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Sounds like your bees were questioning the laying ability of their queen fresh out of the package and they started supersedure proceedings.

Than she began laying to their satisfaction so they...

You are correct. I haven't ever dealt with them so I cant really comment on that, but from what I saw.......

Guessing I would say it might weigh 2-3 lbs. The battery pack makes it stay up right which is an improvement over a traditional smoker.

Bee-z smoker already solved that issue. It uses a heating element to create instant smoke without ever getting the actual smoker hot. I use one frequently just for the same reasons you mention above....

can you link to youtube?

Were you direct releasing or did you go back in and try and release her?

I can send you a queen. PM me your address and I will put her in the mail today.

A few things can be done to keep packages anchored.

#1. you can put a drop of lemon grass oil on the side of the queen cage when you install. Once they release the queens they are more likely to...

I checked 3 nucs for a customer just the other day and it reaffirmed what I have stated earlier in the post. He paid 138.00 each for them, Russian hybrids from a seller in Vermont. All three were 3...

I am not sure how accurate the 750-800 K number actually is. I have seen that number cited in articles before. Knowing what the production of a few of the larger producers in GA I can surmise that...

On the direct released queens it is completely dependent on how much you are willing to risk loosing your queen... Probably 90% of the time direct releasing is successful, but I get dozens of calls...

I don't know about buying back queens, but he does like to exchange brood combs from survivor hives for queens. He has also said that he hunts Ferals in MI every summer when he is back up there and...

Experience counts for a lot. I personally have 90-100% success rate with packages the first year. By the second year I have them so split up that I don't consider any of the splits to be a package...

What to try some live ones next year?



That is an interesting question. I am able to sustain my hives without packages. I install some packages every year as a quality control so I have an idea...

Thanks squarepeg for your honest statement.

The divide on this topic is completely biased around here due to the fact that many who unbudgenly back one product or the other either #1. earn income...

I guess we should all stop selling packages and everybody can vie for the limited number of nucs available and we can see what demand does to nuc prices? Will the US bee industry survive when a nuc...

The biggest issue is that by splitting you are greatly reducing the size of the cluster to cover the brood that you currently have.

If they can't cover the brood and the brood chills you set them...

meaning what?

If the package were more than 2 weeks installed and/or the OP in a little warmer climate I would recommend a split, but I think with the cold nights that are still possible in PA if you split this...

http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?277473-1-laying-queen-60-bees

They rarely call me either. Most often I hear about package failures the following year when they order replacements....

Mike

I am sure what you produce is likely quality nucs. I don't know for sure because I was unable to get any to try. The fact that your demand is so great is indicative of your product.

On...

Wilbanks produces good packages, but he has become notorious for delays even in the best of weather.

The package guys in GA are for the most part a good group of guys. (there is one wife you have...

Will do. After the shutdown I hope I get the best load of bees to come out of GA this year. :D

Yup and save them $40.00 (I only charge 90.00 for a package)

Except that the queen isn't a mail order queen.... and the bees are Inspected and certified healthy by the State Dept of Ag before...

Personal experience with buying a nuc here and there for the last decade from various producers. I tried to buy some from you around 07-08, but you turned me down :D

I have gotten some good ones,...

#1. Do nothing.
They know best.

That would require I bash my self as I am a package guy. I am currently sitting in Baxley GA with a truck and trailer waiting to pickup at Mike's place in the AM.