Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[beaglady]

Back to bees:

So M I reading correctly ( been researching) that I need to pay a registration to keep a few hives primarily for pollination in this state?

Is the registration and inspection a pain or just another law with little consequence?

Is there anything this state doesn't regulate? (I'm in one of those moods)

I've had bees for 10ish years. I've only been inspected twice during that entire time. Both times, they called ahead to make an appointment. Each time, I had a different inspector - high turnover, I suspect. The inspections were painless both times, and were more like a free seminar than a torturous grilling by gov't bureaucrats. One other time, an inspector called to make an appointment, but we couldn't find a mutually convenient time, and he never came.

Although the law says they can come on your property, with less than 10 inspectors for the entire state it is highly unlikely you will be inspected often and they have always been very nice about calling to make an appointment. Most inspectors are other beekeepers and understand the importance. Also you are subject to the same regulations even if you don't register your hives.

We tried a long top bar hive and gave it up. Top bar hives are very hard to over winter in this area. You can do foundationless frames in a Langstroth hive with better overwintering results. The bees will build natural comb within the empty wood frame and it can be harvested as cut comb or honey.

I do a lot of foundationless frames, and it's very easy. It gives me more wax than I would otherwise end up with using only cappings. (for my lip balms) Of course there's a tradeoff of less honey production since I harvest more wax, but I still have enough for my own use.

Anybody on here know of Elizabethville Tractor Supply or go to it? I have some chickens that I would like to get rid of and I was thinking about their buy, sell, and trade day that they have. I don't know when it is and was wondering if anybody knows on here?

I don't think they have a swap at that TS. I'm in there nearly every week, and have never seen any signs advertising a swap.

Do you live nearby? I'm from Carsonville.

 

[barbiegirl]

My year old silkie just laid her first egg!!!!! It is so tiny and it was laid outside by the waterer. I hope she will learn to lay in the box with my other girls.

 

[wingstone]

Back to bees:


So M I reading correctly ( been researching) that I need to pay a registration to keep a few hives primarily for pollination in this state?


Is the registration and inspection a pain or just another law with little consequence?


Is there anything this state doesn't regulate? (I'm in one of those moods)

I've had bees for 10ish years. I've only been inspected twice during that entire time. Both times, they called ahead to make an appointment. Each time, I had a different inspector - high turnover, I suspect. The inspections were painless both times, and were more like a free seminar than a torturous grilling by gov't bureaucrats.  One other time, an inspector called to make an appointment, but we couldn't find a mutually convenient time, and he never came.

Although the law says they can come on your property, with less than 10 inspectors for the entire state it is highly unlikely you will be inspected often and they have always been very nice about calling to make an appointment.  Most inspectors are other beekeepers and understand the importance.  Also you are subject to the same regulations even if you don't register your hives.

We tried a long top bar hive and gave it up.  Top bar hives are very hard to over winter in this area.  You can do foundationless frames in a Langstroth hive with better overwintering results.  The bees will build natural comb within the empty wood frame and it can be harvested as cut comb or honey.   

I do a lot of foundationless frames, and it's very easy. It gives me more wax than I would otherwise end up with using only cappings. (for my lip balms) Of course there's a tradeoff of less honey production since I harvest more wax, but I still have enough for my own use.

 
Anybody on here know of Elizabethville Tractor Supply or go to it? I have some chickens that I would like to get rid of and I was thinking about their buy, sell, and trade day that they have. I don't know when it is and was wondering if anybody knows on here?

I don't think they have a swap at that TS.  I'm in there nearly every week, and have never seen any signs advertising a swap.

Do you live nearby?  I'm from Carsonville.

Now I really want to check more into this, nobody ever answered the question bout the black walnuts, way out the field under the black walnuts would be the only place I would have....

If only I could get past the set up cost, CC let me know if you decide to try and build something

Does bottomless mean that it is just one big box?

I need a local bee keeper that I can visit and learn,,,need to be hands on for anything to stay between my ears

 

[kenzier093]

I've had bees for 10ish years. I've only been inspected twice during that entire time. Both times, they called ahead to make an appointment. Each time, I had a different inspector - high turnover, I suspect. The inspections were painless both times, and were more like a free seminar than a torturous grilling by gov't bureaucrats. One other time, an inspector called to make an appointment, but we couldn't find a mutually convenient time, and he never came.

I do a lot of foundationless frames, and it's very easy. It gives me more wax than I would otherwise end up with using only cappings. (for my lip balms) Of course there's a tradeoff of less honey production since I harvest more wax, but I still have enough for my own use.
I don't think they have a swap at that TS. I'm in there nearly every week, and have never seen any signs advertising a swap.

Do you live nearby? I'm from Carsonville.

Yea they do. Last year I bought 3 hens from someone. That was last September, but I don't know if they have one sometime soon.

 

[LisaYolkUm]

Thank you. He passed away sometime during the night.

sorry about this................its always sad..........

 

[fawngrovechad]

e My year old silkie just laid her first egg!!!!! It is so tiny and it was laid outside by the waterer. I hope she will learn to lay in the box with my other girls.

How crazy! Just opened up the pen and found our silkies first egg too! It was cracked but I don't even care! It's awesome anyway!

 

[Intheboro]

We've tried our hand at bees, never got registered (I haven't even heard of that), but lost 4 hives that year and have been discouraged, will be trying again in the future after we figure it out more. The hives and suit were so expensive we need to give it another go eventually.

Have you seen chicks out of that partridge boy yet? How is their leg feathering. I'm having pretty good success here getting some clean legged chicks, but I've got a clean legged pullet. (That helps). I assume all your girls are clean legged.

We have been at this for 3 years, we are registered, 10.00 every other year. (Through the dept of agriculture) Have yet to see an inspector... I don't see it as a big deal, however I do know of people who have not registered and then been turned in (dumb isn't it? I don't see a wild hive with a license number!). We live right in town, so better to have it registered....not like we can hide the hive- lol
We are also in Maryland with our hives, their registration is free, we had an inspector for the first time this spring, from what I understand he was a great guy and liked to talk bees....to me that isn't a bad thing....he didn't go thru the bees since we told him the queen wasn't released yet (had to replace after they died). He just let the foul brood checker dog sniff the hive and put a stamp on it - he put the stamp on, not the dog, although that would be pretty awesome!

Ugh, see my re quote below... I think I need a nap! Meant to quote the original question!

 

[beaglady]

Now I really want to check more into this, nobody ever answered the question bout the black walnuts, way out the field under the black walnuts would be the only place I would have....

If only I could get past the set up cost, CC let me know if you decide to try and build something

Does bottomless mean that it is just one big box?

I need a local bee keeper that I can visit and learn,,,need to be hands on for anything to stay between my ears

Wing, come visit me. I have hives, plus a crap-ton of empty feed bags saved for you. I can even serve adult beverages if hubby can drive you home. No problem under walnut trees, btw.

 

[Intheboro]

We have been at this for 3 years, we are registered, 10.00 every other year. (Through the dept of agriculture) Have yet to see an inspector... I don't see it as a big deal, however I do know of people who have not registered and then been turned in (dumb isn't it? I don't see a wild hive with a license number!). We live right in town, so better to have it registered....not like we can hide the hive- lol
We are also in Maryland with our hives, their registration is free, we had an inspector for the first time this spring, from what I understand he was a great guy and liked to talk bees....to me that isn't a bad thing....he didn't go thru the bees since we told him the queen wasn't released yet (had to replace after they died). He just let the foul brood checker dog sniff the hive and put a stamp on it - he put the stamp on, not the dog, although that would be pretty awesome!

Errrggg... Meant to quote the original question.....giving out school work, nursing a hungry baby, and typing...they don't mix!

 

[wingstone]

Now I really want to check more into this, nobody ever answered the question bout the black walnuts, way out the field under the black walnuts would be the only place I would have....


If only I could get past the set up cost, CC let me know if you decide to try and build something


Does bottomless mean that it is just one big box?


I need a local bee keeper that I can visit and learn,,,need to be hands on for anything to stay between my ears

Wing, come visit me. I have hives, plus a crap-ton of empty feed bags saved for you. I can even serve adult beverages if hubby can drive you home. No problem under walnut trees, btw.

I really do need to get up there, I also want o learn the soap making, a friend of mine with rosasia (spelling). Goes nuts over your soap, .

Silly thing is I kind of know the area, I used to drive up that way just to go to a diner in clarksferry( closed now) then turn around and go home. It was a great little truck stop

Scary thing is that I have so much on my plate and not enough hours in a day...and really would try to add more