Can you share your experiences on Bee Weaver and Highland Honey...

[larabee]

Hey Folks,

I am trying to find a good source of bees and while there's certainly an extensive list of bee package suppliers out there I have questions about 2. 

Michael Bush had posted about using BeeWeaver (in response to another thread of mine).  I hastily took that to mean he was recommending them (that's not what he said, he said he had used them and I, in my head, put words in his mouth).  A later reply from him, to the same thread, suggested he might not use them because some of the bees he had gotten from them were "hot".  So, in the interests of ME not making assumptions and reading into posts  :)  I'd like to actually ASK.   :-D

What have people's experiences been with BeeWeaver bees, specifically in the last several years? 

If anyone has used bees from Highland Honey, what have those experiences been?  Highland might be less well known?  They are in Boulder County, Colorado.

Thanks for any thoughts you all have and Michael, sorry to have convinced myself you were making a sweeping recommendation.  Although I do still like the thoughts of untreated bees.   ;)

Rene

[T Beek]

I've gotten two packages a year for last 7.  I've never had a hot hive w/ their bees.....yet :-\.  Maybe its the change in weather, I don't know (Now I'm knocking on wood).  If you can keep them alive over just one winter you'll be very pleased as I've been.  The survivors become super colonies, based on my limited experience.

Over all the experience w/ bee weaver has been great.  The 'one' time I had queen issues soon after placement, they sent me a new one right away, all I had to pay was the postage (I still had that queen as of this seasons wrap up :)).

I'll likely order two more packages pretty soon.  Have to drive to Minnesota to pick them up, about three hours away, but they're worth it IMO.  The guy I pick them up at has been buying beeweaver bees for over 30 years. 

And "Treatment Free" for over ten years says alot in my book.  There's few who can make that claim.

thomas

[Michael Bush]

Bee Weaver (and before that Weaver) have always been friendly, professional and given me great customer service.  The one time I got a drone laying queen they never  questioned it and sent a new one out that day.  For 26 years the temperament and vitality of the bees I got from them was great.   It's just the 27th year that scared me away.  If I was in Texas where there are already AHB, I would probably buy from them again and just requeen if they were hot.  But I'm not in Texas and so I don't think I'll buy bees from Texas again.