Last Year I Started Beekeeping - So Exciting

[dabb]

I haven't had much luck the last several years wintering over pkg Italians. I now have carni's and though they can get a little testy in fall protecting their honey they winter over beautifully. I would suggest joining your local bee club and getting a nuc from another beekeeper whose bees have successfully wintered over.

 

[madamwlf]

Could someone please recommend a company to get the equipment from? I'm going with a company in PA for the bees since they are very close to me. We're looking to start this new adventure in the spring. I was looking at the deluxe starter bee kit at Cutler Supplies. Looks to be decent and priced decently as well. Any suggestions?

 

[sgtmom52]

Could someone please recommend a company to get the equipment from? I'm going with a company in PA for the bees since they are very close to me. We're looking to start this new adventure in the spring. I was looking at the deluxe starter bee kit at Cutler Supplies. Looks to be decent and priced decently as well. Any suggestions?

Most company's equipment are very similar in prices ~ shipping is the expensive part! I think that Mann Lake has free shipping on most orders over $100. I recommend checking to see if there is anyone local to you that sells equipment. I know that in south central PA there are quite a few Amish & Mennonites that make and sell the wood ware at good prices.

 

[Sore Thumb Suburbanite]

oh my gosh, why did you all start talking apiarist talk! I'm almost 5 months pregnant with child number 1, getting my first chickens this year (plus building an entire coop/run) currently am building back my bathroom from a complete demolition site, converting a room into a nursery and now I'm itching to get bees-I don't want to wait another year!

Question, I know an apiarist who removes ferrel hives for a living, he can check hive health and identify the species no problem, would it be ok for me to start with one of these hives? He has to destroy perfectly good hives all the time because he doesn't have enough room for them in his current stock. I think I would have to wait until next year just because i'm probably going to be too busy with the baby this year. Unless my husband does everything...

I'm planting a ton of flowers this year too and expanding my garden for more nectar sources in advance, is there anything else I should prep before I get my hive?

 

[Junior]

sgtmom52 is right about Mann Lake.if you order $100 shipping is free. that is what gets expensive when you order woodenware.i just got through putting 10 medium hive bodies together i ordered from them and they went together well so,i think they make a good product.

Junior

 

[Sooner]

Could someone please recommend a company to get the equipment from? I'm going with a company in PA for the bees since they are very close to me. We're looking to start this new adventure in the spring. I was looking at the deluxe starter bee kit at Cutler Supplies. Looks to be decent and priced decently as well. Any suggestions?

Compare prices with Walter T. Kelly Co. that is where I ordered from & I had the Mann catalog also. If you can find anything local I would for sure look there.

 

[Blarneyeggs]

Woo Hoo!! A bee thread! Just what I need. Of course I may want to read one of those bee books we've purchased as well. In my own defense, this is my 13 year old's project, I'm only involved by default.

So... I ordered a 'Starter Kit' from Mann Lake, for about $200' I found it on line. It came with two boxes with a bunch of slat thingies, a metal roof, an extra board which may or may not be a bottom, a smoker, bee tool (which could maybe double for an odd spatula?) gloves and net hat. My son donned the bee equipment and chased our grandsons around the house on Christmas day playing 'monster'. I still need to paint the box and order bees.

Sore thumb : probably be too busy with the baby unless your husband does everything?! BWAHAHAHAHA!!!

Madamwlf: can I ask what the company is in PA where you're getting the bees? I'm in PA, perhaps I can use them too.

Can anyone tell me, when I paint the hive, do I paint just the outside, or the slats too?

Thank you! =D

 

[madamwlf]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Blarneyeggs

Woo Hoo!! A bee thread! Just what I need. Of course I may want to read one of those bee books we've purchased as well. In my own defense, this is my 13 year old's project, I'm only involved by default.
So... I ordered a 'Starter Kit' from Mann Lake, for about $200' I found it on line. It came with two boxes with a bunch of slat thingies, a metal roof, an extra board which may or may not be a bottom, a smoker, bee tool (which could maybe double for an odd spatula?) gloves and net hat. My son donned the bee equipment and chased our grandsons around the house on Christmas day playing 'monster'. I still need to paint the box and order bees.
Sore thumb : probably be too busy with the baby unless your husband does everything?! BWAHAHAHAHA!!!
Madamwlf: can I ask what the company is in PA where you're getting the bees? I'm in PA, perhaps I can use them too.
Can anyone tell me, when I paint the hive, do I paint just the outside, or the slats too?
Thank you!

 

[sgtmom52]

Woo Hoo!! A bee thread! Just what I need. Of course I may want to read one of those bee books we've purchased as well. In my own defense, this is my 13 year old's project, I'm only involved by default.
So... I ordered a 'Starter Kit' from Mann Lake, for about $200' I found it on line. It came with two boxes with a bunch of slat thingies, a metal roof, an extra board which may or may not be a bottom, a smoker, bee tool (which could maybe double for an odd spatula?) gloves and net hat. My son donned the bee equipment and chased our grandsons around the house on Christmas day playing 'monster'. I still need to paint the box and order bees.
Sore thumb : probably be too busy with the baby unless your husband does everything?! BWAHAHAHAHA!!!
Madamwlf: can I ask what the company is in PA where you're getting the bees? I'm in PA, perhaps I can use them too.
Can anyone tell me, when I paint the hive, do I paint just the outside, or the slats too?
Thank you!

Blarney ~ Check out http://www.phillybeekeepers.org/ the Philadelphia Beekeepers Guild. They have a very active club and they have a list of people who sell bees in your area. Jim Bobb who is a member of that club is a past President of the PA State Beekeepers Assoc. and is a wealth of knowledge!

When you paint your hives only paint the outside wood Do not paint anything inside. Do not paint the edges where the boxes stack on top of each other as the paint makes the boxes stick together (they will stick anyway with the propolis the bees add). You can paint the boxes in any color you wish ~ they don't have to be white esp in the northern states. Ours are moss green & I know people who paint them in a rainbow of colors & have their children decorate them too. Take your time in painting, use a good primer then 2 coats of an exterior semi gloss paint as it may be many years until you paint again. It is difficult to paint when there are bees in the hive.

 

[chigger bait]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Blarneyeggs

Woo Hoo!! A bee thread! Just what I need. Of course I may want to read one of those bee books we've purchased as well. In my own defense, this is my 13 year old's project, I'm only involved by default.
So... I ordered a 'Starter Kit' from Mann Lake, for about $200' I found it on line. It came with two boxes with a bunch of slat thingies, a metal roof, an extra board which may or may not be a bottom, a smoker, bee tool (which could maybe double for an odd spatula?) gloves and net hat. My son donned the bee equipment and chased our grandsons around the house on Christmas day playing 'monster'. I still need to paint the box and order bees.
Sore thumb : probably be too busy with the baby unless your husband does everything?! BWAHAHAHAHA!!!
Madamwlf: can I ask what the company is in PA where you're getting the bees? I'm in PA, perhaps I can use them too.
Can anyone tell me, when I paint the hive, do I paint just the outside, or the slats too?
Thank you!

Just paint the outside of the Hive body and the entire bottom board if it is a solid one.

If you have a screened bottom board, just paint the wooden part of it.

No need to paint the inside or the frames.

Did they send you foundation with the frames?

After thought, When you are putting the Hive body together and the frames, use Elemers Wood Glue on the joints.