Should there still be drones around in the winter

[Greg Peck]

I was checking out my hive yesterday and noted about 10 or 15 drones flying around but very few workers flying. I thought that the drones were to be killed off in the fall/winter. Is the presence of the drones in winter the indication of anything?

By the way these drones are very big. I don't have much experience but they larger then the drones I saw in the summer and they are very loud.

[mick]

Hi Mate, Im in the other part of the world but I too notice I have huge drones atm, maybe its to do with honey flow or something, whatever the reason, they sure are big!

[Michael Bush]

Queenless hives tend to tolerate drones more than queenright ones.  The feral stock I have always keeps a few drones all winter.  Drones vary GREATLY in size and can run anywhere from almost the size of a worker to three times that size.

[Greg Peck]

Are there other signs that they might be queenless? If they are what happens now? Do I just buy them a new queen in the spring? I was planning on getting a new queen anyway just to try to get a good start for the year.

[Michael Bush]

>Are there other signs that they might be queenless?

Many.  Queenless hives tend to shrink through the winter as the workers drift to queenright hives.  Queenless hives tend to have a dissonant "roar" to them as opposed to the happy hum of a healthy hive.

> If they are what happens now?

If they are they will probably dwindle to nothing before the winter is over.

> Do I just buy them a new queen in the spring?

If there are still enough bees left, sure.

> I was planning on getting a new queen anyway just to try to get a good start for the year.

If you HAVE a good queen, I'd keep her.  If not, I'd replace her.