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Count Macula
USA
248 Posts |
 Posted - 11/09/2020 : 15:55:00
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| Do any of you keep Honey Bees? I am in the process of building a horizontal hive, swarm catchers and guide comb frames for next years garden season. I would love some insight if any of you have experience. |
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B112
USA
5230 Posts |
Posted - 11/09/2020 : 16:00:46
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| My dad took up bee keeping after watching what my neighbor did. Both houses had bee hives. He built the centrifuge out of a clean garbage can and a bearing on the bottom to extra the honey from the honey comb frames. There is only one queen bee in the hives and he had the hood/smoke to get into the hive to get the honey comb frames. I don't remember much from there, but if you had a question, I could ask him... he's in his 80's and I'm sure he'd recall a lot. |
Michael |
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lilypad
USA
638 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2020 : 01:58:47
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I have kept bees for several years but am trying to get out of the business (hobby). There is a facebook page on top bar hives and lots of stuff on line about beekeeping. You need to know the first rule of Beekeeping: "There are no rules." The second rule of beekeeping is: "See rule one."
I never had good luck with my topbar hive and went with the standard in an 8 frame format. Last couple years I started the year with one hive and always ended with 4 o 5 five hives to again the next spring end up with one again. Last year (2019) I didn't process my honey but put the 3 honey supers in a freezer and processed them with 2 supers collected this year and ended up with about 10 gal of honey. I give most of it away for presents to friends. It's an interesting hobby but if you ask 10 beekeepers a question you will get from 10 to 20 answers. I would recommend looking for any local organization or beekeepers because what works in one area will often not work in another area. There are so many variables such as weather and what plants are available to the bees. Plant populations can vary considerably just a few miles apart. I would be happy to answer any questions but remember the 9 other beekeepers questions. Read what you can online but remember much of it is questionable for your situation. Good luck with the bees. Hope your not allergic to bee stings, because you will get stung. I will give one specific piece of advice that must be heeded: "Manage you mites." |
RLM
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Count Macula
USA
248 Posts |
Posted - 11/14/2020 : 20:46:07
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quote:
Originally posted by lilypad
"There are no rules."
I can do no rules. I've been reading about mites and beetles, thank you for the heads up. Also, I will look into joining a local group.
I built 2 types of 21 frame Layens hives, 3 swarm traps and what feels like a million frames this week. I hope to build some roofs tomorrow.
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lilypad
USA
638 Posts |
Posted - 11/15/2020 : 00:30:58
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Nice looking hives. I have Layens book and I think they are more viable than other top bar hives. Good Luck. It's a fascinating hobby.
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RLM
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Count Macula
USA
248 Posts |
Posted - 11/15/2020 : 18:22:24
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I could only get one roof made today. My shop is a mess, my apologies.
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B112
USA
5230 Posts |
Posted - 11/16/2020 : 16:14:14
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| Out standing work there! I think my dad bought the standard hives, but he made his extraction tool. |
Michael |
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Cvans
USA
4407 Posts |
Posted - 11/17/2020 : 16:10:32
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| My Grandson works in the bee, honey business but I know nothing about them. Your hives look nice and you'll have to keep us informed on how things work out for you. |
East Central South Dakota
The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.
Thomas Jefferson
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B10Dave
Canada
1951 Posts |
Posted - 11/17/2020 : 19:14:30
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| Looking good Count.Do you have enough property to support your hives. Are you in an orchard area or clover growing area. I have an apiary/destination fun farm near me. They estimate that there are over 6 million bees in their hives. I am about 2 miles from them and during the summer when the clover in my lawn blooms I have many of these honey bees collecting pollen from my lawn. |
Money can't buy you happiness.
It can however buy you a beer.
And that is close enough.
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Count Macula
USA
248 Posts |
Posted - 11/17/2020 : 20:49:53
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quote:
Originally posted by B10Dave
Looking good Count.Do you have enough property to support your hives. Are you in an orchard area or clover growing area. I have an apiary/destination fun farm near me. They estimate that there are over 6 million bees in their hives. I am about 2 miles from them and during the summer when the clover in my lawn blooms I have many of these honey bees collecting pollen from my lawn.
I own 80 acres of old horse and cow pasture fields. Old apple trees, clover (except in my lawn), mint, blackcaps, wild rose and milk weed are abundant. For several years I have talked about keeping bees, I just got the itch this year after I was given 3 traditional Langstroth hives. My research shows Langstroths aren't the best for the types of winters we have in NY, this is why I decided on taking a shot at building my own hives.
Here is a picture of my favorite apple tree on the property.
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B10Dave
Canada
1951 Posts |
Posted - 11/21/2020 : 18:51:04
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| Beautiful big old apple tree.Bees will love that.In my area we have a lot of orchards and berry farms so the bees are kept busy.Trouble is that nobody plants buckwheat around here anymore. I love buckwheat honey.Last place I found some was in a flea market in Florida. I bought enough to last me for several years. |
Money can't buy you happiness.
It can however buy you a beer.
And that is close enough.
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Cvans
USA
4407 Posts |
Posted - 11/21/2020 : 21:11:32
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quote:
Trouble is that nobody plants buckwheat around here anymore. I love buckwheat honey.
It's been decades since the last time I've heard of anyone planting buckwheat around here. I sure like buckwheat pancakes. |
East Central South Dakota
The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.
Thomas Jefferson
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Count Macula
USA
248 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2021 : 10:40:52
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| I was getting anxious that I wasn't going to catch a swarm this year. I come home and check my traps after work everyday, and nothing. Last night, I went out on the golf cart like always and there were bees in 2 of my 3 swarm traps! Im super stoked! |
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Cvans
USA
4407 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2021 : 00:04:32
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there were bees in 2 of my 3 swarm traps! Im super stoked!
Great! I hope your hives work out for you. |
East Central South Dakota
The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.
Thomas Jefferson
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ByronC
USA
1605 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2021 : 04:46:23
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| I bought 2 jars of honey from a local bee keeper. One was just honey and I don't remember what he said it was called but the other had honeycomb in it which I really like but he said it was clover honey and did not taste as good as the other. Well, he was right. I wish I could remember what he said the first one was. It is delicious. |
Byron---Allis-Chalmers
The Few, The Proud, The Orange.
918H Agco-Allis, and a 928D Grasshopper Diesel.
D-21 Allis-Chalmers
Allis-Chalmers Tech for 7 years. |
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Cvans
USA
4407 Posts |
Posted - 05/21/2021 : 13:02:40
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I try to get the lightest color honey available. Usually has the good flavor. Grandson is pretty good about providing what we need. Wife has started putting honey in her homemade bread. Boy does that taste good.  |
East Central South Dakota
The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.
Thomas Jefferson
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Topic |
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Bee Keeping
