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    Hello Mr Clemens,
    I would like to know if you have your whole system of queen rearing in one location for someone to see, you sound like you are very knowledgeable and well organized

    Kyle & Jen

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    7 Hives of Apis mellifera with some Africanization
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    It was, but I had to suspend my operations about the time you posted this msg. I'm presently working to get going again. but I'm not sure when, or if that can happen, It was mostly weather change and partly my wife's health that necessitated the shut down. Winters had started getting too cold.

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    I moved to Marana in 1987. I lived at Allan jones' place. Herb Doenz talked me into moving there. He lived across from where the auction mart is now. I think Dan Post owns Herbs place now. Potters are good friends of mine and we did a lot of traveling together. I lived around there for quit a few years. I worked at Evergreen for a while. Interesting to see someone from Marana on here.

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    7 Hives of Apis mellifera with some Africanization
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    Hello Myron Denny,
    I recently acquired a few SunKist Cordovan queens from Russell Apiaries. They are the only Russell Apiaries queens I've tried, so far. I have had them long enough that some of their worker brood is beginning to emerge, also a dozen daughter queens raised from them are also beginning to mate and start laying. My experience with them is still somewhat limited, no colonies are actually fully established from the original queens, yet.

    However, my experience with these queens has been positive and memorable almost from the first moment I opened the package and set eyes on them. They were very easily and quickly introduced and began laying within 24 hours.

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    Russell Queens,
    It is my understanding you have some Russell queens, are you happy with how they compare with the colonies you are using? As I remember you have Sunkists, do you have others?
    Myron Denny
    Glencoe Okla
    MDenny4396@aol.com

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    7 Hives of Apis mellifera with some Africanization
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    It does seem that whenever their populations are strong and a dearth occurs, they have a propensity to rob. I understand this trait is associated with bees derived from the Italian race, Cordovan or not. It has been a very long time since I kept Carniolans or Caucasians.
    Joined
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    157 Posts
    Joseph,

    I ordered a package of bees from California, the swarm was Cordovan, thogh the marked queen was Carniolan...I fell in love with the Cordovans and would like to know if your Cordovans are really as bad at robbing as their reputation? I had ordered a Cordovan queen, but there was a misunderstanding and got a Carni Queen instead. Next year, I want to add Cordovans to my small apiary, but am worried about robbing.

    Thank you!

    Donna Marie
    www.honeybees-by-the-sea.com
    G

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    Hi Joseph I have been looking for beekeepers in AZ I live in arizona city about an hour from you Great to find you ! looks like you have lots of great posts Thanks Bud

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    Thanks Joseph - This batch of cells should be capped today, so I believe I will leave them alone until tommorrow, and check the hive for wild cells and swap out some of the frames to start getting ready for the next set.

    You've been very helpful.

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    7 Hives of Apis mellifera with some Africanization
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    Howdy David,
    Sounds like you are almost passing me on this seasons queen rearing.

    All your plans sound, right on. Don't forget to regularly check every inch of the combs for rouge queen cells - if you overlook one and she emerges, you will soon know it happened.

    I often replace combs where the young bees have already emerged with new combs of emerging brood. I admire your priming the nurse bees with combs of young larvae - that takes a lot of extra effort, but certainly has its rewards.

    As soon as a batch of cells are sealed, I usually start the next batch. Always be sure to remove any cells, at least two or three days before they are expected to be ready to emerge - sometimes one will be early, with its disastrous results (you've already prepared for that, harvesting any that reach their tenth day post graft). And you can certainly prime the nurse bees even with a batch of sealed cells still present, I do it all the time.

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    Joseph,
    I am using a queenless starter/finisher nuc much like the one that you described in your thread about larger queen cells

    I did my first set of 11 grafts 3 days ago (Thursday) and took a look at them today - 6 of the Prettiest cells I've been able to produce so far.

    So, my question - what do I need to do to transition to the next set of grafts. Of course the current cells will come out on day 10, but Can I go ahead and add the next set of grafts right then? Or do they need to be hopelessly queenless for a day or 2? I'm guessing that in a day or two I can go ahead and swap in some new frames of emerging brood - yes? This time I put a frame of eggs and larva in the center slot for 24 hrs to get the nurse bees primed and then swapped it for the cell bar frame . Can I do that with the cells still in the hive?

    I am much more interested in producing will grown, well mated queens than larger numbers.

    Thanks for all of your helpful input.

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    Joseph
    I have been using Koehnen Cordovan queens for a few years, and this year have grafted 20 cells due to hatch on 23 March.
    I know you do the same with these queens, so you should be able to answer my question.
    After breeding with the local drones, are the resultant bees more aggressive than the Koehnen stock, or still easy to work. Thanks for a reply.
    Ron Brackeen

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    Hi Joseph,
    I have been PMing it with Gary(gpost) and I mentioned that I have been having a hard time to find a local source to purchase some bees. Gary said that you may have some or have an idea of where I may get some.

    Thanks,
    Jon Jensen

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    33 Posts
    Hello Joseph, Hope all is well. How are your bees? I am going to build some boxes this winter. Talk with you soon

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    Joseph,
    It was nice to finally meet you. Thank you for your hospitality, and for giving me a tour of your place. Most of all, thank you for the beautifully made horizontal hive. See you again in a couple weeks.
    James

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    33 Posts
    Hey,are you up to getting a club started in tucson with Roy and myself? I know you are super busy. I would just like to see more beekeeping in tucson. You have so much knowledge about bees.

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    222 Posts
    Hey Joseph, a new member on beemaster would like to converse with you. His member name is Dracano, real name Louis.

    He moved from Oregon to Tucson and I mentioned he should pm you, hope that was ok.

    He is looking to start up as a hobbyist & sounds like a good guy.

    If you could point him in the right direction that would be great!

    Thanks!


    ...JP

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    33 Posts
    I captured a swarm last year and placed it in the desert near my house....the wife made me move them. I have a suit and gear even a super that i bought. I would like to order bees but i am not sure if i should get them from up north or capture a swarm and requeen it? also is there many beeks in tucson area you know of?

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    Hi i live in vail,az and would like to ask you questions about beekeeping in the desert.
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