Re: Keeping bees

countrynaturals 5/26/2018, 7:59 pm

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. affraid

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

**sanderson** 5/27/2018, 3:14 am

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.

ispinwool 5/27/2018, 8:20 am

Bees are wonderful!
My brother in law kept bees for
several years...he ordered
his queen(s) online and they
we're shipped.

countrynaturals 5/27/2018, 10:29 am

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. Cool

ispinwool 5/27/2018, 12:45 pm

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.)

countrynaturals 5/27/2018, 12:59 pm

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.)

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. Cool

countrynaturals 6/28/2018, 11:24 am

countrynaturals wrote:
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.)
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.

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. I love you

**sanderson** 9/7/2018, 3:36 pm

We have new renters across the street. I've noticed a lot of activity with pallets on a flat bed truck. But, last night I saw this and the mystery was solved! He is a professional bee keeper and sets the boxes on pallets out in the fields. Citrus, alfalfa, almonds, what ever is in season.

OhioGardener 9/7/2018, 4:23 pm

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...

**sanderson** 9/7/2018, 9:05 pm

So now you are an "urban" bee keeper! Keeping bees - Page 37 2636062189

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

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.

countrynaturals 1/2/2019, 2:39 pm

countrynaturals wrote:
countrynaturals wrote:
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.)
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.
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.

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.

**sanderson** 1/2/2019, 11:26 pm

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. ??

countrynaturals 1/3/2019, 1:21 am

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.

**sanderson** 1/3/2019, 6:21 pm

We've seen a lot of hives today traveling to Oroville and even in Paradise, and north on 99 now.

countrynaturals 1/3/2019, 6:43 pm

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.

**Turan** 1/4/2019, 2:44 pm

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. Very Happy

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

countrynaturals 1/10/2019, 11:16 pm

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. smiles

**sanderson** 1/11/2019, 2:22 am

CapeCoddess 1/16/2019, 3:38 pm

Speaking of beekeepers...where the heck is CampRN???
idk

Goosegirl 3/14/2020, 8:23 am

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. Keeping bees - Page 37 2636062189

mollyhespra 3/14/2020, 6:06 pm

Sounds exciting, GG! Keep us posted? Keeping bees - Page 37 3170584802

Goosegirl 3/14/2020, 7:37 pm

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.

mollyhespra 3/14/2020, 8:02 pm

Sounds exciting!

**sanderson** 3/18/2020, 5:22 pm

mollyhespra wrote:Sounds exciting!

+1

**sanderson** 9/29/2021, 12:06 am

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. Keeping bees - Page 37 2636062189

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/loyalty-nearly-killed-my-beehive?utm_source=pocket-newtab

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