A queen can lay up to 1500 eggs per day at the height of a strong nectar flow. During
cold periods in the winter egg production seizes. The lifetime of a queen largely
varies and is influenced by genetics and environmental factors such as pesticides,
insecticides and pollution.
Walking Acres Bee Yard - Ecological Beekeeping
Queen - Drone - Worker
A strong colony of bees consists of about 40.000-60.000 bees during a nectar flow. There is only one queen, she is the only fertile female. The majority of bees are worker bees, which are female, but are unable to reproduce. A varying number of drones will be present during spring and summer. Drones are male bees, their only purpose is to mate with virgin queens. Worker bees perform a multitude of tasks in the hive, before they become field bees and collect nectar and pollen. Young worker bees care for the queen, they clean, feed and guard her. They produce the wax for building the comb, transport the nectar (transferred to them by field bees) to the cells of the comb, they feed the larvae, they fan the hive to cool it and dry the honey.
Ecological Beekeeping
Ecological beekeeping is something like organic beekeeping, except you don’t have to go through the qualifying process, which is almost impossible to pass. We do not use any pesticides or insecticides on our property or in our beehives. We do not treat our hives against any pests or diseases. We do not use antibiotics or whatever might get into the honey or the wax. We do not use any plastic or other manmade materials in our beehives. The wood we use for frames and boxes is never treated. This way of beekeeping guarantees the cleanest and most natural products possible.