Honey Bees ....Anyone keeping them?

Discussion in 'The Water Cooler' started by Tony, Jan 3, 2014.

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  1. Tony

    Tony Legendary Woodsman

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    Bees go 3-5 miles to forage....sounds like a genocide is gonna happen... :sad:
     
    Tony, May 9, 2014
    #61
  3. Tony

    Tony Legendary Woodsman

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    [​IMG]


    2 hives built, stained, 2 coats of polyurethane, ready for bees .... one week they should be filled :)

    I left the top off to show the frames and the queen excluder
     
    Tony, May 9, 2014
    #62
  4. BACKSTRAPASSASSIN

    BACKSTRAPASSASSIN Die Hard Bowhunter

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    Awesome!
     
    BACKSTRAPASSASSIN, May 9, 2014
    #63
  5. CoveyMaster

    CoveyMaster Grizzled Veteran

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    Nice job!!!!
     
    CoveyMaster, May 9, 2014
    #64
  6. greatwhitehunter3

    greatwhitehunter3 Grizzled Veteran

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    50% is organic so they will probably be fine.

    Sent from my SCH-I200 using Tapatalk
     
    greatwhitehunter3, May 9, 2014
    #65
  7. John Galt

    John Galt Die Hard Bowhunter

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    Tony, do you have a place for the hives? remember they weigh way over a hundred pounds when they are active. and never for get about bears, I know you don't think you have them, but I'm guessing if you check any locals they might say different, a cheap electric fence is cheap insurance, those bastids have cost me thousands and I hate every one, as you will too when they kill your bees.

    Don't forget about the winter frost if you use cement blocks, cut the sod away and set the blocks directly on the dirt.

    Good luck,
     
    John Galt, May 9, 2014
    #66
  8. John Galt

    John Galt Die Hard Bowhunter

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    Hey remember wind direction, you don't want the snow blowing in the entrance, south is a safe bet as the morning sun will give them a head start on the day. :)
     
    John Galt, May 9, 2014
    #67
  9. Tony

    Tony Legendary Woodsman

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    Jim, I seriously do not think bears are an issue here...the only bear sighting anywhere near me was 7 miles SE of here.Thanks for the heads up on the cinder block thing... i would have put it right on the grass ..great tip!

    I had planned on facing them South East as the prevailing wind is South West...sound good?
     
    Tony, May 10, 2014
    #68
  10. Tony

    Tony Legendary Woodsman

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    [​IMG]

    Picked up my 5 frame nucleus hives today .... Those are the nucleus hives on top...I will transfer the 5 frames from each into the boxes below which have 5 empty frames and this is the start of their brood chamber...this will be done tomorrow afternoon...

    Shameless beekeeper selfie ...lol

    [​IMG]
     
    Tony, Jun 9, 2014
    #69
  11. MGH_PA

    MGH_PA Moderator

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    Hives look nice. Did you build them?
     
    MGH_PA, Jun 9, 2014
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  12. Tony

    Tony Legendary Woodsman

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    I did ... I like the natural look of wood, so I just stained and coated with polyurethane
     
    Tony, Jun 9, 2014
    #71
  13. BACKSTRAPASSASSIN

    BACKSTRAPASSASSIN Die Hard Bowhunter

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    Nice tony...looking good...the bees that is:D
     
    BACKSTRAPASSASSIN, Jun 9, 2014
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  14. Tony

    Tony Legendary Woodsman

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    Dude, I make that get up look GOOD! :D
     
    Tony, Jun 10, 2014
    #73
  15. John Galt

    John Galt Die Hard Bowhunter

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    "Good" is a relative term, in this case it is relatively scary.
     
    John Galt, Jun 10, 2014
    #74
  16. Tony

    Tony Legendary Woodsman

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    You know you want me....
     
    Tony, Jun 10, 2014
    #75
  17. John Galt

    John Galt Die Hard Bowhunter

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    Like mold on a cheese samich!!

    My bucket list consist of.....A cute little sweater clad dog, a thinly veiled yet over size woman, a can of luke warm beer and your picture on a "Bit O Honey" label.
     
    John Galt, Jun 10, 2014
    #76
  18. Tony

    Tony Legendary Woodsman

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    Well, my bees have been in their hives for one week now....

    Hive #1
    [​IMG]



    Hive #2
    [​IMG]


    Each hive has 2 of the new frames on 1 side with drawn out comb like this...
    [​IMG]



    Jimbo, does that seem about right for one weeks time?

    I always feel like I am doing something wrong...:confused:
     
    Tony, Jun 19, 2014
    #77
  19. Tony

    Tony Legendary Woodsman

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    Well they filled 95% of the frames in both hives and I added a second hive body to each...growing like crazy now!
    [​IMG]
     
    Tony, Jul 7, 2014
    #78
  20. Sota

    Sota Legendary Woodsman

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    Do you typically have to bear proof the hives? What about raccoons?
     
    Sota, Jul 7, 2014
    #79
  21. Tony

    Tony Legendary Woodsman

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    Bear are rare here...if it ever becomes an issue, I will put an electric fence around the hives

    The hives are up so skunk wont mess with them ... they wont expose their bellies to the stings ...I am guessing that it's the same thing with raccoon?

    Maybe John Galt or cCovey will chime in as they are experienced beekeepers
     
    Tony, Jul 7, 2014
    #80
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