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Last post 4 years ago by Ewok126. 41 replies replies.
Any experienced bee keepers in here?
Ewok126 Offline
#1 Posted:
Joined: 06-25-2017
Posts: 4,356
I am thinking about getting into beekeeping but was looking for some input from anyone who knows. (Speyside) any tips lol.
RMAN4443 Offline
#2 Posted:
Joined: 09-29-2016
Posts: 7,683
All I know on the subject is...Bee healthy, eat your honey...Drool
Sunoverbeach Offline
#3 Posted:
Joined: 08-11-2017
Posts: 14,583
Build a solid cedar deck. In no time you'll have a colony of carpenter bees chewing holes in it. No honey though if that's your goal
KingoftheCove Offline
#4 Posted:
Joined: 10-08-2011
Posts: 7,600
Ewok126 wrote:
I am thinking about getting into beekeeping but was looking for some input from anyone who knows. (Speyside) any tips lol.

Nope!
My wife keeps wanting me to buy this thing......a bee condo??......supposedly simple and fool proof........you open some trap door and the honey pours out.
Sounds like BS. One of those too good to be true deals....
deadeyedick Offline
#5 Posted:
Joined: 03-13-2003
Posts: 16,952
Two words: Killer bees

Been killing a few tree trimmers around here every year since they moved in.
danmdevries Offline
#6 Posted:
Joined: 02-11-2014
Posts: 17,115
Been on my mind for many years.

But I've grown terribly allergic to stings. Not sure if honeybee stings would give a similar reaction as yellow jackets and stuff.

They never used to bother me until I was working in a soybean field and ran over a subterranean hive. Got hit about 20 times before I made it to the disgusting pond nearby and dove in. Ever since then I've been hyper sensitive and one sting gets me all swollen and wheezy.

I'd love to keep a few hives but I'm afraid I might end up found dead out in the woods if I do.
teedubbya Offline
#7 Posted:
Joined: 08-14-2003
Posts: 95,637
Just wear the outfit and pretend
opelmanta1900 Offline
#8 Posted:
Joined: 01-10-2012
Posts: 13,954
Check out the flow hive... You still gotta do all the silly bee stuff, but makes honey harvesting extremely simple...
ZRX1200 Offline
#9 Posted:
Joined: 07-08-2007
Posts: 60,473
Bee keepers aren’t real keen on the flow hives....but I think it’s still better to have more people involved in a good hobby that helps our food.
Ewok126 Offline
#10 Posted:
Joined: 06-25-2017
Posts: 4,356
danmdevries wrote:
Been on my mind for many years.

But I've grown terribly allergic to stings. Not sure if honeybee stings would give a similar reaction as yellow jackets and stuff.

They never used to bother me until I was working in a soybean field and ran over a subterranean hive. Got hit about 20 times before I made it to the disgusting pond nearby and dove in. Ever since then I've been hyper sensitive and one sting gets me all swollen and wheezy.

I'd love to keep a few hives but I'm afraid I might end up found dead out in the woods if I do.


That there is one of the issues that is very common among beekeepers. I am not allergic to stings but like one keeper said you never know which sting will be the one that gives the reaction. They suggest that even if not allergic to keep an epipen because anyone can become allergic at any time. With that being the case IF I do get into this there will be an epipen on hand at all times.
Ewok126 Offline
#11 Posted:
Joined: 06-25-2017
Posts: 4,356
ZRX1200 wrote:
Bee keepers aren’t real keen on the flow hives....but I think it’s still better to have more people involved in a good hobby that helps our food.



I agree very much so. Also the wife is wanting mater plants so I figure if I got bees nearby then pollination would be gravy. fog
Ewok126 Offline
#12 Posted:
Joined: 06-25-2017
Posts: 4,356
opelmanta1900 wrote:
Check out the flow hive... You still gotta do all the silly bee stuff, but makes honey harvesting extremely simple...


I have watched the vids on the flow hive. Pretty neat to say the least but I think I would rather go about it the traditional way. I don't know, I got a thing about traditional ways lol.
Ewok126 Offline
#13 Posted:
Joined: 06-25-2017
Posts: 4,356
KingoftheCove wrote:
Nope!
My wife keeps wanting me to buy this thing......a bee condo??......supposedly simple and fool proof........you open some trap door and the honey pours out.
Sounds like BS. One of those too good to be true deals....


The only bee condo I have seen was not for honey but just for housing bees in a garden. Basically just a 4x4 with holes drilled in it. Can you shoot me a link to one if you have it?
Ewok126 Offline
#14 Posted:
Joined: 06-25-2017
Posts: 4,356
deadeyedick wrote:
Two words: Killer bees

Been killing a few tree trimmers around here every year since they moved in.



Not to worried about killer bees in bee keeping. They are pretty easy to recognize by their aggression. Now in tree trimming I would be scared chitless because wouldn't know they are there until it was to late and the hive has done been disturbed.
Ewok126 Offline
#15 Posted:
Joined: 06-25-2017
Posts: 4,356
teedubbya wrote:
Just wear the outfit and pretend



That is not a bad idea and I have tried but, I don't think imaginary honey taste as good and it is harder to spread on mamas homemade cat head biscuits lol. Even when I buy the store bought honey and get all dressed up to pretend it still don't quite give me that natural pure raw honey taste. Drool
Speyside Offline
#16 Posted:
Joined: 03-16-2015
Posts: 13,106
Ill have dad give you a call Chris.
KingoftheCove Offline
#17 Posted:
Joined: 10-08-2011
Posts: 7,600
Ewok126 wrote:
The only bee condo I have seen was not for honey but just for housing bees in a garden. Basically just a 4x4 with holes drilled in it. Can you shoot me a link to one if you have it?

It’s what Opel mentioned above.........I forgot the name of it in my first post.......Flow Hive.
They make it sound like I’ll just walk out there and harvest honey for my bagel in the morning...
Think
Sounded too good to be true, so I nixed that plan.
Z says real bee keepers don’t like them...
I don’t know one way or the other.
tonygraz Offline
#18 Posted:
Joined: 08-11-2008
Posts: 20,173
My neighbor has been talking about keeping some bees for a few years and just yesterday said he might try one hive this year. Might not be a good idea with all the bears around here.
opelmanta1900 Offline
#19 Posted:
Joined: 01-10-2012
Posts: 13,954
KingoftheCove wrote:
It’s what Opel mentioned above.........I forgot the name of it in my first post.......Flow Hive.
They make it sound like I’ll just walk out there and harvest honey for my bagel in the morning...
Think
Sounded too good to be true, so I nixed that plan.
Z says real bee keepers don’t like them...
I don’t know one way or the other.

Real bee keepers are typically Looney tunes, for reals.... They talk about communing with their bees and forming trust bonds with them and peta nonsense like that...

When it really comes down to it, traditional bee keepers don't like the plastic comb frames because it's plastic... **** em... The bees don't care...

There's not a good reason to go any way but the flow hive imo... Bee keeping isn't great with the trial and error method.... Lots of people kill more than one colony before quitting the hobby, without ever having harvested edible honey...

The flow hive people definitely make it sound easier than it is... It's a pain no matter how you do it...

Long story short, if you want bees, get a citrus tree... If you want honey, make friends with a bee farmer....
gummy jones Offline
#20 Posted:
Joined: 07-06-2015
Posts: 7,969
i have been debating this topic as well the past 3-4 years

if youtube videos an expert makes then i am already there...
frankj1 Offline
#21 Posted:
Joined: 02-08-2007
Posts: 44,211
KingoftheCove wrote:
It’s what Opel mentioned above.........I forgot the name of it in my first post.......Flow Hive.
They make it sound like I’ll just walk out there and harvest honey for my bagel in the morning...


you need a cream cheese machine
DrafterX Offline
#22 Posted:
Joined: 10-18-2005
Posts: 98,506
Bees ehh... Think
DrafterX Offline
#23 Posted:
Joined: 10-18-2005
Posts: 98,506
teedubbya wrote:
Just wear the outfit and pretend



Will my clown suit work..?? Huh
tamapatom Offline
#24 Posted:
Joined: 03-19-2015
Posts: 7,381
Had a neighbor who had bees colonize inside the walls of their house around their plumbing pipes. They didn't realize it until the honey started seeping through the drywall and the floor molding in the bathroom. They had to get a beekeeper to capture and relocate the colony. Everything had to be stripped to the studs to clean out the honey and hive.

On the positive side, having a productive honey factory took no work at all! They could have put a spigot in the wall and had an unending supply of honey (assuming you didn't mind some leakage onto your floor). I was going to have a honey spigot, I'd prefer it in room than the bathroom. I guess the bees could recognize a honey bucket!



RMAN4443 Offline
#25 Posted:
Joined: 09-29-2016
Posts: 7,683
DrafterX wrote:
Will my clown suit work..?? Huh

It will probably make you look funny...Anxious
Ewok126 Offline
#26 Posted:
Joined: 06-25-2017
Posts: 4,356
DrafterX wrote:
Will my clown suit work..?? Huh


RMAN4443 wrote:
It will probably make you look funny...Anxious


If you mean funny as in a Goober Gobbler then naw thanks.

If you mean funny as in a goofball, I am already there. fog
Ewok126 Offline
#27 Posted:
Joined: 06-25-2017
Posts: 4,356
opelmanta1900 wrote:
Real bee keepers are typically Looney tunes, for reals.... They talk about communing with their bees and forming trust bonds with them and peta nonsense like that...

When it really comes down to it, traditional bee keepers don't like the plastic comb frames because it's plastic... **** em... The bees don't care...

There's not a good reason to go any way but the flow hive imo... Bee keeping isn't great with the trial and error method.... Lots of people kill more than one colony before quitting the hobby, without ever having harvested edible honey...

The flow hive people definitely make it sound easier than it is... It's a pain no matter how you do it...

Long story short, if you want bees, get a citrus tree... If you want honey, make friends with a bee farmer....



Yeah, Not here. The only communing I will be doing if I do this will be the ocasional "Where is my honey BITCHES"

Plastic comb natural comb I dont give 3 chits about. Long as they make us some golden juice!
Ewok126 Offline
#28 Posted:
Joined: 06-25-2017
Posts: 4,356
gummy jones wrote:
i have been debating this topic as well the past 3-4 years

if youtube videos an expert makes then i am already there...



I have been talking with a guy named Dr. Leo Sharashkin who holds a PhD in Forestry from the University of Missouri and a Master’s in Natural Resources from Indiana University who has done over 400 talks on 4 continents on the subject of beekeeping. Which don't mean much to me so that is why my first hit up was here on the forums. Yep, I trust you guys more and yeah, I am colluding with a Russian. Anxious
Ewok126 Offline
#29 Posted:
Joined: 06-25-2017
Posts: 4,356
tonygraz wrote:
My neighbor has been talking about keeping some bees for a few years and just yesterday said he might try one hive this year. Might not be a good idea with all the bears around here.


Chit, Honey and Bear Jerky! I am in like Flynn.
Ewok126 Offline
#30 Posted:
Joined: 06-25-2017
Posts: 4,356
Speyside wrote:
Ill have dad give you a call Chris.



That would be fantastic brother. Since I am more urban I would also need to know the dangers and such. Since your Pa makes some of the best honey I have ever had and his experience, I would rather get my info from him. When I first started to seriously consider this he was the first one that popped in my noggin.
Ewok126 Offline
#31 Posted:
Joined: 06-25-2017
Posts: 4,356
KingoftheCove wrote:
It’s what Opel mentioned above.........I forgot the name of it in my first post.......Flow Hive.
They make it sound like I’ll just walk out there and harvest honey for my bagel in the morning...
Think
Sounded too good to be true, so I nixed that plan.
Z says real bee keepers don’t like them...
I don’t know one way or the other.



Ahh I got you. Yeah that flow hive "from what I have seen" supposedly makes things very convenient as far as collection. My next question with it is how convenient is it when it comes to inspection of the hive for disease and such. Since bees travel for miles this has to be monitored constantly to prevent from wiping out the population in the area. Also last thing I want is me pissing off every farmer for miles because I wiped out the population and they figure out why no crops are growing lmaooo. Talk about a bullseye painted on my back. The only other concern of mine is because I now have pretty much no memory, I would have to have a checklist that goes out with me daily during inspections and I would have to follow it religiously so I do not phug up the ecosystem here in Memphis major.

Lucky for me, Memphis has a government group that requires every hive to be registered free of charge and they come to the house and do inspections for disease and such just for this reason. Sad thing is if they say you have to kill the hive and burn everything, then there that goes no questions asked. This is also another reason why I am considering building my own hive boxes vs buying them. Them sons a bitches are not cheap. I can all but build em for free since my wood guy sends me free wood all the time. All It would cost me is the time and a box of screws.

I am going to go back and look at some info on the flow hive see if I can find out. I mean its not like I am wanting 20 or 30 hives. I just want one or two.
Ewok126 Offline
#32 Posted:
Joined: 06-25-2017
Posts: 4,356
tamapatom wrote:
Had a neighbor who had bees colonize inside the walls of their house around their plumbing pipes. They didn't realize it until the honey started seeping through the drywall and the floor molding in the bathroom. They had to get a beekeeper to capture and relocate the colony. Everything had to be stripped to the studs to clean out the honey and hive.

On the positive side, having a productive honey factory took no work at all! They could have put a spigot in the wall and had an unending supply of honey (assuming you didn't mind some leakage onto your floor). I was going to have a honey spigot, I'd prefer it in room than the bathroom. I guess the bees could recognize a honey bucket!





Yeah I would not want it in the bathroom as well. My wife can take some pretty nasty chits in there and I damn sure don't want that mixing with my honey. Talk about new meaning to getting your "brown wings."Blink Blink Blink
gummy jones Offline
#33 Posted:
Joined: 07-06-2015
Posts: 7,969
#28 Putin will fill your hive if you let him
Ewok126 Offline
#34 Posted:
Joined: 06-25-2017
Posts: 4,356
gummy jones wrote:
#28 Putin will fill your hive if you let him



Naa, Putin will be getting his Butina back. I don't think he will have enough left to fill my hive. Beer
Ewok126 Offline
#35 Posted:
Joined: 06-25-2017
Posts: 4,356
Speyside wrote:
Ill have dad give you a call Chris.



Hey brother, I appreciate you hooking me up with your pops. He is packed full of information and was a very awesome fellow to chat with. Please tell him I greatly appreciate him taking time out of his day to help me out.
frankj1 Offline
#36 Posted:
Joined: 02-08-2007
Posts: 44,211
did anyone think to ask our in-house expert, RobertHively?
aka- b.hive(ly).
tonygraz Offline
#37 Posted:
Joined: 08-11-2008
Posts: 20,173
Frank, he has hives, but no bees.
frankj1 Offline
#38 Posted:
Joined: 02-08-2007
Posts: 44,211
ah, I misunderstood.
should we send ointment?
delta1 Offline
#39 Posted:
Joined: 11-23-2011
Posts: 28,753
deadeyedick wrote:
Two words: Killer bees

Been killing a few tree trimmers around here every year since they moved in.



dummass tree trimmers....wonder why they keep moving in....
Ewok126 Offline
#40 Posted:
Joined: 06-25-2017
Posts: 4,356
frankj1 wrote:
ah, I misunderstood.
should we send ointment?


I think you should just none of that napalm jelly though. That chit burns. fog
Ewok126 Offline
#41 Posted:
Joined: 06-25-2017
Posts: 4,356
delta1 wrote:
dummass tree trimmers....wonder why they keep moving in....



They just insearch of that Guberment honey. Herfing
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