Michael Bush's Queens

[DRUR]

I ordered some queens from Michael Bush on or about the 8 or 9th of September. These queens were shipped on 9/14/2009 and I received them on 9/16. I found the sugar candy to be rather hard so I scraped some out with a small nail and installed the queens on the day they arrived. Michael had emailed me that the queens had been shipped and also provided the tracking number so that I could keep up with them; thereby giving me the ability to properly prepare the colonies in advance for the queens.

I checked the queens on the 9/19/2009. One had been released and the other one the bees had been unable to eat through the hard candy, but I was stunned, the queen had fattened up to where she looked like a laying queen that was about to pop. I had my doubts that she would be able to crawl through the alternative opening which I had pulled the plug on, but I returned her anyway. Checked back in a few hours on the 19th and she had indeed squeezed out, I am sure with much effort.

TODAY was thee DAY. I went and checked and both queens have filled every empty cell (many are full of honey and pollen) with either sealed brood, grubs (or larva) or eggs. These queens (so far) exhibit both the quanity and quality in their egg laying capacity. I am feeling good about the winter cluster now.

I am so thankful for those who share their queens genetics. Thanks for adding to my genetic Pool, I am very pleased with these breeder queens.

I know that Michael has a limited number of queens available to share, but am so thankful that he did. Thanks again, for the beautiful queens.

I hope to one day return (with like kind) Michael's effort of sharing his genetics by sending him some of my top producers to introduce into his bloodlines. THANKS AGAIN MICHAEL BUSH.

[NewbeeNnc]

What kind of queens?

[DRUR]

What kind of queens?

Check out Michael Bush's website here:

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesqueens.htm

[DRUR]

Checked my colonies that I had requeened with Michael's queens, and they are in excellent shape. One is very frugal with its stores, but has built up really well, 1-deep and 1 medium, mostly full.

The other one is not quite so frugal but the population is exploding. I have been feeding to reduce brood nest size before cold weather sets in, and have been making some progress in reducing the brood area. They are also packing in the fall flow and not taking but about a quart a day of syrup. This colony has now become my strongest colony, 1 deep, and two mediums, but to much brood for this time of year imo, but they probably think its spring :lpf: after coming from Nebraska.

They seem to be well worth the money. Thanks again Michael.

[Stonefly7]

Congrats Drur, and thanks for sharing! Give us an update in the spring. Course like you stated, it always feels like spring in TX.

[Michael Bush]

>What kind of queens?

Mutts. I just started with feral survivor stock and have been breeding from those.

[DRUR]

Congrats Drur, Give us an update in the spring.

Just went through all 8 of my colonies today. Michael's Queens [2] are doing great. One is my strongest, and the 2nd weaker one has two deep frames [small cell] of sealed brood [about 90% brood] and a third deep frame of eggs and larva. The weaker one also has two deeps full of pollen 2 deeps of capped honey, and another partial deep of what appears to be fresh nectar. The stronger colony always sucks all the syrup I feed, but the weaker one just seems to refuse syrup. These were from splits around the middle of September. The strongest just exploded [like Italians] and the weaker was very conservative with its stores [probably feral]. The stronger colony went into winter on 1 deep and 2 mediums, and the weaker one went into winter on 1 deep box [fully drawn], and they also had a medium with undrawn plastic cells. Thanks again Michael for what appears to be great queens.

Kindest Regards
Danny

[bluegrass]

Unfortunately MB is not raising queens this coming year. I already tried to get on the list. The last batch I bought from him did great.