Any Bee keepers in here?

Yeah I know what you mean Joe is big time commercial were just a bunch of puny hobbyist. Your girls are looking good there Dave cooling off having a drink on the front porch before bed

 

I really envy you guys. I just wanted to have a single hive of my own... Next thing I knew I was working bees full time. I have no idea how that happened. It's a very physical job and I am out of shape. There are areas of my body that I didn't think possible to ache. I thought I was in shape... I'm paying for it every morning.

I had no experience at all when I started. It is a difficult learning experience, I can't imagine learning it on you're own. I had help from a major league beekeeper. I'm still learning everyday.

 

looking great dave! my one hive with 3 supers gets almost that many bees hanging out at the entrance in the evening. the others are still catching up as i keep splitting everything to try to increase.

 

neat picture. virgin, torn QC, murdered sister that was just a little late too slow to get out.

 

I had 6 hives a few years ago.....down to one now.

Hive beetles showed up last year here.

 

Sorry to hear that MM are you planning on getting more going again? Ive met several people that have had trouble with beetles and moths this year.

 

I'm hoping to get more wild strains. The hive I have now is a wild stand.

 

Hey @WeldrDave hows them bees doing?

 

I checked my hive a couple of days ago and it is packed with bees. Its a little intimidating. I need to do a full hive inspection soon, I will let you guys know how that goes.

 

Got rewarded today ! Looks like ill be fillin jars tonight i do the 8 frame hives.... The whole box was cured and ready

 

Im getting ready to go and put my supers back on to collect the cotton harvest hopefully its another good harvest

 

I probably pulling this weekend too, hopefully today.

 

Thanks for the inspiration Honey fuzz I got off my dead azz and put the supers on I was sitting here waiting for the UPS man and Fedex thinking what will I do then I saw your post and was inspired

 

Anytime buddy !!! Ive been avoiding it too......but its a good thing I went today , because they were running out of room . And we all know what that means...THEY SWARM !!!! I have 3 hives now . I had been avoiding checking them for a few months ...especially my "renegade" hive that has swarmed...then I got someone elses swarm...now I have some random bees all mixed in....but they are super productive...and pretty AGGRESSIVE !!!! So anyway...long story short.....I got the pizz stung out of me a few months back. Made me gun shy But today..I WON I took there honey...and I hope they will make me more Im glad I can inspire...now go get that honey

 

I need to check my hive this weekend. I go back to check on the activity level, but i need to get in there and correct some burr comb and see how much space there is.
I have carnies, but while watching them on some thistle, I saw my first black bee. I have no idea where that one came from. Has anyone else seen a black bee in with their bees? Kind of odd. Really cool looking though. She had some pollen on her legs that looked white compared to her body.

 

pulled a mere 37#'s off only one hive this weekend. been putting too much energy towards starting new colonies. gone from 30 deep frames of comb this year to drawing out 80. setting up for next year and i hope to do much better if most make it through the winter. buddy of mine took 230#'s off of 3 hives in a suburban area. wish i had more hives earlier in the year. definite dearth here now, they were going crazy cleaning up the extracting equipment.