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Post by HarryVanderpool on Dec 21, 2013 14:59:19 GMT -7
Here are a couple of pictures taken today December 21 of 5 frame nucs overwintered with Old Sol Oregon Super queens. WOW am I ever happy with these queens so far. Am I ever going to be glad to have these to use in almonds. Super good job by John Jacob of Old Sol Industries, Rogue River Oregon!!!
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Post by NormCounterman on Dec 24, 2013 13:48:23 GMT -7
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Post by eastsidebuzz on Dec 25, 2013 19:41:24 GMT -7
I am sure harry would not be happy with me for giving out his secret spot in CA. He swore me to secrecy when I learned of this and I will forever spend my days looking over my shoulder for telling you guys of his spot. This is why he has so much success and I am risking life and limb for sharing it. plus.google.com/104894434754990386654/about?gl=us&hl=en. With this info you can be really successful in your beekeeping career. So good luck and watch your back if he catches you in his spot.
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Post by golddust on Dec 26, 2013 19:03:10 GMT -7
John's queens are super...for years I have used his Selects...a few years back I opt for a program queen....oh my word, it was the best hive I have ever had and still is because the daughter is execllent...keep up the good work John.
Corinne from Brookings
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Post by toddbalsiger on Dec 27, 2013 17:32:31 GMT -7
They seem calm. Not seeing smoke bellowing out of smoker, so maybe can infer that they did not require much smoking. Will want more feedback It would be good to patronage John
I have stack of 15 nucs on top of each other. Did survival sample on 21st. All seem okay even given our eternal 30 degree fog.
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Post by Eric Walls on Jan 3, 2014 16:54:11 GMT -7
I looked at his website and it seemed like his queens were Russians or maybe i'm not reading it right? I only have a few hives and try to go with Italians because of neighbors close by. I would like to try his queens if I knew they were gentle enough to have in an urban environment. What do you you guys think?
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Post by toddbalsiger on Jan 4, 2014 1:44:01 GMT -7
John Jacob or Harry will need to reply. John does run Russian according to Harry.
Don't forget Carniolan.
Also, these small nucs were made last fall, so Harry really hasn't worked with them in a full hive context. Albeit, you can learn the disposition of bees quickly enough in nuc boxes. Some of my New World Corniolans are plenty hot.
Harry and John may be moving hives to California and will not respond for a while.
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Post by Eric Walls on Jan 5, 2014 9:57:00 GMT -7
Ya, I'm more of the casual backyard beekeeper, just have 5-6 hives but am always looking for a good performing yet gentle queen. I've never had a complaint from the neighbors, perhaps it's because they get honey and beeswax lip balm every Christmas!
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Post by HarryVanderpool on Jan 5, 2014 11:09:30 GMT -7
I am not a fan of russian bees. I was not aware of John's work with russians until after purchacing them. John has assured me that the queens he raises is the result of years of stock selection and breeding and that I did not get "russians". All I can tell you at this point is that his queens have performed very well, actually above average to say the least so far. Introduction is always the first indication and I had 100% acceptance. Having said that, I introduced his queens in the fall at a time where acceptance normally drops some. The other thing that BLEW ME AWAY was the brood pattern and build-up. Every year in the fall - late fall I always find several hives that fall apart and who's populations have fallen to the point that you wonder if just shaking them out would be a better Idea than throwing good money after bad. I restarted several hives with John's queens that EXPLODED to full strength with such vigor; it was almost beyond belief. So,,,,,for now, it's "so far-so good!" The next test is how they do in their first full year. One little note: To be fair, I do not publicly run down our fellow beekeepers queens if I do not like them. SO, if it turns out that I don't care for them, you will probably never know. I take the high road on queens: "If I don't have anything good to say then I say nothing at all". I know how hard it is to raise good queens. Folks involved with queen rearing don't need a bunch of bashing on the internet.
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Post by toddbalsiger on Jan 6, 2014 1:17:28 GMT -7
Here is my nuc hotel. Did this last year too instead of wrapping individually. I was worried that they froze during that protracted cold spell we had. They are all fine, even the ones on the edges. Plenty of feed still.
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Post by golddust on Jan 8, 2014 7:50:34 GMT -7
It has been my experience that the hives are gentle...little and sometimes no smoke. Low mite count, smaller broodnest in winter, pollen sensitive so the hives buildup when it becomes available. Here, on the Southern Oregon Coast, where it is an old rain forest (damp and chilly) these bees do well for me. They are well aclimated for the Pacific Northwest.
Corinne from Brookings, Or.
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Post by golddust on Jan 8, 2014 8:04:38 GMT -7
I forgot to add: when I requeen a hive I use Harry's technique and John's queens with 100% acceptance. John is very selective in what he produces...as I said earlier I have used his queens for a number of years and personally I have expierenced stronger more productive queens each year.
Corinne from Brookings
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Post by Eric Walls on Jan 8, 2014 14:13:59 GMT -7
Sounds like I'm going to have to give his queens a try. Nice to know they are from in state as well. I'd like to requeen in the fall which would break the brood cycle and help with mites. What is Harry's technique for introduction?
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Post by JBJ on Jan 8, 2014 21:21:47 GMT -7
Thanks for the kind words. We put a tremendous amount of effort into what we do and appreciate all feedback. The queens would have to be considered hybrids. We do performance based selection selection and pay more attention to economically valuable traits such as productivity and disease resistance than pedigree. The temperament is usually quite manageable. There is always room for improvement and the quest for the perfect queen is never ending. I already cant wait for the first graft this year.
We should have most of our 2014 breeders queens selected after the almonds. The prospects are looking great so far. We are also going to test some of the Caucasian stock from WSU and some more of the SMR/VSH stock from Dr Harbo. These pollen sensitive lines we are using really adjust their brood rearing to the season and respond well to stimulation if you need them bigger ahead of season. We also have some collaborative stock selection efforts going. When clients find queens that are consistently having low mite counts in productive pleasant colonies we are always interested in making some more daughters.
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Post by Eric Walls on Jan 9, 2014 13:27:34 GMT -7
So my dumb question is do you think they would be appropriate for the casual backyard hive (3-4 hives) or would they be more geared for the commercial beekeeper? How would I go about ordering them this summer? What's the best way to introduce her? Typically I hang the cage and wrap it with masking tape for about 3-4 days and then take the tape off. This give them a good week to slowly release her. Eric
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