In message <[log in to unmask]>, Greg & Melinda Holley <[log in to unmask]> writes >I am a 3rd year hobbyist with 4 hives in SW Virginia. (3 Italian, 1 >Carniolian) I have several questions. Hi! from one hobbyist (6 hives) to another (and another). I'm sure you'll get some more comprehensive answers from elsewhom, but FWIW.. >1. Do I need to be checking my hives >now to see if they still have enough food/honey? Difficult to say from my position so far away! - How did you prepare them for the winter last year? Have you tried hefting the hives to check their weight? >2. Several people have >given me old, dark honey they had for several years; is this okay to feed >the bees? if yes, how do you feed it? I would say NO. Feeding bees honey from another hives, let alone an unknown source, is a great way to pass on foul brood. >3. I would like to raise queens >from my Carn. queen; if I try this having 3 other hives of Italians will >the new bees be a mixed breed with a bad disposition? You probably have little or no control over the drones that your Q will mate with, unless you know that there are no other hives within about ten miles, and no feral colonies either. -- Alyn W. Ashworth Lancashire & North-West Bee-Keepers' Association. UK. (but I don't speak on their bee-half) http://www.demon.co.uk/emphasys