Last Year I Started Beekeeping - So Exciting

[Sooner]

I have two bee hives and seven horses in adjacent fields --- two years and no known problems between them.

thanks, that is what I have found so far. Can't wait for next spring as I will be adding my second hive.

 

[mjckrc2]

Hey! I have been keeping chickens for a couple of years now and am also wanting to start keeping bees, have you really enjoyed it? Do they bother your neighbors or do they stay near their hive? I have a place near the woods I can keep them near a small stream but don't want them to stray too far and disturb other people. Any advice on where to get supplies? Thanks for any info

 

[bluelacedredsta]

I enjoy the beekeeping ---but I have only been in to it for two years. So far I don't think I have missed making any of the mistakes that are possible. My girls (the bees) haven't atacked me so I guess I'm doing OK. It is fun but I have yet to harvest any of my own honey. The hive from last year was so strong they swarmed before I could set the honey supers on and I didn't catch them.

Your state probably has an expert apiarist who can direct you to a supplier or two. He or she will also be a great source of info about the beekeeping business.

Good luck.

 

[bluelacedredsta]

Second chapter, same verse--- I don't have close neighbors so that hasn't developed into a problem for me. But, the education of neighbors may be in order, if they aren't too difficult to get along with. Bees are gentle and in my experience will not sting unless you do something that either pins them down or when tou are in the hive workng WITHOUT BEEKEEPING CLOTHES ON!!!!! That is your mistake, not theirs. There are some bee strains that are more agressive than others but my hives have both been gentle.

 

[Deb B]

Mjckrc2- The bees fly as far as 2 miles to collect pollen and nectar, so they spread out. The only place you will notice a lot of them is right in front of your hives when they are flying or on the outside of the hive in really hot weather (that is called bearding). If you put something like a fence or some bushes in front of the hive, they will fly up higher when going to and fro, and you really won't notice them at all. You can't control where they go, but they shouldn't bother the neighbors unless you don't provide them with a water source but your neighbor does (like if they have a pool or fountain of some sort). They aren't like yellow jackets, who will invite themselves to any outdoor activities that involve food.

 

[Sooner]

I have had a great time working & learning about my bee's. I am so happy with them that I will be adding a second hive. I own horses & have the hive in the pasture with them, I have had no problem in that respect or any other come to think of it. I live in the country so I don't have any really close neighbors but the one that are around me don't know I have bee's unless I tell them. I have people at my house & they don't know unless I say something.

As for supplies so far I have used Kelly Bee Co. for the most part. I spent almost a year doing research before I purchased anything to decide what I wanted to use so I wouldn't have to change down the line. There are alot of great people here that know alot when you have questions.

 

[Happy Chooks]

I'm not sure my hive is going to make it until spring. While I bought some brood patties, I also bought winter patties for feeding. So I opened up the hive yesterday to put the winter patty in and there aren't many bees in there. The frustrating thing is I don't know what I did wrong - I had such a strong hive in the fall. I fed them 2:1 sugar water starting in late summer when I saw their stores dwindling. I saw the queen, but I was shocked at how few bees there are, and we aren't even to the coldest part of winter. We have only been in the low 40's at night. Jan/Feb will be really cold, with snow, and I don't think there's enough bees to keep warm. So frustrating and I have no idea what to do about it.

 

[Nathan Sampson]

Ok what kind of hive do you have again and do you have the entrance reducer in? Also in which direction is the opening facing. If possible can you stack straw bales around it and on top of it to help it stay warm?


On another note I have found a local source to buy 3 hives worth of bees in the spring.

 

[Sooner]

Sorry to hear about your bee's. I don't know enough to offer advice but I hope you figure out what is going on.

 

[shell3]

happychooks: just followed your link to see how your bees are getting on, i havnt read all through (lots of pages lol) but sad to see your having problems your last post was a while ago, how you getting on now?