Washingtonians

[TifsBroodyBabes]

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A hive that YOU can get honey from takes up no more space on the ground. The way you get the honey is AFTER you have stacked 2 deep boxes AND the bees have filled them then you add a honey super ( short box). If the super gets full add another. At the end of the season you can take everything above the 2 deep boxes. Also Mason bees actually do more pollination than honey bees but they don't produce honey.

I have been thinking about getting mason bees.Do I order them from a nursery or online?

 

[Illia]

RainTree nursery down in (I think either southern WA or northern OR) has them.

 

[Ogress]

Just looked at the class brochure for the Country Living Expo. There are about a half dozen classes for each of the 6 sessions that I would like to take, including bee keeping and Mason Bees (and chicken classes, canning, drying, soil, composting, gardening, renewable energy, crafts .......)

 

[Chicken Rustler]

OK I am going to try to cover a couple of peoples questions here. First I DO keep honey bees. The risk of getting stung just because you have a hive on your property is probably no greater than it is when your neighbor has a hive. The greatest risk is if you get too close to or disturb the hive. If you allow someone to put a hive have them put it as far as possible away from your house.

As for Mason bees I know you can order them. I also know that we have them in my area and if a person makes a "bee block" they will take to it. While they do still require some work to keep them Mason bees are much work. However you don't get the benefit of the AWESOME home grown honey.

 

[TifsBroodyBabes]

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Wow!!! that sums up everything I already do or want to start doing. lol..

 

[Chicken Rustler]

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Yes RainTree is only about 15 miles from me. They are off Hwy 508 exit 71 from I-5.

 

[Illia]

So THAT is where Ethel is.

Now I slightly know. . .

 

[Chicken Rustler]

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Ethel is actually exit 68 and then go 6 miles east on Hwy 12 (the White Pass Hiway).

 

[Rainwolf]

Quote:
A hive that YOU can get honey from takes up no more space on the ground. The way you get the honey is AFTER you have stacked 2 deep boxes AND the bees have filled them then you add a honey super ( short box). If the super gets full add another. At the end of the season you can take everything above the 2 deep boxes. Also Mason bees actually do more pollination than honey bees but they don't produce honey.

I was thinking of mason bees since I can hang a mason bee box from a tree etc no ground space.

 

[cmsdvm]

Quote:
Monroe show was the 3rd w/end in March at the Evergreen Fairgrounds last spring.... It will probably be around the same date-ish.. Cindy? where are you, are you reading lately?

she will know. I totally rely too much on her to keep my dates straight!! lol!

If you are just going to look and not entering chickens into a show it's usually free.

Entering chickens usually costs ~$3/bird and there may be some other nominal fees--an exhibitor fee for example.. It's usually pretty affordable and definitely addicting and fun!
Some shows you also have to be a member of the clubs to purchase sale cages too.. so that is something to consider as well.

Looking forward to seeing everyone.. gonna go start bathing chikuns...

February 19 should be the Prairie Hatchers Show at Clark Co. Event Center- a youth only show, I haven't heard a date for Monroe, but it is usually the 3rd weekend in March, then we have Stevenson the 3rd weekend in April. After that, it's time to get ready for summer fairs.