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Honeybees?

DaveNay

DaveNay

Klaatu barada nikto
Anyone raise honeybees? I am looking into perhaps buying a hive mostly because my wife and I both LOVE honey and I would really like to have a supply of fresh honey. From what I am reading, it doesn't appear to be too labor intensive for a small single hive.
 
My dad raised bees for many years. He'd get the smoker out and smoke the hives when it was time to harvest the honey and the bees would get docile and wouldn't sting. Probably the hardest part is the occaisional sting from the bees that weren't in the hive when you smoked it. No problem as long as you're not allergic, or just wear the mask, long sleeves & gloves.
 
You don’t have to do a thing with the bee hive.
Put it away from the house and keep the kids away, If the kids won’t leave it alone, the bees will teach them.
You have to have a bee suit, smoker, when you extract the honey or they will eat you up. Don’t harvest before winter as they have to have honey to eat during the winter.
You should keep an eye on the hive during spring. If they make another queen she might decide to move into your house. The bee keepers will come and take care of the problem with no cost, they must be called when they swarm so the new queen can be caught and moved to a new hive.
 
raw local grown honey can help with allergies - almost as good as allergy shots and a whole lot less annoying.
set up the box near fruit trees, a flower bed, or a clover field for best flavor, near alfalfa or sorghum for strong flavored, dark honey that (I feel) works best for brewing/vintning. (although a lot of folks don't like the taste)

good luck!
 
DaveNay said:
Anyone raise honeybees? I am looking into perhaps buying a hive mostly because my wife and I both LOVE honey and I would really like to have a supply of fresh honey. From what I am reading, it doesn't appear to be too labor intensive for a small single hive.
Click to expand...

Oops ........... I ask the same here.

I'm interest also!
 
What about the other maybe important details. Such as hive placement. Do they do better with southern exposure, or maybe protected or shaded from hot afternoon sun. Or maybe sheltered from the cold northwest winds. This info. may all important for a successful hive or maybe not important at all. Anyone know the details?
 
Bamby said:
What about the other maybe important details. Such as hive placement. Do they do better with southern exposure, or maybe protected or shaded from hot afternoon sun. Or maybe sheltered from the cold northwest winds. This info. may all important for a successful hive or maybe not important at all. Anyone know the details?
Click to expand...

Bamby,


Put it out in the open so it can dry out. It does not matter which way you point it.
The bees get some kind of a fungus if the hive gets too damp. The air condition (warming/cooling) is taken care of by the bees wings.
I don’t have bees in the city. But my first hive, a farmer handed it to me and I carried it home. The bees were coming and going. If you squish a bee, you’re in trouble.
 
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