Calling all bee keepers, is it hard to do?????

[AHappychick]

I just met a family that used to have a bee keeper but he died

They are looking for some chickens to add to their flock and a chicken person to help and a new bee keeper. They asked if I could learn it, I said I was not sure but in my head I thought why not???

So is it hard? What would be the best book to buy, and is there a good place like BYC where I could go to learn? any suggestions or info would be greatly appreciated this could be a great opportunity for me, they might even let me keep a few breeding pens at their property to help with my rooster issues

Essentially I would be their, gardener/chicken/bee caretaker which would be wonderful for me and good for them since I am a hard worker

Oh and they already have 3 nice looking bee houses so I am assuming they have all the equipment as well just no one to do it and no bees this year I dont think.

 

[mjdtexan]

I am currently looking into getting serious about bees. It does not appear to be all that difficult to learn but there are some things that need to be learned. I have joined a couple of bee forums to help me in my research. Google bee forums. Those guys are as friendly as these chicken guys.

 

[Marlinchaser]

If you can get over the fear of getting stung you can do it.(Assuming you dont have allergic reaction where you have to get a shot and be to the hospital within 5 minutes or you die)

If they have the suits, and all the equipment most other work is inspecting, treating any problems and Labor to Rob the honey.

 

[Chicky Tocks]

hee hee that depends on who you ask. My DH and I tried to keep a hive once...they stuck around for about a month and then one day they all packed up their little suitcases and left never to be heard from again.

I suppose we had a lot to learn about good bee keeping hospitality.

 

[tdgill]

go for it!

we NEED bees!!!!!

the honey is ok too. hahah

 

[Hotwings]

Beekeeping is really growing where I live. They are very beneficial to the fruit crop here in southwestern Mich. Just look how exspensive all those bee/honey products are!

 

[okiron]

I would love for a hive of bees to be on my property (when I have a property for it to be on lol) but I don't know how confident I'd be in actually taking some honey. If you can do it then go for it!

 

[maplesky7]

It's not all that hard. I didn't have a bee suit...just my khaki pants and my husband's white buttom up shirt...think light colors...dark colors make them mad....bears....

If they have a hive it has to be registered. An apiary inspector will come out and inspect the hives for mites... Mine is supper cool, he's had bees since the 70's...He helped me harvest and talked to me a long time when he came out and pointed things out. Later I recieved a package from him in the mail...it was a mask...the net thing for your head that he had an extra of. Wasn't that sweet?

Anyway,
Here we have the Illinois Bee Association. It has meetings every couple of months and you'll meet really cool people (kinda like a group of byc members that sit around, bring food, and jab about bees instead of chickens). Ours has books you can borrow.

Now that you know what a hive looks like, drive around until you see someone else with them and stop and see if they are open to talking about them. I did.

Also at the farmers markets, you'll find people selling their local honey and they are usually really open about talking to you about keeping bees...maybe even invite you to their apiary.

The president of the bee assoc. had me to his apiary...he's got over 200 hives....he showed me a thing or two. I gave him 18 eggs to hatch from my br. It was so cool to see my grandchicks there...it was the first time I had anything hatched from my chickens. He had a wife and a couple of kids but they were vegetarian except for him...ha ha. Nice people.

Dadant is a co. who has bee supplies...but there are others.

Have fun and remember....as long as the flowers are open the bees are happy. If the flowers are not open or it's a rainy day and everyone is home....leave them be and choose a nice sunny day to inspect the hives.

...and relax...be calm.

If one starts really buzzing you and keeps at it aggressively...usually the guard bees....walk away until they stop following you.

And as long as they have lots of honey...they don't care about you stealing.

me,
g

 

[sundance]

the man I bought my honey from died last week so don't know who will take his bees.I would love to have some but l sting and i go into shock, hope someone close takes them, I know some one told me to take a spoonful of honey from the area where I lived and it would help with my allergy, tried it since he lived up the hill, strange as it seems it works. He was a great guy, and only 63 gonna miss him, marrie

 

[maplesky7]

because local honey has the pollen debri from all your local flowers and trees... and it builds up your immunity.