Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[SillyChicken]

Thanks everyone for the bee equipment info......
......I needed to hear it again as I was starting to pine for them...again.....I have wanted bees for years, just can't foot the cost.

If your hive is successful, you will bring in a profit the first year. Our hive paid for it's self this year, enough we could start another, and now we have a waiting list of people wanting to buy again. If you can space out the costs a little, You need the 2 supers and frames to fill them, bottom, top and a feeder, and the tool first. We could work the bees at first with out the safety gear. The bees have to get these filled up before you can add the other stuff, so you can space it out a little. That is with a traditional stacked hive..

You could try this kind, Think it's called a top bar..which I believe is something that could be made cheaply enough.

Another option is to buy a nuke (bunch of queenless bees) from someone and a new queen (35$ or so).. You would more than likely need to let this hive build up stores for winter and harvest early summer the following year.

 

[Whatshisface]

between 300-400$ +$100 or so for the bees to get started.
You'll also need a feeding station to provide sugar water in spring and late fall. We use the drop in that holds a lot so we don't have to fill it every day.
Source to buy sugar (Costco 25# bag),
An excluder for the hive entrance.

We first tried the soft wax with wire foundations in the frames, and they came out with the honey when we extruded it. That kind is great if you want to cut out honey comb and not spin it. It was nice to get all the wax, but it meant the hive had to rebuild the comb too. So we opted for the wax coated plastic sheet insert. It worked great for just extracting honey. The comb remained and was quickly repaired and refilled.

We will be starting a second hive this year.

We get all our supplies from Napoleon bee supply in Napoleon MI.

Yeah your right, I also forgot to mention a bee brush. As far as the soft wax foundations, I had the same issue, I was told by a friend that I needed to start out the extractor slower and that I didn't need to crank so fast when extracting it. He was right, but I still accidentally blow out some when I get in a hurry. I have been meaning to check out that Napoleon store, how are they with prices and selection?

 

[RaZ]

Beekeeping, like a lot of ventures can be expensive to first get into. But then after you are established the costs are minimal. You still have to put in the labour and time. You can check on-line for used equipment but remember caveat emptor. Look for a local bee club. SEMBA is one. http://www.sembabees.org/

Also be aware that MDARD in it's bureaucratic nonsensical existence is voting to change the GAAMPs again next week to make beekeeping even more difficult for one to do at home.

On another note, a good video about the benefits of the honeybee can be found at http://www.queenofthesun.com/

 

[birdman55]

well five hatched so far...and hawk is back in with the flock...she ran right out the door

 

[Trefoil]

HELP:
When I went out last night to feed & close up I found one of my white guineas hanging upside down with a string wrapped around its toe, hanging from the roost. The string looks like it came from a feed bag. I couldn't tell how long it had been hanging and its toes were stiff so after freeing the poor baby I brought her into the house. She now is raring to go and I can only keep her in the house in a small bird crate. Question:
Can I safely put her back out in the cold after being in the warm house overnight?

 

[1muttsfan]

I bought a Top Bar hive kit last spring. Total I spent around 3-400, including bees.

 

[birdman55]

I just put my chicken back out in the coop...im also in Michigan..just watch that particular bird...if the bird does not feel well you will no it..just monitor it and if need be it will have to be inside till its better

 

[fuzzybutt love]

Tough one. Extreme temp changes are not advisable...but being a guinie she isn't gonna let up...how is her toe? Did she get full circulation back or is it dark?

 

[Barrettsmimi]

Where exactly are you located birdman55??

 

[Trefoil]

Tough one. Extreme temp changes are not advisable...but being a guinie she isn't gonna let up...how is her toe? Did she get full circulation back or is it dark?

Her toe looks normal and they aren't stiff anymore. It must have happened not too long before I caught it. She's eating & restless.