Drones, I can see drones, can you?

JP · November 12, 2007, 09:16:27 PM

Who here still sees drones about their hives. I'm starting to wonder if we'll have a winter this yr. Brendhan, could it be margaritas in January? Here's toasting to all those drones. ;)

Michael Bush · November 12, 2007, 09:18:44 PM

There are still a few here. Very few.

Moonshae · November 12, 2007, 09:25:36 PM

Mine were all gone, the last I checked. I wasn't looking on every frame for them, though.

Jerrymac · November 12, 2007, 09:36:16 PM

Hadn't checked for drones but had blooming dandelions today.

Understudy · November 12, 2007, 09:37:31 PM

Drones?? We got em. :-D
Margaritas?? We got em. :-D

Snow, Frost, Icey Roads, sorry can't help you there.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

JP · November 12, 2007, 10:58:38 PM

Now Jerry that's just plain weird, blooming dandelions and no drones. Hmm, blooming dandelions and no drones, sounds like the making of a country song, a country song about bees! Ha!

I been workin' my bees and there's just no drones but the dandelions are a bloomin' and summers gone. Or is it? :-D Add lyrics if you are feeling square. :roll:

Hopeful · November 12, 2007, 11:39:39 PM

The girls began to give the boot o the drones a couple of weeks ago, but now the weather is 79 and sunny. The drones may have a little more time. Even the mornings are above 50. I have a nuc box I inherited that is full of laying workers, and of course, drones to beat the band. I don't think there is any saving this nuc. No queen and a little late in the year. My mentor believes this one should just be let go.

pdmattox · November 12, 2007, 11:55:14 PM

I still have drones in my hives.

CBEE · November 13, 2007, 08:51:19 PM

Temp was in the 60's yesterday and I was watching them bring in some pollen. And to my suprize a couple of drones came buzzing in.

Brian D. Bray · November 13, 2007, 10:21:58 PM

Quote from: JP on November 12, 2007, 10:58:38 PM
Now Jerry that's just plain weird, blooming dandelions and no drones. Hmm, blooming dandelions and no drones, sounds like the making of a country song, a country song about bees! Ha!

I been workin' my bees and there's just no drones but the dandelions are a bloomin' and summers gone. Or is it? :-D Add lyrics if you are feeling square. :roll:

Key of C or maybe G. The bees drone on as the summers gone, but I'm warm in my hive with my honey.

Patrick · November 14, 2007, 01:38:42 PM

I have noticed drones flying around and dying in front of the hive. Yesterday I even observed a few caped drone cells in the brood chamber.
Cheers,
Patrick

BMAC · November 15, 2007, 09:19:07 AM

Last Sunday I noticed there was a few drones flying in and out of my buckfast colony.

golddust-twins · November 16, 2007, 07:38:59 PM

Yes yes, Nov.16th and we still have flying drones.... :-D This week we have had rain but next week the sun will shine.

Corinne

JP · November 16, 2007, 07:58:15 PM

Thanks for posting Corinne, and welcome. I like your avatar.

golddust-twins · November 17, 2007, 02:29:45 AM

Thank you for the welcome JP.

Alphonse Mucha one of my favorites.

Corinne

qa33010 · November 17, 2007, 11:23:06 PM

All have drone, but they are kicking them out slowly but surely. Not all at once like last year. We had our first real freeze night before last night so they may start cleaning house on a larger scale now.

Cindi · November 18, 2007, 12:01:17 PM

Corinne. Welcome, you have found a great place to spend some great time. Tell us about you. We love to have new members and hear about what they are up to with their bees, yea!!!!! Have a wonderful, great day, have fun with us. Cindi

golddust-twins · November 18, 2007, 03:34:17 PM

Still raining here on the Southern Oregon Coast. Just check the hive and found dead drones scattered in front of the hive. So the girls are starting to kick the boys out.

Cindi,

I am very new to this. I have one hive and have had it thru 2 summers. Almost lost it last winter due to my own ignorance which can be bliss at times. So I came to the Internet to find answers and learn. I found this great forum. There aren't many beekeepers in this area anymore which makes it difficult to find answers to questions. My plans for the up and coming season is to split the hive I have in half or maybe 2 nucs and a half hive, we'll have to wait and see...the hive is pretty strong right now. I am looking into purchasing some survivor queens and want to my hand at capturing a feral swarm or maybe two. I am also considering on downsizing the cell size to small and natural cell size over this next year....I am tired of Varroa. So I am looking for the pros and cons on small and natural cell. "So that's my story and I'm stickn' to it".....for now anyway. Tell me Cindi, how does one become a "Galactic Bee"? Makes for a great visual. Thanks for asking.

Corinne

malabarchillin · November 18, 2007, 04:32:13 PM

I continue to have A LOT of drones flying here on the East coast of Central Fla.
Drones are not the most graceful fliers near the hive. They come in full speed and
if they miss the huge entrance bounce off the front or top of the hive.
I often sit in a chair 6 feet from the hive and it is easy to hear the difference when
a drone approaches vs a forager.
Regards
Mike

Cindi · November 19, 2007, 10:41:14 AM

Corinne. Thank you for telling us a little bit about yourself, I hope that we hear more. Don't ya just love beekeeping? Nothing more beautiful in this life -- pureness -- sweet little girls, working away, such a communal event, unison, hee, hee :) :) :)

Galactic bee. I don't know. I have been a member of this forum now for just over a year. It has to do with the number of posts. I love to tell stories and can get to ramblin' quite a lot, I am known to go off topic alot, I can't seem to stop thoughts from flowing through my fingers. Some of my posts are only one word or a sentence or two, but not usually. I have attained a skill to type at the speed of light (hee, hee), not really, but I can type as fast as one can speak (almost), so my posts may seem lengthy, but not really, on my end anyways. Ooops, see what I mean? This topic was about drones.......I digress. Oh well, I spend a couple of hours (sometimes less, depending on what is going on ) each morning when I get up, on this forum, I love this quiet time. Then shortly around 7:00, my house breaks loose with kids!!! Grandchildren, Foster children, all getting up and ready for school. It is a busy time. (My Grandsons live (2 of them) about 20 feet from my house and come over to get breakfast, love from us and then head off to school from here). Then my peaceful forum time is gone.....I am off to start a day of business with the farm and farm work. Oh brother, see what I mean.....have a wonderful and beautiful day, love our life we're livin'. Cindi