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danno
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« on: September 18, 2012, 11:54:26 AM » |
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I have one that is going on its 6th winter. It is the last one of 5 packages from Georgia. It has swarmed a few times that I know of
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mikecva
House Bee
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Posts: 407
Location: Northern Virginia USA
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« Reply #1 on: September 18, 2012, 12:17:00 PM » |
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I am rotating the brood frames every 4-5 years. My oldest box was about 20 years old until it got a funky smell one year in mid summer so I moved the frames to new boxes (after a good inspection) and destroyed the boxes. -Mike
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Listen to others but make your own decisions. That way you own the results.
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danno
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« Reply #2 on: September 18, 2012, 02:34:25 PM » |
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I dont mean how old is your equipment. I mean colony. I'm happy with this 6 year old and as always they look good with a low mite load and good stores going into winter .
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iddee
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« Reply #3 on: September 18, 2012, 03:32:59 PM » |
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I sold a hive 11 years ago. 9 years ago the guy divorced and gave it to his son.
6 years ago his son divorced and sold it to a friend of mine.
2 years ago I bought it back.
It is a Wayne's bees queen and has never been treated for mites.
It weighs about 150 lb. now and is ready for winter.
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"Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me . . . Anything can happen, child. Anything can be"
*Shel Silverstein*
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dfizer
House Bee
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Gender: 
Posts: 208
Location: Ballston Spa, New York
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« Reply #4 on: September 18, 2012, 09:42:18 PM » |
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My oldest one, well actually three, is almost 7 months old but I'm hoping it makes it through the winter and I have bees in the spring!!!  David |
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AllenF
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« Reply #5 on: September 18, 2012, 10:10:43 PM » |
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I am thinking I have a few in the 4 to 5 year range, but I just can not think which to where. No where near that wayne's bee hive of Iddee's. That hive may be the cause a lot of divorces btw.
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schawee
Field Bee
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Location: PAULINA,LOUISIANA
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« Reply #6 on: September 18, 2012, 10:31:46 PM » |
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i still have my first hive i statred with ,it in it's ninth year.
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BEEKEEPER OF THE SWAMP
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Michael Bush
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« Reply #7 on: September 19, 2012, 09:09:40 AM » |
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Back in the golden age of beekeeping (mid 70s to the mid 80s) I had a couple that lasted ten years. But then, when they swarm is the old location still the same colony or is the new location the same colony? I can't say about the new location as I don't think I caught ALL the swarms...
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mikecva
House Bee
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Posts: 407
Location: Northern Virginia USA
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« Reply #8 on: September 19, 2012, 01:05:36 PM » |
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Sorry about the equipment answer, I guess I was thinking of the age of the workers (3 months) and the age of the queen (2-3 years) making a colony 3 years at most.  I have had hives on a single stand last 3 years to about 17 years. Some have swarmed and several were re-queened by my choice some by theirs. I hope this is what you were looking for. -Mike |
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Listen to others but make your own decisions. That way you own the results.
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iddee
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« Reply #9 on: September 19, 2012, 08:44:51 PM » |
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MB, I have always heard the expression, "A colony casts off a swarm". So I would consider the colony stayed at the old location and the swarm went and formed a new colony.
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"Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me . . . Anything can happen, child. Anything can be"
*Shel Silverstein*
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Finski
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« Reply #10 on: September 20, 2012, 01:59:47 AM » |
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I renew queens every year and couple of queens live 2 years. (clipped wings in spring).
I join part of hives and mix them. I bet that 2 years is maximum to me.
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Language barrier included
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