Our Swarm Queens

Probably right on the tree as the source. Beautiful queens. Both fattys. lol
FYI, my cutout queens are far surpassing my packaged queens. The activity level (foragers) in the cutout hives is double the package hives. Lazy packages. lol

I'm hoping these two can build up nicely. I'm going to take a swing at going treatment free and it seems like the way to do that isn't though package/non-local queens for the most part. Would like to use these hives as the centerpiece for expansion next year if they make it through the winter. We're up to seven hives (started three packages). We have caught four swarms, three with queen one didn't have one and we purchased a queen for them. Have a possible cutout from a 2+ year old hive in a guys wall lining up as well. Plus the owner of the bee tree I think these two originated from still wants the bees gone from the tree.

I can always dream, right?

Nice pics and congrats on the 2 swarms and queens. I was able to lure a swarm in a box that we hung at my brother's place. Not a large group, maybe 1-1/2 pounds, but a big beautiful queen that is a monster layer. We captured this group about 5 weeks ago, and I am ready to add a super this coming Monday.

jwcarlson said:

I'm hoping these two can build up nicely. I'm going to take a swing at going treatment free and it seems like the way to do that isn't though package/non-local queens for the most part.

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Most of my hives are from local sources, either from cutouts or swarms I captured. Since a swarm is proof of the vigor of the parent hive I've had great luck with them surviving without any treatments. There's been a wide variety of demeanor so I did purchase a couple queens and re-queened some of the worst tempered hives.