Bee Hives

[PotterWatch]

I got my bees for free from a friend's apricot tree a couple years ago. Nice sized swarm of very hard working, gentle bees.

 

[zzGypsy]

free gentle bees that are good producers

yeah, those are the best kind!

lots of times those are a swarm from someone's expensive well-bred bees. nice when you benefit from them!

 

[deerman]

Quote:
The problem with a 1 lb package.....it will take longer for the hive to built up workers to get a good honey crop the first year.

With the shorter season up north, better to start with more bees. Larger hive , just add another brood box, makes real strong hives.

Living on the water, don't think that will help.

 

[deerman]

Quote:
yes i have got many free swarms, i have not had bees for a few years now..........but i really enjoy them.

one fact that i like to tell honey bee eggs that are not fertile hatch out drones.

 

[leonphelps]

The pollen is so bad on the water, my surveillance cameras look like snow at night. It is amazing. With the tomato garden, blueberry bushes, egg plant, and other garden stuff in close proximity to my property I have way more stuff than my friend. He actually backs up to a casino that is 2 miles of pure pavement.

Ill ask him the type of box he has. He told me his made so much honey he had to upgrade or risk the hive moving due to lack of space.

I look at the $25 as a better safer bet than $200. It would be way easier to break even on the smaller bet than the larger one.

 

[zzGypsy]

went to my first Ozark bee club meeting last night... they're having 2 beginning beekeeping classes (springfield, mo) in january. if anyone's in the area and wants details, let me know!

 

[Avalon1984]

Have fun with your bees! Depending on your location read up on winterizing bee hives. I just got mine done. We’ll see if they make it through the winter.

 

[jldaniel33]

I am also going to get started with beekeeping this year. Is there an especially good site for information? I hear that there are a lot of varying opinions on how things are done. I am in Central Washington and although there are lots of trees here, I am in a ranching area with not a lot of trees.

 

[zzGypsy]

Quote:
if you want to do natural style, search the yahoo groups for "natural beekeeping" there are several good groups on there. and do find your local bee club, they're the best source on what works in your area.

 

[jldaniel33]

Quote:
if you want to do natural style, search the yahoo groups for "natural beekeeping" there are several good groups on there. and do find your local bee club, they're the best source on what works in your area.

I guess I do want natural. I was trying to find an article I read on Mother Earth New (I think) about different types of hives. There are a couple of other types than the "box" that are more natural I guess.