I'm getting BEES!!!

[jettgirl24]

I ordered my bee package today!!! Getting 3lbs of Italians and a queen. Now I've got one month exactly to build my top bar hive. I'm so excited!!!

 

[NonnasBabies]

Quote:
You lucky dog you!!

I wish you luck with your new adventure!!

 

[gmendoza]

Im jealous

 

[genuck]

Grats!

How cool, I would like to get bees some day

Especially since they emptied out my bird feeder for a week last feb. getting at the corn.

 

[kyjohn68]

I so want to do this, but the chickens are the first project, if that goes well, then I'm getting bees, don't want to overwhelm myself. If I may ask, where did you get your bees, just for future reference.

 

[theoldchick]

How exciting! Italian bees are known to be docile. We had several hives many years ago and I used to mow grass all around them with no problem. Excellent workers, they produced a nice clear brown honey, with a lovely earthy flavor.

 

[SamG347]

 

[redhen]

How do you build a hive?

 

[Rusty Hills Farm]

Quote:
There are all kinds of plans on the web, which is where I got mine several years ago. I've still got the plans, altho I lost the bees themselves to colony collapse (I think). I am now reading about the VSH strains and the move to go chemical-free. I plan to keep on reading everything I can find on the subject, as I loved beekeeping but was saddened by losing everybody. Then the wax moths moved in and I wound up burning everything. But I've still got my set of plans. I figure I built everything once so I can do it again--just as soon as I am sure I can make a success of it. Getting started is expensive and we are retired, so I cannot afford to blow several hundred dollars in startup expenses until I am absolutely certain I can make it work this time. I've even found an online course from U of Minnesota that I'm considering taking.

Rusty


PS: I built everything but the frames--stands, hives, supers, bottom boards, telescoping tops, cleats, feeders--the works! It is really not hard as long as you measure and cut accurately. Good luck!