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M4tt last won the day on January 18 2020
M4tt had the most liked content!
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4,941 ExcellentInformation
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DECA Holder
Yes
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Beekeeping Experience
Hobby Beekeeper
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Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/matt.wilkinson.9615
Location
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Location
Rukuhia, WAIKATO
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Hives all checked for the second time . First was about 4 weeks ago when I pulled and replaced the OAstaples I have to say they are looking good . I saw one varroa in drone brood in one hive between boxes . The DWV has completely gone in those that has it and everything is building fast . There are more than a few mature drones in some hives . Some hives temperament has deteriorated with supercedure queens . On fine days they are bringing in a reasonable amount of silver dollar gum nectar .
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Fantastic. Pleased to hear it ??
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Last winter I was in them all the way through monitoring and adjusting and they came through well following the brood with staples . This time I wanted a comparison . The few hives I have now I’m happy to experiment . The Old staples still have OA in them , but to be honest , the hives are damp , which is odd with a dryish winter and ventilated bases . Nothing goes well in damp hives . So now I really know . Leaving them alone through winter is high risk . 2/3rds would be in pretty good shape , but the poor ones are poor
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M4tt started following AFB Strategy, Apiary Diary July 2020, Where do my queens go? and 1 other
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Winter is over . It’s bee time again ........ 25 hives inspected and had staples pulled and replaced . This year using the @Stoney placement method and set and forget . Have not been in them since Feb, which was a high risk strategy , but I wanted to give it a go. 5 dead outs Anywhere there was drone brood there is varroa More than enough DWV There are some healthy hives amongst them So a fairly underwhelming start and back to the results we used to get with chemical strips . Looks like we haven’t found the s
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I agree with you . From the few hives I have and my observations , the drones from one queen always look about the same . The exception to this is when there are two queens in the hive . I’m with you @ChrisM. I don’t understand how it can be any different to this and I’ve missed it in the past Anything is possible I guess
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I can rephrase what I said to be clearer It would be highly odd in a hive where a queen produces yellow drones to find a couple or so black ones that are from that queen . I can’t see how that would be possible
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The way I understand it , is if they are near home, they will go home. If they’ve been out for the day, for example, on a long haul trip and they get caught a bit short, they’ll pop in anywhere to refuel and are not turned away. A queen that lays yellow drones can’t produce black drones so they’ve come in from somewhere else. The above is a nice story that fits. I’m sure there are other reasons.
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Fly in, land , enter. They are drones . No one cares . They are welcomed by any hive . They are not deemed as a threat
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Hell? ? Drones from any hive will enter any hive I wouldn’t worry Probably delivering mites
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Yes , the female children will be
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No they are fine. The top box is empty and undrawn. Sticks won’t drop the ambient air temp without wind
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That’s a good question . You would not be the only one who has strips in at the beginning of the flow.
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33 degrees in the Waikato. This nuc is in the shade
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To me it sounds like you have achieved on a small scale what can be achieved nationally . Find a way to sell it and you won’t need to chase honey anymore
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Catsear. I’ve got Paddocks full of it