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Breeder queens

11K views 21 replies 14 participants last post by  adamf 
#1 ·
where can a person buy a breeder queen from? Just looking around to find them.
 
#10 ·
It is important to remember that breeder queens aren't necessarily good production queens at all. They are intended as a means to transfer specific genetics into a large number of virgins. If they come out of a proven breeding program (like Joe's) they may well be a bargain at twice that price. For most perhaps spending the same money on a couple hundred queens from a good breeder of your choice and selecting the best for your own breeder makes better sense.
 
#12 ·
It is important to remember that breeder queens aren't necessarily good production queens at all.

For most perhaps spending the same money on a couple hundred queens from a good breeder of your choice and selecting the best for your own breeder makes better sense.
I agree Jim. First...II breeder queens...are they breeder queens or experiments? Crossing two lines via II doesn't necessarily create breeder queens. Install the daughters in production hives, follow performance for a couple years, and then you'll know if they're worth their salt.

If you have enough colonies to use store bought production queens, follow the same procedure and use the best in your breeding program.
 
#11 ·
Here is the list I have on file for Queen Breeders. I have another list for VSH Breeders. Latshaw would fall under the latter.

http://carpentersapiaries.com/ - Italian stock selected for mite mauling
http://www.arnoldhoneybeeservices.com - Italian survivor and Russian stock
http://www.beeweaver.com/ - went treatment free about 10 years ago
http://www.bjornapiaries.com - description is a bit weak but does say untreated
http://www.coldcountryqueens.com - Russian stock untreated for several years
http://www.honeybeegenetics.com/home.html - included because they did so much work on SMR
http://www.johnstonshoneybeefarm.com - untreated since 2003
http://www.mikesbeesandhoney.com/ - produces selected AI queens
http://www.mountainvalleybees.com/ - Alabama producer, at least 12 years untreated
http://www.oldsolenterprises.com - survivor queen stock program, survivor queens
http://www.wildernessbees.com/ or http://www.owa.cc - 10 years no chems, Bee Culture published an article about them
http://www.purvisbees.com/ - 10 years untreated, has highly varroa tolerant bees
http://www.vpqueenbees.com/ - untreated since 1999

http://www.dixiebeesupply.com - uses some soft treatments
http://www.ziaqueenbees.com/ - uses some soft treatments
http://russellapiaries.webs.com/ - has some lines that are varroa tolerant

http://www.bushfarms.com/bees.htm - don't know if Michael Bush will be offering queens for 2012!
http://www.russianbreeder.com - this is the Russian queen breeder cooperators website.

I am still working on the list for breeders in general. Got focused on VSH for a while.
 
#22 ·
Hi--thank you for the positive feedback!

Although I know using open-mated breeders is a great way to bring in new stock, we're focusing on producing AI/II Breeder queens solely.

We do have a referral page, similar to Tom Glenn's one. Listed are producers who use our stock in their queen production program:

www.vpqueenbees.com/referral.html


All the producers make great queens!


Adam Finkelstein
www.vpqueenbees.com
 
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