Has anyone had any experience with the Buckfast bees out of Texas..? From what I've read they're supposed to be a bit more gentle and honey production is greater.

I'm trying to decide if the proposed advantages of Buckfast over other breeds out weigh the noticably higher price. They're $90 to $95 per #3 package plus $15 insurance they requirer plus $15 per package shippng = $120 - $125 per package delivered.

Any thoughts on this would be appreciated..Thanks

Kirk-o · January 03, 2007, 11:22:58 AM

everyones experience is different.You should check with local beekeepers maybe or just do whatever you want
kirko

TwT · January 03, 2007, 04:38:36 PM

here is where I would get mine from www.munrohoney.com , here a post from a guy that bought from here last year http://www.beesource.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=000658#000000 , the weavers buckfast have a history of becoming very hot the 2nd generation, besides the weavers probably haven't added any pure stock to there buckfast in years (just my 2 cents). I might try a few from this place this coming year.

SteveSC · January 03, 2007, 07:18:07 PM

Thanks Twt - I'll check them out. I'd heard they were getting hotter every yr.. You can't hardly expect anything other than to get hot - you have AHBs flying all around down there. There has to be at least some percentage of cross overs.

What do you think about Russians - do you have them..? I have all Italians and want to try something different this yr.. I have a good place to put about three hives of a different bred. I want to do a comparison between the Italians and whatever I decide on. I'd like to have high honey production bees since the place they'll go is a prime area.

I'll get that # for you this week-end. If the guy doesn't have what you need I'll be surprized. He hasn't sold all that stuff - it was a ton of it.

TwT · January 03, 2007, 08:21:05 PM

I only have mutts and 3 PBA hives that I bought this last fall (been wanting to try them for a few years now), I will be getting a few russian queens this coming year from Fat Beeman, also maybe some NWC's.

Michael Bush · January 03, 2007, 08:37:47 PM

>From what I've read they're supposed to be a bit more gentle and honey production is greater.

Up until 2001 I would have agreed. Then they went psycho. I've never seen bees that hot before or since.

SteveSC · January 03, 2007, 09:19:22 PM

< Up until 2001 I would have agreed. Then they went psycho. I've never seen bees that hot before or since >

I'm convinced.

That's about the last thing I need is a yard of ballistic Buckfasts. I talked to the people at Weavers about 2 mons. ago . I asked them if their bees were aggressive and they assured me that they weren't and that they did import sperm from Buckfast in England every year. I understand them saying that but it goes aganist all I've heard about them for the last couple of yrs.. Not 30 miles from here last spring there was an older gentleman ( beekeep ) that was sent the hospital from 50+ Buckfast stings. I did learn later he had forgotten to zip his vail all the way - but still that's pretty aggressive to get hit 50+ times. Had his wife not been there it could have been worse.

Brian D. Bray · January 05, 2007, 02:08:46 AM

The Weavers have been selling buckfast bees for decades. They are the primary source for that variation of bee in the US. It would seem to me that their stock is getting a little inbred after so many generations of bees. It has been my observation that the hive reflects the temperment of the queen. Since the Drones are raises from unfertilzed eggs you have only the genetics of the queen from that source which gets passed on to the next generation. Without some other outbreeding from time to time (import of semen from Buckfast Abbey in England is just back breeding to the original stock) the problem will continue to get worse. Any person familiar with animal husbandry knows the need (requirement) for periodic outbreeding until the genetic stock is diverse enough to sustain it. This requires more than a limited number of sites or breeding locations.
I was never overly impressed with the production habits of the Buckfast bee.

Cindi · January 05, 2007, 11:35:37 AM

Drones govern the temperament, the queens the laying qualities.

Rotating crops is a good thing too, every four years for some. Although I find that I have to plant certain things in certains spots year after year. Like the aspargus!!! Great day. Cindi

Kirk-o · January 05, 2007, 03:17:54 PM

I like feral bees best and if they get hot I just get a new queen Italian
kirk

TwT · January 05, 2007, 10:04:20 PM

Quote from: Brian D. Bray on January 05, 2007, 02:08:46 AM
The Weavers have been selling buckfast bees for decades. They are the primary source for that variation of bee in the US. It would seem to me that their stock is getting a little inbred after so many generations of bees. It has been my observation that the hive reflects the temperment of the queen. Since the Drones are raises from unfertilzed eggs you have only the genetics of the queen from that source which gets passed on to the next generation. Without some other outbreeding from time to time (import of semen from Buckfast Abbey in England is just back breeding to the original stock) the problem will continue to get worse. Any person familiar with animal husbandry knows the need (requirement) for periodic outbreeding until the genetic stock is diverse enough to sustain it. This requires more than a limited number of sites or breeding locations.
I was never overly impressed with the production habits of the Buckfast bee.

good post Brain, it also doesn't help with them being in a AHB area and open breeding, they do flood the area with drones but they do not guarantee that, they told me that over the phone..........

rusty · February 04, 2007, 10:26:08 AM

Hi There,

I don't write on here very often being situated in the Uk. however I often look in on you all and your post caught my eye.

I have been using Buckfast Superbees for a number of years now and I can only say I swear by them. Calm hardworking and gentle, not a flutter when you open the hive and they just look up at you. We have had a very mild winter so far this year in N. Yorkshire. I checked my bees yesterday and gave them some pollen patties, just for safety. They came off the heather in September with brood chambers stuffed with stores and plenty for me too. I treated with OA in late November and they have been on a trailer in a windy field with nothing between them and the westerly winds blowing from the Pennines. They looked healthy and happy and all we want now is for the OSR to flower as soon as possible. I can't recomend them enough.

If any have turned nasty, well, so can any bee, be it Superbee or feral, it's just a matter of mating with the wrong sort of Drones as we all know, and an occupational hazard for beekeepers. Just get brave, dress up well, and despatch the Queen for a less fiesty one and soon the bees will be little pets again.

I have nearly twenty hives, which I have worked for a long time and have never enjoyed my beekeeping more than since I have been working with my Superbees.

Michael Bush · February 04, 2007, 01:23:09 PM

>Calm hardworking and gentle

From 1974 until 2000 that would have been my description of them also. I would have added frugal, good overwintering and a few other positives.

imabkpr · February 04, 2007, 03:29:57 PM

Quote from: Michael Bush on February 04, 2007, 01:23:09 PM
>Calm hardworking and gentle

From 1974 until 2000 that would have been my description of them also. I would have added frugal, good overwintering and a few other positives.

I agree to a point M. B. but i noticed the buckfast starting to get more aggressive in the mid 90s. I was talking to Mr. Roy Weaver about the change in the temperament of the buckfast, he said don't be alarmed if they seem more aggressive, we have ahb in our area. I had a huge amount of respect for Mr. Roy. I also found that Buckfast from weaver would not draw foundation. Other beekeepers that had buckfast said if i wanted to get buckfast queens as Brother Adam meant for them to be i would have to go to Canada. Charlie

cougar43 · July 05, 2012, 03:37:42 AM

Hi, I know this is a bit late to the post here but I just thought I would let you guys know that I bought a package of bees from Bee Weaver this spring 2012 and mine are doing fine. They had 3 medium boxes filed up by mid June, all new equipment and no drawn cone and I have put the honey suppers on now. As far as being hot, I have worked my hive 11 or 12 times since I had them and have been stung once in 4 of the times I worked them two of which was really my fault because I wasn't Waring any equipment or using smoke, just taking a peek lol. I was working them once or twice a week up until I put the honey suppers on. Now I will only work them every 3 weeks as I take out the drone comb and replace it up until I take the suppers off in the fall. Honestly most of the time when I work this hive I don't even get stung. The main reason I ordered these bees is because of there resistance to disease and mites. I wanted bees that I didn't have to use chemicals on and they still survive. Most of the wild bees in my area were Italians and they all have died out so if I can get some good gens into the mix that's a good thing lol