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

[CLSranch]

Happy New Year.
How was everyone's harvest this/last year. How are the hives now that it's officially cold about everywhere. I'm currently working 600 mls south of home and saw bees 2 wks ago. Now it's sleeting and the camper water is froze.

 

[rebrascora]

Hi and Happy New Year from me too.

It was about 8C here yesterday and very calm. so all 8 of my hives showed a little activity.... mostly cleansing flights and foraging for water. One of the hives has dysentery which I think may be due to Ivy honey..... we got a mild autumn and there was quite a heavy flow of it. I've seen it before and it has cleared up on it's own so I am hopeful they will make it. I allow my bees to swarm at will so they don't produce much surplus honey. I tend to harvest every 2nd or 3rd year depending on how they are doing. I collect the swarms and give them to people to get started in beekeeping. My bees are approaching 8 years untreated for varroa now partly as a result of this policy. I got about 30lbs of honey this year but I leave them all honey to over winter on and hardly ever need to feed them and if I do, it's just a couple of pints of syrup to help a weak colony set up for winter.

 

[Boonie Stomper]

I'm interested...i'll be watching this thread.

OH,,,, Im in!!

I was just thinking today 'how do I start bees'?

me too!

Ditto! But will try and get a relative to do it for me. Still remember having honeybee sting me up my nose when had to breath...

 

[CLSranch]

Tree's are finally blooming in North East OK, and seeing some bee's on it. Now that it's warming some more into the 70's it comes with a 30+mph wind. So not much bee activity at those speeds.

 

[annanicole18]

Hi everyone! I know this is a thread that spans quite a bit of time. If you were to order a hive or two that requires assembly what company would you order from? We are pretty handy and have some time before the nuc pick up date I am eyeing. Thinking bees will make a lovely 10th anniversary girf to the hubby!

 

[CLSranch]

I got my hives from Brushy Mt. Bee Farm. Their is different prices everywhere. I got some stuff from Lappe's that was much cheaper. Not the hive starter kits or other hive boxes.

I built my swarm traps with unassembled frames from Brushy Mountain.
They're not hard (building frames or boxes) but time consuming.

 

[Boonie Stomper]

Can you please show and tell more about the swarm trap?

 

[CLSranch]

I don't have any pics right now so I will try and "tell".
I just measured my boxes 8 frame med's and made them a little wider to hold 10 frames. I had scrap ( 1x's or plywood I can't remember) that was several inches wider than my boxes height. I didn't rip them down because I wanted it bigger/taller than a med. That size is supposed to be better. (I still haven't caught a swarm) The ends are about 1/2 shorter than the sides to make a lip to hold the frames without routering or tricky table saw work.

 

[CLSranch]

I put 2x4 handles on the end that covered the 1/2 end pieces and cut them at a slight angle to make the handle have a little more lip. The angle on the inside and bottom. I made the top out of plywood big enough to cover over the handles and 2" out the front. Left the back flush. I put a 1x4 (about 3' long) with a hole in the top to hang on a limb.
If you cut a limb close to the tree you can slide the 1x4 over it, then strap it or not to the tree.

 

[CLSranch]

I also put out a random box that was very durable and the right size even though it won't hold a frame.
It just happens to be the right square space that they may like it and I'll do a cut out if they do.
Got started late last year. Started 3wks ago this year so I should have much better success.