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Google
Keeping bees
+43
countrynaturals
JohnKelly
Escaped Lunatic
Scorpio Rising
Elizabeth
Turan
mschaef
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llama momma
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camprn
Pollinator
47 posters
Page 37 of 38
Page 37 of 38 • 1 ... 20 ... 36, 37, 38
Re: Keeping bees
HELP! Our son was just given a box of 10,000 bees. We know nothing about bees. This bunch was split off from a hive that had grown too big, but it doesn't have a queen. We don't even know where queens come from.

This is our son (I think?) with his new box of bees. Time to do some serious homework.


This is our son (I think?) with his new box of bees. Time to do some serious homework.

Re: Keeping bees
I have this awful feeling that a Queen is needed ASAP. I think there is an introduction period and time for the eggs to develop.
Re: keeping bees
Bees are wonderful!
My brother in law kept bees for
several years...he ordered
his queen(s) online and they
we're shipped.
My brother in law kept bees for
several years...he ordered
his queen(s) online and they
we're shipped.
ispinwool-
Posts : 85
Join date : 2011-04-13
Location : Western Pa. Zone 6A
Re: Keeping bees
Turns out that isn't our son in the pic -- it's the friend who gave him the bees. It also turns out that we have a company in town that sells gentle queens, so we'll look into that on Tuesday. 

Re: keeping bees
countrynaturals wrote:Turns out that isn't our son in the pic -- it's the friend who gave him the bees. It also turns out that we have a company in town that sells gentle queens, so we'll look into that on Tuesday.
A local company!? so lucky for him!
(I think that's one of the reasons my brother in law
gave up beekeeping...it just took way too long to
get what he needed when he needed it.)
ispinwool-
Posts : 85
Join date : 2011-04-13
Location : Western Pa. Zone 6A
Re: Keeping bees
These people are 4th generation beekeepers -- local legends in that arena. I guess we really are lucky. Maybe it's time to schedule a field trip to their establishment.ispinwool wrote:countrynaturals wrote:Turns out that isn't our son in the pic -- it's the friend who gave him the bees. It also turns out that we have a company in town that sells gentle queens, so we'll look into that on Tuesday.
A local company!? so lucky for him!
(I think that's one of the reasons my brother in law
gave up beekeeping...it just took way too long to
get what he needed when he needed it.)

Re: Keeping bees
UPDATE: The beekeeper dude said just leave them alone, so we did. They either had their own queen or made one. Now they are happy campers, nestled in between the river and the gardens. (This is our son's mil's property and she is an avid gardener.) Judy swears this is her best harvest already, from having these 10,000 servants working her land. Her fruit trees and veggie beds are producing in abundance.countrynaturals wrote:These people are 4th generation beekeepers -- local legends in that arena. I guess we really are lucky. Maybe it's time to schedule a field trip to their establishment.ispinwool wrote:countrynaturals wrote:Turns out that isn't our son in the pic -- it's the friend who gave him the bees. It also turns out that we have a company in town that sells gentle queens, so we'll look into that on Tuesday.
A local company!? so lucky for him!
(I think that's one of the reasons my brother in law
gave up beekeeping...it just took way too long to
get what he needed when he needed it.)

Re: Keeping bees
That is so cool, Sanderson! I did that for 7 years in the mid-70's to early 80's, and loved every minute of it. Had an average of 150 hives. Unfortunately, an accident left me with a back injury that prevented me from lifting the supers from the hives and I had to give up beekeeping. Now I just have houses for native bees that I don't have to move around...
"In short, the soil food web feeds everything you eat and helps keep your favorite planet from getting too hot. Be nice to it." ~ Diane Miessler, "Grow Your Soil"
Re: Keeping bees
So now you are an "urban" bee keeper!
Two of my kids have suggested I have a bee hive here on my 6,000 sq. ft. lot.
I don't have a safe environment for them (urban = monthly pest control services for most home) and a reliable food source for them. Twenty years ago, the orange tree was a hazardous site to me with all the bees swarming the orange blossoms. Now I can literally count them.

Two of my kids have suggested I have a bee hive here on my 6,000 sq. ft. lot.

Re: Keeping bees
countrynaturals wrote:UPDATE: The beekeeper dude said just leave them alone, so we did. They either had their own queen or made one. Now they are happy campers, nestled in between the river and the gardens. (This is our son's mil's property and she is an avid gardener.) Judy swears this is her best harvest already, from having these 10,000 servants working her land. Her fruit trees and veggie beds are producing in abundance.countrynaturals wrote:These people are 4th generation beekeepers -- local legends in that arena. I guess we really are lucky. Maybe it's time to schedule a field trip to their establishment.ispinwool wrote:countrynaturals wrote:Turns out that isn't our son in the pic -- it's the friend who gave him the bees. It also turns out that we have a company in town that sells gentle queens, so we'll look into that on Tuesday.
A local company!? so lucky for him!
(I think that's one of the reasons my brother in law
gave up beekeeping...it just took way too long to
get what he needed when he needed it.)
The bees produced their own queen. They were so happy they made lots of babies. Ed had to add more and more boxes. At last count, there were about 80,000.
NOW THEY'RE ALL GONE!
They disappeared overnight. When Ed talked to his expert, he found out the same thing happened to him and possibly all the bees in the area. The theory is tha the Carr Fire poisoned the pollen, which poisoned the honey, which killed the queens, which caused the drones to abandon the hives. Ed didn't find any bodies, but his expert will come search later on. We're only a month away from needing pollinators for the fruit trees. This could be really bad news. I'll keep you posted.
Re: Keeping bees
Oh, no!!
I haven't read or heard anything about bees abandoning your area. I am so sorry for your loss. Another possibility is that with 1/3 million acres burned there isn't a local native food source for them. ?? Or the fire retardant that was used. ?? Major hive swarm to a better location. ??

Re: Keeping bees
sanderson wrote:Oh, no!!I haven't read or heard anything about bees abandoning your area. I am so sorry for your loss. Another possibility is that with 1/3 million acres burned there isn't a local native food source for them. ?? Or the fire retardant that was used. ?? Major hive swarm to a better location. ??
I haven't heard anything, either. I will keep on this and post whatever I find out.
Re: Keeping bees
We've seen a lot of hives today traveling to Oroville and even in Paradise, and north on 99 now.
Re: Keeping bees
sanderson wrote:We've seen a lot of hives today traveling to Oroville and even in Paradise, and north on 99 now.
Maybe it was just a coincidence that a few around here moved on. I still haven't heard anything, which is probably good news.
Re: Keeping bees
Commercial Montana hives are brought to California for the winter. If you see trailer loads of hives, some might have come from my neighbor's fields and pollinated a pepper or so for me. 
Maybe some will decide to stay behind and repopulate your hives, Suz

Maybe some will decide to stay behind and repopulate your hives, Suz

Turan-
Posts : 2605
Join date : 2012-03-29
Location : Gallatin Valley, Montana, Intermountain zone 4
Re: Keeping bees
Turan wrote:Commercial Montana hives are brought to California for the winter. If you see trailer loads of hives, some might have come from my neighbor's fields and pollinated a pepper or so for me.
Maybe some will decide to stay behind and repopulate your hives, Suz
Bob saw a couple of honeybees on the bird feeder, today.

Re: Keeping bees
Speaking of beekeepers...where the heck is CampRN???


CapeCoddess- Posts : 6824
Join date : 2012-05-20
Age : 67
Location : elbow of the Cape, MA, Zone 6b/7a
Bee-Ginning Beekeeping
Today is my 2nd day of a 2-day FREE seminar at our local Tribal College (Sisseton Wahpeton College) on beginning beekeeping. Yesterday was FANTASTIC and my friends and I are looking forward to another knowledge-filled day. It will be too cold to open the SWC's hive for a first-hand look, but I am so looking forward to today's discussions.




Goosegirl-
Posts : 3435
Join date : 2011-02-16
Age : 58
Location : Zone 4A - NE SD
Re: Keeping bees
Sounds exciting, GG! Keep us posted? 

mollyhespra-
Posts : 1087
Join date : 2012-09-21
Age : 57
Location : Waaaay upstate, NH (zone 4)
Re: Keeping bees
Learned so much - can't wait until my friends and I can set up our hives! There is no way Hubby will let me have a hive of my own, so I am planning on going in with my friends who live in the country, about 6 miles from me. We will share the costs and work.
Goosegirl-
Posts : 3435
Join date : 2011-02-16
Age : 58
Location : Zone 4A - NE SD
Re: Keeping bees
Sounds exciting!
mollyhespra-
Posts : 1087
Join date : 2012-09-21
Age : 57
Location : Waaaay upstate, NH (zone 4)
Re: Keeping bees
I read this article this evening, and thought about the beekeepers of the Forum. Is this a fairly realistic article? At least I know what I'm having for dessert, toast and honey.
https://getpocket.com/explore/item/loyalty-nearly-killed-my-beehive?utm_source=pocket-newtab

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/loyalty-nearly-killed-my-beehive?utm_source=pocket-newtab
Page 37 of 38 • 1 ... 20 ... 36, 37, 38

» Are you seeing bees?
» has55's R & D Journey
» Keeping animals out!
» Still keeping your lettuce going??
» help for keeping it watered
» has55's R & D Journey
» Keeping animals out!
» Still keeping your lettuce going??
» help for keeping it watered
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