M4tt

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 .

Fantastic. Pleased to hear it

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

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

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

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

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.

Fly in, land , enter. They are drones . No one cares . They are welcomed by any hive . They are not deemed as a threat

Hell? Drones from any hive will enter any hive I wouldn’t worry Probably delivering mites

Yes , the female children will be

No they are fine. The top box is empty and undrawn. Sticks won’t drop the ambient air temp without wind

That’s a good question . You would not be the only one who has strips in at the beginning of the flow.

33 degrees in the Waikato. This nuc is in the shade

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

Catsear. I’ve got Paddocks full of it