[hummingberd]

Hey Beeks-


I'm ordering some queens for this next season, and I'm trying to figure out the best time to have them shipped. My goal is to not only prevent swarming, but to also maximize the honey harvest. My options for shipping are as follows:

June 15
July 9
July 17
July 25
Aug 2
Aug 10


I'm really tempted to go with the June 15th date, but if it's too early what the heck will I do with 2 queens? Last year it was so rainy here the bees didn't build up until later in the summer. I could go with the July 9 as I have collected many swarms in the weeks following the Independence Day holiday. But that could be a little late. At this point I'm not interested in August dates because I don't really want to do any splits that late in the season.

Please share your thoughts. I need to send my preference to the queen breeder asap.

Thanks

 

[hummingberd]

someone? anyone? thoughts?

 

[hummingberd]

countryboy-

Perhaps both. I have a really strong hive with a queen who is 3 years old. She would need to be replaced by either me or the bees. They are such a strong colony and my best honey producer, so I was thinking they should keep their own genetics. But I'd like to have a back up in case it fails...

I've decided to do just as you suggested and plan to bank the queens in a nuc if need be. That way I have them if I need up. I can do a newspaper combine at any point! Thanks for the help!