Honey Bees & chickens??????

[flgardengirl]

I think I would want the honey due to allergies etc. I asked this on the other thread but think I will ask here as well in case someone knows...I have been reading up on honeybees in FL and what plants they like and which are toxic. It says that yellow jessamine vine flower is on the toxic list. The woods around here are just full of it. It only blooms mostly in the spring. It grows wild around here. What will happen if I get bees and it is blooming will they know not to go to it? I have seen wild honeybees around here so they must know better than to partake of it but what will the new bees do?

 

[montverdechick]

My girls leave the bees alone and the bees don't mind them walking under the hive. We have Italians...every doscile bees. The girls so however, eat the dead drones off the ground. But that is it. Go for it and nejoy!

 

[HeritageHens]

Before I started to free range my girls (under supervision), I opened the door to the run one day and my Gold Laced Wyandotte ran right out the door and nabbed a wasp sunning itself on a rock next to the coop. I panicked about the bird getting loose but she ran right back into the coop with her prized possession and had 8 others chasing her. She ultimately prevailed and got the morsel.

So count me among those who are interested in bee keeping. Vegetable gardening has been in my blood for 6 years, chickens were the hobby to start this year; next summer will be bees! But...

Quote:
Could you tell me more about this? I have arthritis and it affects my fingers more than my hands. It's really hard for me to scruff my ferrets to give them medications anymore.

Would arthritis affect my ability to work with the bees?

I've been reading about bees and am thinking about a top-bar hive. The law allowing bee keeping should be in effect shortly so I want to apply for a permit (must notify neighbors). And speaking of liability, has anyone had their insurance company throw a fit over keeping bees?

 

[happyhappy]

Quote:
Could you tell me more about this? I have arthritis and it affects my fingers more than my hands. It's really hard for me to scruff my ferrets to give them medications anymore.

Would arthritis affect my ability to work with the bees?

I've been reading about bees and am thinking about a top-bar hive. The law allowing bee keeping should be in effect shortly so I want to apply for a permit (must notify neighbors). And speaking of liability, has anyone had their insurance company throw a fit over keeping bees?

Dear Heritage Hens

I too have RA and keep bees (8 yrs) now. Chickens came this year. I have had anywhere from 1 to 10 hives over time, they come from picking up swarms and ferals that fly in to boxes sitting in my yard. Currently I am on Embrel and other meds for my back which came from lifting full boxes of honey one year. I do not want to discourage you at all since keeping bees is as natural as keeping the chickens, they are the most facinating creatures and Woodmort is right you never stop learning from them, do not second guess what a hive will do.

I have slowed down a bit and also have my husband to help. Who was not really crazy about them for the first half of this journey but became crazed about them as I after living with them for a few years. I started keeping them when the varioa mite was killing many of the wild bees and we were hand pollinating our garden. What I have learned.

Not sure what your town regulations are but my neighbors are cool for the most part since they are illegal in the city limits and they DO swarm occasionally LOL. I also have some out in the county and the limitations are 200 feet from a primary residence (which is stupid) Napa county just wants grapes to hell with the pollinators that produce our food.

Producing your own honey is one of the most enjoyable thing I do as a matter of fact I am late taking off honey and winter stuff because I have been playing with the chooks to much, But oh well....

All I can say is go for it .... you won't be sorry.

 

[ParadiseFoundFarm]

I have 2 questions:
1) Any one near Joliet Illinois who wants a wild honey queen & her colony? I'm alergic and it's on property.
2) We also have bumble bees in the ground too. If I put our mobil chicken tractor over the exit hole areas will the bumblebees be eaten or the birds be hurt?

 

[woodmort]

Quote:
Could you tell me more about this? I have arthritis and it affects my fingers more than my hands. It's really hard for me to scruff my ferrets to give them medications anymore.

Would arthritis affect my ability to work with the bees?

I've been reading about bees and am thinking about a top-bar hive. The law allowing bee keeping should be in effect shortly so I want to apply for a permit (must notify neighbors). And speaking of liability, has anyone had their insurance company throw a fit over keeping bees?

I have Dupuytren's Constricture--it is discussed under Random Ramblings if you want to do a search--not arthritis. It makes it impossible to open my hands so I can't get in under the hive boxes to lift them without effort. This meant I would often drop one and that kinda makes the bees mad. Beekeeping does require some strength--a full hive of honey is heavy. BTW, I had an oldtimer tell me that bee venom was actually good for arthritis.

 

[Bookspryte]

This is sort of off-topic, but not quite. I just got back from our local beekeepers association meeting. We're in the process of ordering bees for our club for spring. It seems the apiary we use is booked up through April.

Anyone hoping to start with bees next spring might want to look into ordering bees now for spring delivery. I know there was a shortage this spring.

This was my third year with bees and my second with chickens. The only problem I had was the ever-curious chickens wanting to help Mom check the bees, which usually resulted in the bees getting upset with Mom.

I don't like honey, but I think the bees are important enough to warrant the time and money.

 

[HeritageHens]

Happy and Woodmort, thank you for your responses to my newbie questions. I guess I remain concerned because the osteoarthritis arthritis affects my hands but seriously affects my back as well (probably from an Air Force injury from which I draw disability payments). I never thought about that aspect in terms of beekeeping

and it's doubtful I can get any support from my husband in doing any of the chores.

I know the Langstroth hive is fairly (?) standard size and that the top bar can be built at home. Couldn't I build a smaller top-bar hive so that it isn't so heavy?

 

[sgtmom52]

Quote:
The Langstroth hive boxes can be very heavy and would probably be a problem for you to move around as you do have to shift around boxes when working with them. With a top bar hive once it is built and in place all you have to do is take off the cover and move individual frames which would not be especially heavy. You really do not want to build a smaller top bar hive than recommended as it would create too small of a space for the bees and they would tend to either swarm or abscond.

 

[HeritageHens]

Quote:
Thank you! I read a little bit last night about the 2 types of bees for sale at the place I will order from locally. I'm leaning towards the Carniolan bees (vz. Italian bees) and I read that swarming can be a little bigger problem with them so I want to avoid that.