Adding new queen ??

mlewis48 · November 10, 2007, 12:17:05 PM

Hey all,
After reading the Mean Girls poasting, I have another queation? Like I said, this is my first year at being a Beekeeper and I have 7 hives. Of my 7, 5 are Buckfast bees and the other 2 are a really dark bee that I got from a retired beeks. The buckfast bees are very gentle and I can do my inspections on a good day without being in full gear and seldom use smoke. BUT, the dark bees meet me 10 ft. away from the hive, ready for business. They headbutt more than they sting. But on a day where I forget to zip up all of the way, they remind me of my mistake. My question is, If I re queen with a Buckfast Queen, which are supposed to be gentle, would that reflect on the rest of the girls and calm them down? And does it matter to them that she is a different breed? I would hate to spend the money on a queen to have her killed. What kind of bee are the dark ones? :-\

buzzbee · November 10, 2007, 12:43:24 PM

If you requeen in the spring,In a few weeks many of the old queens offspring would be gone.

Michael Bush · November 10, 2007, 03:42:04 PM

>My question is, If I re queen with a Buckfast Queen, which are supposed to be gentle, would that reflect on the rest of the girls and calm them down? And does it matter to them that she is a different breed? I would hate to spend the money on a queen to have her killed. What kind of bee are the dark ones?

I've often seen a hive calm down quickly after requeening. I assume that aggressive behavior has a pheromonal component. But in a few weeks during the working season, all the guard bees will be from the new queen.

TwT · November 10, 2007, 08:46:19 PM

First of all we dont know where you are from and dont know your sourse of buckfast bee's? location could tell a lot of things!!!!!!!!

mlewis48 · November 11, 2007, 11:17:20 PM

Sorry, I didnt think about location. I am located in southern ohio.

Michael Bush · November 12, 2007, 07:26:32 AM

BTW I would not expect a Buckfast queen from Texas to be any nicer. It is possible she will be, but there have been many reports of hot ones, and I got four of the really hot ones a few years ago all at the same time.

TwT · November 12, 2007, 09:11:38 AM

Quote from: mlewis48 on November 10, 2007, 12:17:05 PM
Of my 7, 5 are Buckfast bees and the other 2 are a really dark bee that I got from a retired beeks. The buckfast bees are very gentle and I can do my inspections on a good day without being in full gear and seldom use smoke.

do you know where he got the buckfast from?

mlewis48 · November 12, 2007, 01:08:45 PM

I got the Buckfast bees from Higgins Supply& Rental, which is near Hillsboro. He sold me the Buckfast nucs. Mr. Higgins has over 100 hives and is the supplier.