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

[vpatt]

I get to go help with bees today! Well watch and learn is more like it. I know I'm not likely to move anyplace where I can have bees (at my age). But I can learn and maybe interest my grands and others in the welfare of bees.

This lady is serious about her bees...she moved a couple of hives into her kitchen over the winter. She made openings in her wall so they could go outside and has a hose like setup from the hives to the openings. I don't understand much about bees but hope to learn.

 

[Happy Chooks]

I was planning on growing lavender and was bummed when it didn't start growing in my pot.... then I realized two days ago looking at my seed packages that I never planted it

I will look up lilacs and some other things.

If you are warm enough for citrus, they go crazy over citrus blooms. This was yesterday on my orange blossoms.

I get to go help with bees today! Well watch and learn is more like it. I know I'm not likely to move anyplace where I can have bees (at my age). But I can learn and maybe interest my grands and others in the welfare of bees.

This lady is serious about her bees...she moved a couple of hives into her kitchen over the winter. She made openings in her wall so they could go outside and has a hose like setup from the hives to the openings. I don't understand much about bees but hope to learn.

Very cool! Have a great time!

 

[mak1]

Its smells so good in citrus orchards when they bloom.

 

[3goodeggs]

My husband is going to try and lure a swarm out of someones house today.
He does not know what he is doing.
He did take a bottle of Benadryl.
But seriously.
What is it with men?'' I will learn as I do it'', it does not apply here.
You'd think he would have at least taken the bee book with him.
I said, 'take lure.'
"Naw, it's alright."

Any hints that I can send to him?

Like ''don't do it!" or "Run!"
He did not buy lemon grass oil, but he is going to use fresh lemon grass.

*tisk*

I dunno.... mumble mumble... humph.

 

[rebrascora]

It depends how long they have been there. If it is only a matter of a day or 2 then you/he might manage to smoke them out. If it's longer than that and the queen has started laying or smoking is not feasible for whatever reason, then he needs to research "cut out" or "trap out" with regard to bee removal. There are many good videos on you tube but he needs to do some research and get all the gear he needs together before he starts. Beekeeping is all about preparation, especially with swarms where you are working away from home. I have done a couple of trap outs and they are not for the impatient..... it takes several weeks and numerous visits and usually lots of climbing up and down ladders to tweek things as the bees try to thwart you..... and lots of lateral thinking to try to outmanoeuvre them.

I wish him luck!

If on the other hand ,it is just a swarm clustering in someone's garden or porch then that is a doddle by comparison. Sheet and a cardboard box and maybe some loppers to cut a branch or a bee brush. I catch about 15 a year, This year I am going to try using a Russian scion to (hopefully) catch my swarms.

 

[3goodeggs]

Thank you. Hopefully he will realize when he gets there that they are entrenched and leave it to a professional.
I will call him and tell him that.
I do not want to leave my super there. Someone will steal it. He needs a true trap.
I wish I could just talk him out of it.

 

[Happy Chooks]

My husband is going to try and lure a swarm out of someones house today.
He does not know what he is doing.
He did take a bottle of Benadryl.
But seriously.
What is it with men?'' I will learn as I do it'', it does not apply here.
You'd think he would have at least taken the bee book with him.
I said, 'take lure.'
"Naw, it's alright."

Any hints that I can send to him?

Like ''don't do it!" or "Run!"
He did not buy lemon grass oil, but he is going to use fresh lemon grass.

*tisk*

I dunno.... mumble mumble... humph.

 

[rebrascora]

Maybe, if a professional is required for a cut out of trap out, your husband could offer to help and gain some valuable experience.
Sadly even in the village here where I have lived all my life, someone stole a nuc box that I had captured a swarm in and left in what I thought was a quiet place for a couple of hours for the bees to settle. It could only have been another beekeeper which is pretty upsetting. So you are right to be concerned about your super.

I'm hoping to have a little look into a couple of my hives on Monday or Tues. It will be a first inspection of the season. I only do 2 or 3 per hive per year these days. Absolutely delighted that all my colonies came through another winter untreated for varroa. . The two oldest colonies are now going into their 7th year untreated. The others are younger colonies but all related to those original two which are themselves related. I guess I was very fortunate when these bees decided to come and live with me and I think they have a lot of native dark bee genetics which makes them so resilient.

 

[Lapeerian]

My husband is going to try and lure a swarm out of someones house today.
He does not know what he is doing.
He did take a bottle of Benadryl.
But seriously.
What is it with men?'' I will learn as I do it'', it does not apply here.
You'd think he would have at least taken the bee book with him.
I said, 'take lure.'
"Naw, it's alright."

Any hints that I can send to him?

Like ''don't do it!" or "Run!"
He did not buy lemon grass oil, but he is going to use fresh lemon grass.

*tisk*

I dunno.... mumble mumble... humph.

Sorry, sounds like my husband too. Hence why I won't let him buy a chainsaw.

I do have to say my Hubby has been wonderful in learning all he can before he gets the bees. Started with the intention in mid-February. Got his first package of equipment yesterday, 2 more to come in next week. Getting the 2 established hives hopefully next weekend. Found some more local people that have/had bees to use for information, but no one had old equipment for sale. I did manage to find good deals, sales codes, free shipping at 3 online sources.
While on the topic, what is everyone's preferred method for moving 2 full hives (bees included) on a 45 minute trip? The current owner said take them at night, but that seems like it would be difficult working in the dark and thought I read in here where it was not recommended.

 

[3goodeggs]

Cool and dark was what I heard. You do not what to do it when the workers are out foraging or they will be lost.
That's sad.
It'd be like coming home and finding mom has moved without telling you anything.