Beekeeping

[clarkshomestead]

I'm wanting to build a hive to be ready for spring. never messed with bees b4. I'm gonna build the plan I found on this site . What i need to know is.. is there any way to build your own frames ( the part that the bees build their combs on)? Please let me know if you have any ideas. I'd like to do it without being dependent on a supplier for my frames.

[Deberosa]

Check Bee=pipes posts in livestock. He has constructed some great hives for his bees and pictures are posted there.

I hope to get bees some day once the million other projects have settled a bit!

[alma]

Are the bees back?

There was a problem with them a while back wasn't there.

I hope you can have your bee hivessoon. I think it is a great dream. love, alma

[Deberosa]

Even without a hive I had tons of bees last year due to the herbs and wildflowers I planted. I also put out mason bee blocks - they are simply blocks of wood full of holes. Mason bees lay their eggs in the holes, you can even take the blocks down once they are filled up and put them in a more protected place for the winter but here I leave mine up. Untreated wood of course!

[grams]

We use wire less frames. After lots of discussion, we decided to give it a try as we are trying to be as self-sufficient as possible, and we can't make wire ourselves, LOL. We just got bees last year, but so far it seems to work just fine.

[clarkshomestead]

how do you make wireless frames? this is the little box im building http://www.damoc.com/beekeeper/beebox/beebox.html

[clarkshomestead]

ok sry. i understand now. I decided to build this one instead http://www.tumbledownfarm.com/WordPress/?p=35

[bee_pipes]

Those are some fine articles you found there, and I can understand your excitement. Beekeeping is an easy idea to get fired up about, particularly if you don't like bugs (like me).

One thing I found out, though, is that unless you have a free supply of lumber and you have lots of time, it is cheaper to buy langstroth hives. I asked a carpenter buddy of mine to look at it, and he said he couldn't compete with the prices for new gear. If you watch local auctions, flea markets and swap meets, you can find used hives for bargain prices. Should you need more parts, you'll have the hives themselves to serve as patterns.

Last year we tried a top bar hive. The top bar hive got robbed to death by the two langstroth hives. You need a partition to reduce the internal size of the hive while the colony establishes itself. This gives them less realestate to defend while they build comb and the queen gets started laying eggs. When you install a package, the population will start to decline from attrition. Your job is to give the bees everything they need to minimize this attrition for the first month or so until the first eggs start hatching. For a top bar you will either need a feeder that can hang like a frame or an entrance feeder. We used containers resting on the bottom of the hive. The bees from the other hives flew in and robbed the syrup feed.

Read everything you can find at the local library, join a beekeeper's organization of there is one close by - should be in Dothan. Look up local suppliers - you are in a good location for Brushy Mountain Bee Farm (http://www.beeequipment.com/). Have you found a bee supplier yet? We lucked out. A fellow in Kentucky makes runs between home and his bee yards in Mississippi a few times during the season. We were able to meet him off the highway on one of his trips and buy our bees from him.

It's a rewardsing occupation, good for the garden and fruit trees, but does require some work to keep the bees healthy and happy. If you want to earn a living at it, it's hard work - like any other agricultural pursuit. We just raise enough for our purposes.

There was an excellent article in BHM for building a top-bar hive. We followed the directions and a description is HERE (http://www.backwoodshome.com/forum/yabb/forum.pl?board=fau-livestock;action=display;num=1175029206)

Martin (Alchemy Acres) has experience with bees and is one sharp fellow. You'd do well to pick his brain. Me, I'm just an ameteur.

Regards,
Pat

[clarkshomestead]

Hey thanks Pipes! I realy am fired up. i have an established beekeeper about 1 mile from here. I havent spoken with him yet but maybe he can help with some bees. You've got me concerned now about robbing! Like I said he has several hives, I hope his bees dont rob mine or vise versa! I'll talk to him and see what he thinks. I wouldnt want to step on his toes, he's been here longer and sells his honey localy at the hardware store. So you say a partition? how many bars do you think I should allow them access to? Thank you again for your time.

[clarkshomestead]

oh yeah, I'm a carpenter and have access to wood. Also I love my trade and couldn't imagine buying a hive (plans maybe). Building is as much fun to me as actualy having the product.

[bee_pipes]

... established beekeeper about 1 mile from here...
... maybe he can help...


yeah, that's your best bet. He can probably tell you where to buy a package or split, help you install, and maybe give you some hands-on. He can also tell you if there's a beekeeper's association in the area.


... got me concerned now about robbing...


Not to worry - that's something that happens in a bee yard - it doesn't travel opt of the immediate vicinity, Your bees won't affect his and vice versa.


... a partition? how many bars do you think I should allow them access to?...


I dunno - I'm new to this too. I was figuring on starting them out with 10 bars, then move it up as they started drawing comb. You will want an entrance reducer too. Lots to learn, and you might want to save experimenting with a top bar hive for after you have a few healthy langstroth hives going. Just a thought. Best of luck to you.

Regards,
Pat

[clarkshomestead]

Wel I've built my first hive now. It's a topbar hive with 24 bars (frames sort of). There seems to be a problem with Small hive Beetles in this area. I think for several reasons that the top bar hive will be better at controlling this pest from everything I've read on the subject. You can read about it here and I'll post pics tomorrow http://www.freewebs.com/clarkshomestead2/myhives.htm . Also I have a problem I some how ignored Bee pipes! I cant read anything he's written and i truely value his advise. How do I unignore? :'(

[WRTN]

When you look at a thread. Look in the upper right hand corner of each members post where is says ignore - quote - modify.

Just click on ignore or in your case it should say unignore on beepipes posts and you should be able to read his posts.

[clarkshomestead]

hey got it THANKS! UNIGNORED sry bee pipes, I can read your stuff now bro.