[Cuttingedgelandinc]

I know that a few members here have them and was wondering how you like hem so far?
How did they Winter?
Spring Build-up?
What is their Temperament like?
Does anyone know what the actual genetics are?

 

[R.Varian]

saskatraz.com

 

[Clayton Huestis]

Varroa resistance?

 

[Clayton Huestis]

Bumping questions back up to see if any answers?

 

[oldsap]

Our first year with Saskatraz but this is a frame from a nuc we dropped a queen and a frame of brood and a few shakes of bees in second week of April. Then more snow and cold hit and they just keep growing.
I wanted to add some good genetics and hoping this helps.

 

[AstroBee]

View attachment 40069
Our first year with Saskatraz but this is a frame from a nuc we dropped a queen and a frame of brood and a few shakes of bees in second week of April. Then more snow and cold hit and they just keep growing.
I wanted to add some good genetics and hoping this helps.

Can you provide the source for the queen and if this frame is a result of the original Saskatraz queen or a daughter.

 

[oldsap]

This mated queen is from Olivarez. She is not a breeder queen, that I can't afford to make a few dozen queens. We bought 5 to add to our small operation. We purchased queens from them before for May splits and were very pleased with the results.

 

[Jake264]

I bought one last year and put in a nuc to try out. She over wintered in a 5X5 nuc and is currently in 3 deep 10 frame boxes and going to town. I couldn't be happier with her and have put 10 more saskatraz queens into hives this spring

 

[COAL REAPER]

got a couple packages with OHB saska queens on march 31. laying quite well. hived on mostly drawn comb and grown into 3 mediums. intent is to add diversity to my drone pool. hoping they put up decent honey crop as well. its still early. I checked the 13th day after install and there was eggs but no larvae yet. workers are about a week from becoming of field force age.

 

[bushpilot]

Very unscientific, but my one Saskatraz package is brooding up like gangbusters.

 

[Outdoor N8]

Ians' take:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dvJvIi5UHA

 

[Michael Palmer]

Varroa resistance?

Colonies with some mite load but low DWV titer? That's what I want to see from this stock. Albert Robertson has said his "good" lines have high production but low DWV. Looking forward to see if this pans out. Of course, the "Saskatraz" stock in the US is from Olivarez....breeders from Robertson. Also, Albert has sent virgins to Coby for II. So there is some of that line out there.

I got some queens from Albert last July. They came in middle July, so too late to winter in nucs. That's my preferred first selection. We used the 25 queens for requeening. I really haven't been able to evaluate these colonies. Still early season here in the Champlain Valley. No pollen here this year until 4/22.

 

[Cuttingedgelandinc]

Thanks Mike. I look forward to your evaluation. We are late up here in Maine as well.
4/29/18 bees starting on Red Maples.
5/6/18 First Dandelions bloomed.

 

[COAL REAPER]

near black drones from my saskstraz colonies

 

[bushpilot]

At our meeting last night, beekeepers with new Saskatraz packages were in agreement that they like to build comb. Several noted comb building in the inline feeders (Mann Lake style). I have not seen any excessive comb building myself, but have given them plenty of room.

 

[COAL REAPER]

I have not seen any excessive comb building myself, but have given them plenty of room.

same here. I gave 3 empty drawn supers 5 weeks after install. they are not really working them yet. TP is just about to open here.

 

[Josh Peal]

Is there a type of package that doesn't like to draw comb?

 

[Clayton Huestis]

Still early season here in the Champlain Valley. No pollen here this year until 4/22.

Just across the lake. Probably a few days before you but not enough to make much difference. You finding your bees in general set back by the late spring MP? I put pollen sub on 4/1, they nibbled on it but mostly wanted the real stuff.

 

[MimbresBees]

Bought 5 queens last season, all over wintered fine, no loss here in S.Or.
They filled out 2 deep and 1 medium 10 frames by mid april and have 2 supers on each now, blackberries are blooming here on the Rogue.
We'll see how honey production stacks up against the old sol caucs, palmer carnis, OH mike's russian, and ferguson buckfasts this season.

 

[heaflaw]

We'll see how honey production stacks up against the old sol caucs, palmer carnis, OH mike's russian, and ferguson buckfasts this season.

Let us know. These are all very well thought of lines.