[An-Nahl]

EMAIL I recieved for my 6 ordered packages: This is a mailing to the list of customers scheduled to get packages on4/18. :shock:

Yes the plan is still to have all packages completed. However the springhas been about two weeks late in bloom and bee growth.
We plan for anincreased population of bees each time we shake the hives, and this has happened. But each time we have come up short in the quantity we have anticipated.
I am expecting that this could happen again as we shake the bees in preparation of 4/18. I will send an additional email to those orders I received 3/10 and afterplacing them on a wait and see plan. If this happens, we will wait and allow the bees to replentish the population and shake them again.To those who do not receive the wait and see letter, plan to be at myshop on Saturday April 18th between 7:30 and 10:30 am.


My issue is I have 6 Russian Queens arriving on the 17th to go with my packages that were due on the 18th (looks like I may not get all 6 packages) I will need a home for the left over queens until the remaining packages are ready…

Iddee, could you please tell me more about banking the queens?
:mrgreen:

 

[BjornBee]

I will take a hive or strong nuc and pull the queen (make a nuc). Then, using a shim, I will place the queens on top of the frames after waiting about 24 hours.

I like a strong nuc due to the confined area and the bees can not abandon the queen if it gets cold at night. The queens are on top of the nuc frames and the bees are right there to take care of them.

If you use a full size hive, make sure the bees do not have brood in the first box, while you are putting the extra queens on top of the second. If need be, use a shim between the two boxes to ensure the queen are in contact with the cluster area.

I know some use a queenright system. I do not. Bees will possible start queen cells even with a bunch of queens being banked. So a queenless hive for banking is good for about 10 days before you need to start worrying about a raised queen doing any damage. I've actually had a queen emerge, mate, and start laying all the while caged queens were on top of the frames she was laying.

 

[BjornBee]

Can you just have the russian queen producer delay shipment?

 

[Iddee]

I think Bjorn covered it well. If you have further questions, just ask. One of us, or somebody, will answer.

 

[An-Nahl]

Re:

Can you just have the russian queen producer delay shipment?

I am waiting to hear from the gentleman I get the packages from... he is supposed to update me later this afternoon/evening... I will at that time start communications with the gentleman with the queens.

Sent: Fri 4/10/09 8:43 AM
A change of some type is going to be necessary. Should have an answer later today.

 

[An-Nahl]

Due to the lack of nectar the bee population in the hives is not expanding as planned. It has become necessary to delay package pickup until 4/25. 7:30-10:30

I did email the queen supplier...


EDIT:: Queens will be delayed for one week, same as packages...

 

[BjornBee]

I guess you can sleep well tonight....