Anyone here do it? Bee keeping that is. I am taking a class to become a beginner bee keeping is February. Then start my own hives in the spring. Really looking forward to it. I love some fresh honey.
Bee keeping
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Infamous1
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I took the classes in '19 and then the reality of what it would actually cost set in. I would love to mess with them but I just have not set my mind to it yet.
OP
Lucky my neighbor has a bunch of boxes I can use. He has honey every year. So I am going to ask him a lot and use his stuff for now. But I still want to learn as much as I can on my own.
I'm about to give up with the bees. Lost another hive this week, no sign of what happened and I'm feeding heavy right now. Had 7 at one point this year and down to 2 now. Started in 2014 to have pollinators for my blueberries, but the bees are more trouble than I thought and a lot more expensive.
When I was growing up my grandpa had bees and was very successful with them and it seemed like minimal involvement. The bees now, have everything working against them, Colony Collapse Disorder, varroa mites, tracheal mites, hive beetles, wax moths, foulbrood and so many more diseases.
When I was growing up my grandpa had bees and was very successful with them and it seemed like minimal involvement. The bees now, have everything working against them, Colony Collapse Disorder, varroa mites, tracheal mites, hive beetles, wax moths, foulbrood and so many more diseases.
The varroa mites are the biggest problem. I treat 3 times a year and that keeps their populations low enough for the bees to thrive.
I have one bee yard that is shaded most of the day. It is impossible to control the hive beetle population in that yard.
It takes more work than most people are willing to do.
I lost quite a few colonies this year because I couldn’t work the bees. I was to sick to get to them in time.
I had friends that pulled honey supers for me. I still managed to harvest over 3000lbs of honey.
I will be able to increase my colony numbers this spring. Should be able to at least get back up to my previous numbers.
Let me know if you have any questions.
I have one bee yard that is shaded most of the day. It is impossible to control the hive beetle population in that yard.
It takes more work than most people are willing to do.
I lost quite a few colonies this year because I couldn’t work the bees. I was to sick to get to them in time.
I had friends that pulled honey supers for me. I still managed to harvest over 3000lbs of honey.
I will be able to increase my colony numbers this spring. Should be able to at least get back up to my previous numbers.
Let me know if you have any questions.
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OP
Wow that’s a lot of honey. I will definitely hit you up if I have any questions thank you.
Happy to help.
My wife did last year. She and a friend set up hives. Early in the spring, there was a cold snap and my wife put the bottom board on her hive and the friend didn’t. After that the friends hive always seemed weak while my wife’s thrived, until fall when they were inundated with robbers. We think it was the friends hive.
After that, my wife’s hive went empty and the friends was full, but somewhere along the way they all left. We’re going to get the last of the honey and she is going to try again in the spring.
I will say the honey is not only delicious, but some of the best I’ve tasted.
After that, my wife’s hive went empty and the friends was full, but somewhere along the way they all left. We’re going to get the last of the honey and she is going to try again in the spring.
I will say the honey is not only delicious, but some of the best I’ve tasted.
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I treat with Apivar strips in the spring and fall. I treat with oxcylic acid in the winter when the brood nest is small.
Two times a year is not enough to stay ahead of the mite population in the eastern piedmont and coastal plain of NC. Imho
Two times a year is not enough to stay ahead of the mite population in the eastern piedmont and coastal plain of NC. Imho