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

[Glenmar]

I will check them again next week and post observations. We took an 8 hour class, and I can call the instructor. I wish someone could come out and look with me.

 

[sgtmom52]

We got a swarm call at 3:30 this afternoon. Luckily it was only about 5 miles away. The call came from a member of our beekeepers assoc. who had 3 hives and 2 of them swarmed this afternoon. They only had equipment and space for 1 swarm (which they caught) so they called us to collect the other one. With rain predicted from this evening and the next couple of days, we grabbed some equipment and headed out. The swarm was a nice big one, probably about 5 pounds and only about 3' off the ground in a magnolia tree. We collected the swarm in a large tub and headed home to quickly hive them before the rain hit. We did end up finishing in the rain, but I figure that will help keep them in the hive.

Swarm in the tree. The swarm was very calm and we think we got the queen and probably 95% of the bees.

After we hived the swarm. The bees have completely moved inside now.

We are down to our last odds & end of equipment, but are picking some more up at a local equipment dealer this week. We have 12 other hives, 4 others at our house and the rest on 2 different farms. This one will probably be moved to one of the farms next week after the rain is done.

 

[Pineywoodstx]

What does the green stripe do? I haven't seen that before.

 

[sgtmom52]

What does the green stripe do? I haven't seen that before.

We have different colored stripes painted on each hive ~ the theory is that it might help prevent drifting of bees between hives. I'm not sure if it really works.

 

[Pineywoodstx]

Fabulous. I've only had bees for four years and am still learning. Thanks

 

[gachickens13]

Hi i am new at the chicken thing too,,and i will be getting bees next year, im preping my area now with honeysuckle bushes..and other things that they like

 

[ThePigeonKid]

What is a good list of things to get before my bees arrive?

 

[sgtmom52]

What is a good list of things to get before my bees arrive?

Most importantly you want to have your hive assembled, painted and set up on a raised stand of some type. You need to decide how you are going to feed them (sugar syrup) and have the feeder and sugar on hand. All packages need to be fed after installation so they can draw comb and get over the stress of traveling.

I recommend a good hive tool, smoker and fuel (pine wood shavings work great), a long lighter, a veil and gloves at the minimum.
There are lots of other items you can get later, but are not necessary to have at the beginning.

 

[zzGypsy]

I'd add a bee brush and two spray bottles - one with water and one with light sugar water. a light spray of sugar water on the frames before you install the bees encourages them to stay put, and if you get a LOT of bees in the air, sometimes spraying them lightly with water will help settle some... be careful not to drown them, but when I was new, having too many flying at once unnerved me, and a little water in the air settled them enough to calm ME down. don't know if it helped the BEES any, but it helped me.
bee brush is not too expensive and it's useful.

 

[NevadaRon]

We got a swarm call at 3:30 this afternoon. Luckily it was only about 5 miles away. The call came from a member of our beekeepers assoc. who had 3 hives and 2 of them swarmed this afternoon. They only had equipment and space for 1 swarm (which they caught) so they called us to collect the other one. With rain predicted from this evening and the next couple of days, we grabbed some equipment and headed out. The swarm was a nice big one, probably about 5 pounds and only about 3' off the ground in a magnolia tree. We collected the swarm in a large tub and headed home to quickly hive them before the rain hit. We did end up finishing in the rain, but I figure that will help keep them in the hive.

Swarm in the tree. The swarm was very calm and we think we got the queen and probably 95% of the bees.

After we hived the swarm. The bees have completely moved inside now.

We are down to our last odds & end of equipment, but are picking some more up at a local equipment dealer this week. We have 12 other hives, 4 others at our house and the rest on 2 different farms. This one will probably be moved to one of the farms next week after the rain is done.

That's awesome! Something to aspire to...

I'd add a bee brush and two spray bottles - one with water and one with light sugar water. a light spray of sugar water on the frames before you install the bees encourages them to stay put, and if you get a LOT of bees in the air, sometimes spraying them lightly with water will help settle some... be careful not to drown them, but when I was new, having too many flying at once unnerved me, and a little water in the air settled them enough to calm ME down. don't know if it helped the BEES any, but it helped me.
bee brush is not too expensive and it's useful.

LOL!!