A BEE thread....for those interested in beekeeping.

[Happy Chooks]

Last year was a record year with 223lbs of honey off one hive. Which is great for my mountain area. These guys next year may rival that. lol

How many times did you have to extract?

I have yet to extract my honey, but I have 2 supers on right now. And with the blackberries in bloom, I'm sure they will fill the 2nd one up fast!

 

[cowhlb]

My 11 yr old brother has three hives. One hive of bee's we bought and the two others we caught swarms. If you have any questions my brother can answer them all!

 

[OHhappychicks]

We have caught 3 of the 6 that we know of.

One went into the bait hive.


One went into a tree about 20' high ~ we got that one with a ladder.


And the 3rd one was easy ~ less than 6' high in a cedar tree.


The one that went in the bait hive we kept and the other two we gave to friends ~ one who is a new beekeeper and those are his first bees and one who is a long time beekeeper who lost bees over the winter.

We have 20 hives that we keep and right now 3 nucs that we are selling. We may do more nucs for sale especially if we catch any more swarms.

oooo! wish I lived close to you!!

 

[vahomesteaders]

How many times did you have to extract?

I have yet to extract my honey, but I have 2 supers on right now. And with the blackberries in bloom, I'm sure they will fill the 2nd one up fast!

We too have about 150 acres of black berries and they are full bloom. We extract only once at the end of the season. We just keep rotating in new supers on top of the main hive. We pull the top supers off and place a fresh one just above the main box and feed super. Once they fill out a super we emediatly put a fresh one under it and they go down and go to work.

 

[OHhappychicks]

When you set out the bait hive, does that attract any bees, or just for the ones that swarm from your hives?

 

[vahomesteaders]

When you set out the bait hive, does that attract any bees, or just for the ones that swarm from your hives?

Generaly it only works to get your own swarms or the swarms of a very close neighbor who has bees. There are almost no wild honey bees anymore. Infact there are no wild native bees. So catching a swarm other than your own or a neighbors is a slim to none chance.

 

[OHhappychicks]

Generaly it only works to get your own swarms or the swarms of a very close neighbor who has bees. There are almost no wild honey bees anymore. Infact there are no wild native bees. So catching a swarm other than your own or a neighbors is a slim to none chance.

Oh rats!!!

 

[Amiga]

Have the experienced beekeepers shared their stories of starting their first hives lately? Ours are coming next week, Lord willing and I wonder what stories and lessons you may be willing to share. Or if you have already done so, a link?

 

[OHhappychicks]

Have the experienced beekeepers shared their stories of starting their first hives lately? Ours are coming next week, Lord willing and I wonder what stories and lessons you may be willing to share. Or if you have already done so, a link?

Well, I'm certainly not experienced at all, but I have my first hive ready and waiting!! Just need bees!

Waiting on some contacts to find a swarm for me, but I figure I will be on the bottom of the list as the ones I've talked too, had a bad winter and lost some of their bees. But I keep hoping!! If not, it will be fine. There is always next year!! Maybe we can share our first hive stories, when we actually have the bees!!

 

[Amiga]

I have visited an apiary, read a bunch, seen videos, talked to other beekeepers, joined a local beekeeper group, obtained most of the equipment I will need, and a hive.

It is a top bar. I need to get a feeder ready now. I plan to use a three gallon chick waterer for the bees.

Thinking a table and bench would be handy near the hive.