Topic: Any bee keepers on here?

[Rocking-M]

I've decided to set up some more hives and I haven't kept
bees in about 25 years. Is anyone on here does tell me a good
source for bees, supplies, etc..... Thanks.

[medic09]

I'll ask the wife.  She hasn't done anything with her bees this year, but we have a hive in the back garden.  When they swarmed last year, it was awesome!

[Rocking-M]

Thanks Medic, did you catch the swarm, I remember doing that but can't recall all the details.
Seems like I took a small trailer with a hive to the swarm, on a low tree branch.
Placed a white sheet in front of the hive in the trailer, cut the branch and
placed the swarm on the sheet and they just march in the hive.

My wifes great Uncle was my source of bee keeping knowledge then and
he has passed away now.

[medic09]

Actually, we just let them go.  She's not trying to do this on a large scale.

They went to a tree in the backyard, and built a comb there.  They stayed there for some weeks, then one day just moved on again.  The comb is still hanging in the tree.

[firecracker]

Sorry - been too many years to remember dealers, etc.

We had four or five hives, and (i think) two swarms over an 8 year period.  We soaked the bees (garden hose), so they couldn't flyl, THEN shook them outta the tree.  You  think a wet hen is mad...   

[Uncle Ernie]

Finally heard from some friends here.  Check out www.beesource.com, and a book named Bee Keeping For Dummies (believe it or not).  Allegedly there are jillions of sources and clubs, but they recommened these as a start.

[super pasty white guy]

Thanks for the follow-up.  I've been thinking about doing this for awhile-  Maybe next spring I'll take the leap.

dave

[tsflstb]

We unwillingly kept a few thousand in an awning on the house.  "Honey do you hear something buzzing?"

[Rocking-M]

thanks UE, I tried a few sources in NC but haven't heard back.

[medic09]

I'll try and get the wife to the computer again; see if maybe she can help with resources.  I do remember having to go to the post office to pick up a shipment of bees she had ordered from somewhere.  Said the poor little guys would die in the heat.  Who knew? 

[super pasty white guy]

Thought I'd pull up this old post to say I'm a beekeeper now (well, there's hives on my roof at least).  If you're interested, I'm posting pics and commentary on my flickr page.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/superpastywhiteguy/sets/72157603708901605/

Rocking-  you ever get yours running?

spwg

[Rocking-M]

Hey White guy,

Just talking about it today. I plan to try and pick up a couple of hives next week. We'll see and I'm checking yours out.
Thanks for the update!

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

I think Ichiban does bees.

[heffay]

super pasty... there'd be no way that thing would still be standing w/ some of the winds we get here... that thing bolted down?

[super pasty white guy]

It blew over when I first put them up, but after I finished adding all the top bars (comb frames) they got much heavier and survived a storm with 40mph gusts reported.  Much more than that and I'd want to have them screwed or anchored down.  I'm still thinking that I should do something to make sure they don't move.

'course, Colorado wind is a whole nuther story (I grew up in Alamosa).

spwg

[Ichiban 4]

I've decided to set up some more hives and I haven't kept
bees in about 25 years. Is anyone on here does tell me a good
source for bees, supplies, etc..... Thanks.

I think Ichiban does bees.

Yeah..

Wonder why I didn't catch this before?  Beekeeping AKA "apiculture" is my game nowadays.  Been doing it since early 1960's. Publish a newsletter..member of many organizations..even AAPA (American Association of Professional Apicultirists).  So..what questions can I answer for you?

One thing though. Noticed that you are talking about using Top Bar Hive (s).  I don't recommend them for numerous reasons. Maybe as a novelty in addition to conventional equipment, designs.  20 years ago they weren't around because they don't meet basic spec's for "removable frame" designs. They are basically imports from third world countries that were/are (since late 70's) promoted by inexperienced and/or unconventional beekeepers. 

Top Bar Hives are sorta like taking an early 1900's bike on a cross country ride.  The old bike may eventually get there..but not without a lot of repairs and problems along the way.

Bee inspectors could..may now..make you get rid of them.  Very difficult to inspect, monitor for disease (because they have only free-form combs..which tend to get all stuck together). 

Diseases are the biggest threat to bees/beekeeping nowadays.  Little or no honey surplus is usually harvestable with TBH's.  Non interchangeable..yad yada.  If anyone wants more detailed explanation, facts, figures..just PM me.

Web addresses for good beekeeping suppliers in U.S.  (Kentucky) www.kelleybees.com (Illinois & around U.S.) www.dadant.com (Minnesota & California) www.mannlakeltd.com (North Carolina) www.brushymountainbeefarm.com (New York) www.betterbee.com .

All of above companies have conventional equipment, peripherals, etc.  Check them out to get an idea of how regular beekeepers are doing things.

Also check out two major beekeeping mags in U.S.  (Bee Culture)www.beeculture.com and (American Bee Journal) www.dadant.com.

Things have changed significantly with beekeeping over last 20 years..so what's remembered from days before are seriously out-of-date to today's situations.  Biggest problems, threats now are: Varroa mites, Nosema ceranae (parasitic fungus) and as ever..American Foulbrood. 

A whole new class of insecticides (that hasn't been evaluated well regarding environmental effects) called Neonicotinoids..is also probably causing problems for the bees..and other beneficial insects. Beekeepers are just now beginning to get reports that the residues of these new insecticides can persist for years.  But the chemical conglomerates have been suppressing environmental info/testing due to multi-billion dollar profits.  Stay tuned for that one!

Beekeeping is a subject that once you pull my chain..I tend to go on forever.  So I'll just leave this post @ that.

As mentioned though if anyone (either beekeeper or just for general info) wants to know more about bees, beekeeping..especially what might be effecting their demise nowadays..feel free to ask.

Ichi the "yohoka" (beekeeper in Japanese)