Any Bee keepers in here?

Haven't kept up on this whole thread so forgive me if it's already mentioned, but anyone have thoughts on this?

Honey On Tap From Your Own Beehive - Flow™ Hive Home

 

I really dont see how this would be a good thing for anyone especially the bees. I can see a lot of people getting this and thinking "I can have honeybees and save the planet and have my own honey without having to do a thing" When in reality beekeeping is a lot of work and it is not always so easy to keep bees in a box that they are not meant to be in in the first place. I feel like people will get this set up and there will be even bigger colony losses after this crap gets out on the market.

 

Frames for those things are $75e. Traditional ones are 85 cents.

 

Sorta my thinking, too. They kinda mentioned what is really involved in about fifteen seconds toward the end of the vid.

Looks to me like the only thing it could possibly be saving is the cost and effort of an extractor. And I'm not convinced of that. It looks too gimmicky.

For the record, I've never had bees. I looked into it seriously a few years ago, and decided it wasn't for me, at least at the time. It's still something I would like to try, but I can't make the time commitment at this point in my life.

 

They are a big commitment and that is why I have stepped away from beekeeping this year, I just did not have time for them between work and school I will get back into them next summer after I graduate.

 

A friend of my daughter gave me some beehive parts. It looks like some parts are missing, and some are rotted. There are 6 supers, and the frames are in them. There is also a veil, but no smoker or other tools.

I know nothing about beekeeping, and know nobody who does it. I found, however, that there is a local club, and they do classes in March. And I can buy 3 pound packages (Italian) locally for about $125 or Nucs for about $140.

I am reading Beekeeping for Dummies, and it all sounds fascinating. I think I can keep a couple of hives, but should I?

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

I would highly recommend starting to go to the club meetings and getting to know the members and then take the beginners class. I would do this before you purchase any more equipment or even bees you will be able to get a better idea of the ins and outs of beekeeping and help you find out if it's really for you.

 

So how's everyone's bees doing? I'm finally getting back into them this year. I'm going to be ordering some new equipment on Thursday from Mann lake when they have their big annual sale and I'll be getting a couple of nucs in April or may.

 

Didn't even know about the sale, they say they extended it. Maybe the Mrs will spring for something.
You guys are an easy month ahead of me up here!

Last week during the warm up I had the garage door open where I process and store some equipment, it was full of bees!

 

What warm up they're calling for 6" of snow on Sunday

 

Anybody in here use foundationless frames? I'm starting out this year with foundationless and I switched to all 8 frame mediums. I have 8 frames of plastic foundation that came with the nuc I bought and I plan to get rid of that and be 100% foundationless from there on out.

 

What is the benefit of foundationless? I am using standard 10 frame deeps, with wood frames and plastic foundation.

 

Foundationless is a more natural approach than beekeeping it lets the bees determine the correct size of the cells and over time the will naturally progress back to a smaller cell. Also with foundationless you know where the wax is coming from unlike wax or wax coated plastic foundation. There is a belief that the wax we purchase is already contaminated with chemicals since it comes from all over the place and could be contaminated. It is also more cost effective since you don't have to buy foundation the bees will make it themselves. As for 8 frame mediums that saves time, money, and backaches. All of my boxes are the same size all of my frames are the same size so I don't have to buy two different sizes and when I need another box or frames I can just grab and go and an eight frame medium weighs a heck of a lot less than a ten frame deep.

 

bushpilot check out some of this stuff from Michael Bush.

The Practical Beekeeper, Beekeeping Naturally, Bush Bees, by Michael Bush

Bush Bees, foundationless frames, natural cell size, small cell bees, small cell beekeeping, regression, natural beekeeping, Michael Bush

Bush Bees, Easier to work hives, lighter equipment, eight frame, mediums, cutting down hives

Lazy Beekeeping,Bush Bees, foundationless frames, top bar hive, queens, survivor bees, long hives, natural cell size, small cell bees, small cell beekeeping, regression, natural beekeeping, Michael Bush

 

However, with all medium boxes, a full hive inspect requires inspecting 50% more boxes and frames. I am with you on the other points.

This is my first year, I am going as basic and standard as I can. Two deeps for brood, then supers for the honey. Next year, if / when I double my hives to 4, I will probably go with all medium 10 frames on the new ones. I have extra medium boxes already.

 

I only run them when I'm short on supplies. I've stupidly done it with super frames that always blow apart extracting. You also need to be 100% level or the comb will be fubar.
I think it depends on your goal with the bees.

It takes alot of bee resources to make wax. Wich slows honey production Wich for me is the entire point.
I also run 10 frame brood boxes. More brood more bees more honey.
Never noticed a weight difference between 8-10.

 

Think i caught my first swarm!
Used swarm commander.
First day it was out, there were two different breeds fighting for it. After half a week I think they have made the move.
Now there is only one breed! And heavy traffic!
I haven't seen pollen coming in yet, but there is no more fighting and it looks like normal foraging behavior.
I'm going to wait a week and movem!

 

Which product did you use?

 

Used" swarm commander "found it on Amazon, it gets good reviews on the bee forums. Pricey for a little bottle but worth it.

 

Got it. Spray bottle. Wasn't sure which product you bought. Thanks.. Cheaper than buying a nuc. Hopefully they stay put.. congrats and good luck.