Re: Keeping bees

NHGardener 4/23/2013, 9:32 am

I'm so sorry camprn!!!! I can't believe you got bears there. Well, I can, but the chances are lower.

Last night Hector Protector (the dog) was barking until pretty late. I wondered if there might be bear activity.

Why couldn't it have been one of my dead hives instead of your gloriously alive ones.......

I don't have an electric fence, but I'll tell you what, dogs are great at keeping bears away.

(What's the 3S rule?)

Pollinator 4/23/2013, 9:55 am

NHGardener wrote:
(What's the 3S rule?)

Shoot, shovel, and shut up. It's an ancient common law right of the livestock owner to kill predators. But that right has been eroding.

A farmer here shot a bear that was destroying his pollination hives (part of his livelihood). He made the mistake of telling some neighbors. They took his (heirloom) gun, pickup and he forfeited his hunting license for life, plus paid a huge fine. He finally got his pickup back months later.

With bears, that is often the only solution, once they've learned where the goodies are.

Pollinator 4/23/2013, 10:08 am

http://www.independentmail.com/news/2013/apr/20/man-versus-bear-in-battle-over-bees/

**camprn** 4/23/2013, 10:30 am

Nope, I didn't know the 3S rule. I live near the center of town and cannot discharge firearms.

I do know I am going to get an electric fence today! And bacon, to drape on the live wires.

NHGardener 4/23/2013, 10:40 am

Wow Pollinator, not to be able to protect your livelihood... ouch.

camprn, before you run out, if you contact the -- is it forest service? What is that department that takes care of critters? My memory is terrible.

Anyway - if you contact them, they will come out and SET UP A FENCE FOR YOU until you get your own! For FREE! (They do that if you've had bear attacks)

edit: I believe it's Fish & Game.

PS - Your brood looks beautiful. Can I have that frame? :LOL:

**camprn** 4/23/2013, 10:57 am

I know the NH F&G will not set up a fence. They will sell me a critter gitter though. Boy would my neighbors love that... Shocked

NHGardener 4/23/2013, 11:09 am

edit: Let me check on this.

Pollinator 4/23/2013, 11:20 am

In South Carolina the wildlife people will sometimes bring a live trap. But the one time they did it for me, they smeared the trap with store-bought honey - which got the bees robbing even worse, and risked exposure to Foulbrood. I asked them why they didn't bait with sardines? The trap did not catch anything.

The real problem is that they know nothing about bees and beekeeping. They recommend we keep our hives on raised platforms. Yeah, right!

**camprn** 4/23/2013, 11:22 am

NHGardener wrote: Your brood looks beautiful. Can I have that frame? :LOL:

Yeah, this was a good queen, going into her second season. That brood is probably dead from the cold. Sad

NHGardener 4/23/2013, 11:39 am

camprn wrote:That brood is probably dead from the cold.

Darn. I didn't even think of that.

Oh well. Such is the case when we are livestock farmers. Things happen, always have, always will, you just pick up and go on.

**camprn** 4/23/2013, 11:41 am

NHGardener wrote:
camprn wrote:That brood is probably dead from the cold.

Darn. I didn't even think of that.

Oh well. Such is the case when we are livestock farmers. Things happen, always have, always will, you just pick up and go on.

Yes, indeed! Very Happy

CindiLou 4/23/2013, 6:40 pm

Right now, 39° and rain..we have had rain, sleet, snow (big flakes!) today! Low supposed to be 29° then up to 50° tomorrow and 75° Sunday!
I pick up bee packages on Saturday so a few sunny days to get them started!

plantoid 4/23/2013, 7:20 pm

Re the bear tear,

Whilst out in Canada I saw a good Canadian response to that problem that did work .

The hives were set in outward facing blocks of four , one entrance on each side upon on two standard screwed together fork lift pallets.
These were placed very close to a 1 foot thick tree trunk .
Then a length of chain link fencing as tall as the unit was wrapped round it .
The ends of the chain link were bolted to two full height lengths of 1 & 1/4 angle iron which in turn was padlocked top and bottom to allow them the be taken off quickly for hive examinatins and taking off the honey . A chain was then run through the chain link on the corner where the angle iron was and wrapped round a stout tree & locked back to the hive unit to stop the bears tipping the hive block over

**camprn** 4/23/2013, 7:33 pm

The new fence from Wellscroft, 7000v and some turkey bacon will hopefully cure the wildlife troubles.

Keeping bees - Page 7 00710

NHGardener 4/23/2013, 7:37 pm

camprn, you work fast! Did a company install that, or did you?

**camprn** 4/23/2013, 8:28 pm

NHGardener wrote:camprn, you work fast! Did a company install that, or did you?

They put the kit together and explained how everything needed to be set up. I set it up by myself, it only took about an hour and half, and most of that was clearing debris around the hives.
They are an awesome group of folks at Wellscroft. I guess people drive hours to go to their place and buy their fencing. Very Happy

Cindi, post some photos when your bees arrive... how exciting! Wink

**llama momma** 4/23/2013, 8:42 pm

It was sad to hear of your bee troubles. I'm happy you found and installed such a fast solution. Best Wishes!

**camprn** 4/23/2013, 8:44 pm

llama momma wrote:It was sad to hear of your bee troubles. I'm happy you found and installed such a fast solution. Best Wishes!

Thanks LM!! What a Face

NHGardener 4/23/2013, 9:08 pm

I'm highly impressed camprn. Just handling the whole electrical part of it sounds difficult, plus don't you have to ground it? Anyway, it looks great. (Neighbors probably don't think so tho - ha)

CindiLou 4/23/2013, 9:13 pm

camprn?

My bees come in at 7am. Should I wait till evening to put them out? It will still be cool at that time of morning. So I was thinking I could put them out when I got home. My instructor suggested evening cause of temps.. but it isn't going to be bu 67° for a high that day!

Still have to practice with that smoker! Rain rain and rain has kept me inside except yesterday and I forgot!

I have to get a spray bottle for my syrup! I have the sugar but forgot a bottle! Oh me, oh my..now I am getting nervous that I will mess it up!

I have a large dog carrier. I thought if I put it in the bed of the truck up by the window? Protected from the breeze but plenty of circulation!

**camprn** 4/23/2013, 9:19 pm

Install should be when it's not raining and the temperature is at or above 60F ish, if at all possible.
You could probably just put the packages in a cardboard box half open and tie it down. Not sure the dog crate would work, you dont't want the packages jostled anymore than they have to be.
How far do you have to drive from the pick-up location to your home?
Yes, the spray bottle would be quite handy. Wink

Practice lighting the smoker? You'll do fine, just don't asphyxiate the bees with smoke. That seems to be one of the harder lessons some of the newbees have trouble with. A little smoke goes a long way.

NHGardener 4/23/2013, 9:39 pm

CindiLou, my bee buddy was with me last year when I installed my first packages. That really, really helped.

I don't think I'd let them be exposed to all that wind, esp. if it's not going to be hot. I like camprn's idea of a box to put them in to protect them from the breeze. (Or, you could throw a blanket over the crate.) They're stressed as it is. Their inside-hive temperature ideally stays in the low 90s.

And remember, they aren't really in sting mode yet, so don't be too afraid of them. They don't have a hive to protect at this point.

Yay - the adoption process is almost complete!

CindiLou 4/23/2013, 9:46 pm

We drive about a half hour after pick up...hummm, maybe I will just put them in the truck with us. Oh yea rofl

can just see hubby with that! Could put him back there to brace them :head rofl

scratch: Maybe in at box with some tulle over it..I'll think on it..

I'll have to watch the weather closer to Sat. low is supposed to be 50° so maybe will wait till later in the day. But then I have to make sure they aren't in the sun..etc etc..grrr..this is getting complicated lol

CindiLou 4/23/2013, 9:48 pm

NHGardener wrote:CindiLou, my bee buddy was with me last year when I installed my first packages. That really, really helped.

I don't think I'd let them be exposed to all that wind, esp. if it's not going to be hot. I like camprn's idea of a box to put them in to protect them from the breeze. (Or, you could throw a blanket over the crate.) They're stressed as it is. Their inside-hive temperature ideally stays in the low 90s.

And remember, they aren't really in sting mode yet, so don't be too afraid of them. They don't have a hive to protect at this point.

Yay - the adoption process is almost complete!

Our instructor did the class then that was it...kind of a your on your own attitude. So I am on my own lol.. He didn't even call to tell me they would be late till the Wed evening before. I already had heard from another keeper that ordered. But was a little ticked that only heads up was 2 days before.

I think the box with a blanket would work! Yea NHG! Great idea! I could even put them inside the truck that way!

Yea keep forgetting they aren't in sting mode much yet....

CindiLou 4/23/2013, 9:50 pm

Youtube is my friend! I found the dadant site and he is installing packages. Plus many other of course!

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