I Should Have Done This A Long Time Ago

[@beebob1279]

Early winter one hive must have lost its queen. I went to check hives near Christmas and it was empty. The hive next door was busting with them. I’ve seen this happen with swarms I’ve caught. If the swarm was queenless it went right next door to the next colony. Bees sure do unexpected things.

[@Peaboi_]

new to the group but am loving these vids. hoping to get all my equiptment and reasearch done do i can start a colony next year so im super gratefull i found this chanel. Just binge watched your 26 episode 'my first nucleus' series. So informative !!!

[@wanderingmonk007]

If that breeder queen "swarmed" super late into the season, maybe you did yourself an expensive favor in your genetics. Good video!!

[@eastsussexbeesandwildlife5801]

Hope you didn't get too many stings on your hand! Enjoyed the livestream. Can't wait for spring to arrive😊

[@robertthomas2]

Well gutted. Did an inspection today and in one of my NUCs the queen was dead and laying in the bottom of the NUC.

[@michaelbalabanoff9441]

Why are you inspecting hives this early?? Probably repeated opening of your hives that’s killed your queen

[@TheMrnorules]

f0 that swarm means not enaugh selection. On an f0 selected breeder queen I do not want to see any swarm cell for at least 2 seasons... Immagine...if f0 swarm....what will do the f1? They will be for sure worst than the f0!!! In my breeding program every f0 that after the winter make swarm cell is immediately discarded.

[@BlackMountainHoney]

It swarmed because it was WAY overstocked. Nothing to do with selection. You can force swarming in any genetics

[@BlackMountainHoney]

It also swarmed 10 days after introduction so didn't even have chance to influence the hive genetics. It was the preceding colonies genetics/cramped conditions that caused the bees to swarm.

[@TheMrnorules]

@@BlackMountainHoney this is definitely a managment error. I think you learned a lot from this. BTW it is very curious that they swarmed after the introduction in summer, I really never had this problem even with smaller hives. Maybe the bees inside the hives were very "swarming bees" obviously, as you said, nothing to do with the new queen genetics...

[@BlackMountainHoney]

@TheMrnorules They weren't particularly swarmy but it was a case of too many bees in a small nuc during a strong flow. They just ran out of space

[@TheMrnorules]

@@BlackMountainHoney so you just forgot to add a super. Super during strong flow is mandatory. TBH I put my f1 made in late April into 5 frames dadant, put on a super and they will never swarm, with queen of the year and space. I do not need any inspection untill the summer tratments in late july, just add supers if needed. That is why I was so astounded that your bees swarmed. Next time just introduce your f1 in a weak colony or put the super in order to let her the space for laying eggs.

[@billgartner8797]

Please send me one of your hats please.

[@gregw3437]

Well, you'd want to keep your expensive, breeder queen BEHIND the queen excluder at all times. So, you would not be putting out this video out. How do I know? I too learned the same lesson!

[@BlackMountainHoney]

I clip so it does the same thing but I will now start clipping on introduction, not 1 week after introduction 😞

[@gregw3437]

@@BlackMountainHoney Clipping works. Except she might try to fly away and get lost outside the hive - especially IF you are not around to promptly find her in the grass or under the hive. I'd prefer her where she belongs - inside. Blocking the entrance is a very easy, practical solution at this.