bee keeping

[bigolebuckman]

Any bee keepers out there? Looking for how-to info. Know any good web-sites or books?

Thanks.

[jvs]

bigolebuckman,

I think the place to start would be the Yellow Pages under Apiary or Beekeepers.  They could probably get you started with a Hive of your own, whether you buy one or rent it.  Usually these businesses are in the Bee Hive Rental business, where they rent hives for pollination to Orchards and others who benefit directly from having Honey Bees on the property.  Then they get the Honey produced from those rental hives. 

Finding a place like this locally would probably be best since they could outfit you with your own hive and other supplies (smokers, clothes, etc) that beekeepers need.  I have often toyed with the idea of having my own hive(s), but so far I have not gotten into that.  I doubt it could run more to get started than hunting costs me now, and even though I do like honey occassionally, I don't really have enough demand for large amounts of honey in my house to outweigh the initial outlay.  I don't really want to get into selling Honey.   

Although I feel strongly that the Honey Bee needs all the help they can get right now to survive the current problems, for me it would be a hobby more than a honey or money thing.

You could also try the Internet for the more technical information and available supplies.  To help get you started, I found this website.

Just click on it:

http://www.ent.uga.edu/bees/Get_Started/How_to_Get_Started.htm

[Graybeard]

beemanbeme is a bee keeper I'm pretty sure. You might try PMing him and ask questions as well.

[bigolebuckman]

Thanks guys.

[jvs]

Maybe beemanbeme can come here and give us the scoop as to what is going on with the Honey Bees in this country, and if anything is being done to try and reverse the trend.

[GeneRector]

  Howdy!  When I was a kid I wanted to get into beekeeping and make honey to sell.  There were several families that were into it and seem to do pretty well.  I made a beehive once for my highschool Ag class; however, I just never got around to do beekeeping.  At that time I just didn't have the financial resources to do it.  And thus, I never did.  I have always had an interest in beekeeping, even today.  Here in Texas, the Africanized bees seem to be a big issue plus whatever fungus or bug that is killing off hives today.  There needs to be a cure and fast. Otherwise, there won't be many fruits and vegetables that depend on bees for production.  Best of Luck!!

[bigolebuckman]

How much money is involved in getting started? I only want to produce enough honey for 1 or 2 families a year and not sell it. Not really wanting to go big. How much time and work is involved, and is it worth it or can I just buy it cheaper?

[jvs]

I did a quick search in Ebay for Beekeeping supplies, and on the surface it doesn't look like you would need a whole lot of money to get started, but you know how that goes...  A couple of years later and a few hundred bucks, and you realize that you have one heck of a new hobby brewing in the back yard.

I suppose it all depends on how small you want to stay.  As a Hobby, Beekeeping would probably keep you busy from time to time.  Staying small means you would have to depend on others who are also in it for the things you don't have. 

When I looked into it, the guy I talked to had a few dozen hives, a centrifuge unit and all of the tools he thought were necessary for his operation.  Plus he made Candles from the wax, and a whole assortment of Honey Candies and Creams.  Obviously he had big money in it, and I often wondered if he ever realized enough profit from honey sales to make up for the headaches.

It was after that, that I decided that beekeeping wasn't for me at that time.  I think now would be a different story.  All I'd have to do is convince myself that I have the commitment necessary to keep bees properly.  Which would mean having an outlet for the combs, and other frames available for when things need to be taken apart. 

Maybe the best thing to do is go that the website listed above and do some reading on the subject.   Or, better yet, ask a local beekeeper in your area about some of the things you should know.  Beekeepers usually are more than willing to help somebody get started.

All in all, I think beekeeping would be a nice hobby.  And you might end up being the guy everybody calls when a swarm gets loose.

[jls]

I had some old hives on my property that were older than Moses but the bees keep using them. A fellow down the road had some spares in his barn that I picked up for a ten spot apiece. The biggest issue You might have is what they call " foul brood" It's a mite that infects the colony and eventually wipes them out. I solved the problem(hopefully) by boiling the plates in lye water and scrubbing the rest down with a brush. On older hives every thing seems to be glued together, which will desolve in the hot lye( learned the hard way) but it saved my colonies from going the way of the indians and buffalo. now if I can only keep the pesky bears out of them, I should be ok until spring when I can reacess the situation. 

[jvs]

I sat down at the Computer for about a half hour and decided to see what I could find out about the cost of a start at Beekeeping.

I typed "Beekeeping Supplies" in Google and found a multitude of websites that can help you get started.  For instance, one website offers a 'Deluxe Starter Kit' for $375, which includes alot of stuff.  A lesser kit, for $289, is also available.  I did not open a whole slew of websites, so I don't know if there are more starter kits available from other places at a lower price or not.

I also found out that most starter kits do not include the Bees.  Honey Bees must be ordered seperately from only a hand full of places in the U.S., and are usually sold in 3 lb lots.   

Since I live in Pennsylvania, I typed "Pennsylvania Beekeepers" in Google, and I found that this site will probably serve me better than any other.  Some are local, and some offer phone call help.  So if you type your 'state' followed by 'Beekeepers' in Google, you will probably find all the info you seek is available locally.

One thing that surprised me is that Honey Bee Colonies in Pennsylvania must be registered with the State Dept. of Agriculture, and must be Inspected.  A small $10 fee for a 2 yr Registration is all you need here.  While there are other requirements, none have any fee attached.  But there are Fines of up to $1,000 for non compliance.  Pa also has a list of  chemicals that can and can not be used on your Colonies.

Finally, the University of Delaware offers an on-line Beekeeping Course, as folows:

University of Delaware On-line Beekeeping Course

Have you ever wanted to take a college-level course in beekeeping? The University of Delaware’s popular course, Apiology and Apiculture (ENWC 214), taught by entomology professor Dewey M. Caron is now offered online through UD Online, the University of Delaware's Distance Learning program.

Apiology and Apiculture is an introductory-level college course covering basic bee biology with an emphasis on bee colony management. This scientific approach to studying the life of honey bees includes bee biology, anatomy, physiology, behavior, bee botany, and communication. The course additionally covers an introduction to beekeeping, including techniques for practical bee care, bee culture/stewardship, and managing honey bees for honey/products and/or crop pollination services.

To participate in the course, you will need a computer with email, an Internet connection, and the required textbook, Honey Bee Biology and Beekeeping. And, of course your interest and enthusiasm. You can progress through the course at your own pace, viewing lectures via the Web and following course activities outlined in the syllabus. Access to a bee colony is recommended, but not required. Throughout the course, you will be communicating with fellow students and with Professor Caron.

If you wish to earn University of Delaware academic credit, you can enroll in the course as a Continuing Education student. You will not need to apply for admittance to the University. UD Online credit courses are regular University courses and listed on a college transcript with no distinction from on-campus courses. [If you are a student at another college or university, we recommend you check with your advisor in advance to be sure the credits can transfer and be applied to your specific degree program.]

Beekeepers may want to take this course on a noncredit basis. The noncredit option is more appealing if you are interested in the course for personal or professional development and do not plan to apply it toward a degree. This option offers additional time and more flexibility in choosing course activities with assignments/projects designed to fit your schedule and interests.

For more information about the course and the instructor, including a course demo, please visit Beekeeping Online (Please note that the noncredit Beekeeping Online will differ slightly, for example in the syllabus and the specific course requirements.).

For additional information or for instructions on how to enroll, please contact Melanie Rehberg, UD Online Program Manager, at (302) 831-1079, (1-800) 597-1444 (extension 3 and ask for Melanie), or MelanieR@udel.edu .

Contact Dr Caron at dmcaron@udel.edu .

[bigolebuckman]

Thank you all so much. 

[Cornbelt]

Been keeping bees off and on since early 70's. Getting the bees is no problem in this area, as melon farmers rent lots of colonies, and they swarm regurlarly. Since it is illegal to kill honeybees, I've had good luck letting exterminators know I'm interested, also fire dept, local and county law enforcement. Word gets around. Used equipment is a lot cheaper, but needs cleaned real good, as mentioned. Bee-keeping suppliers, such as Brushy Mountain Bee Farm will keep you posted on products to minimise bee killing pests; both for commercial applications and simple one-horse operations. Like anything, it can get expensive and take time, but if you get tired of it, you can use the hive boxes and honey supers for cope and drag flasks to make sand molds to pour molten metal into for some other useful experiment.     _As far as the plight of honey bees goes, the worse thing that ever happened to them was when they took DDT off the market. Honey bees were not effected by it, while everything that replaced it kills 'em. Before you make the move to start, keep a calandar of blossoming plants in your area. Spring is usually no problem, due to trees blooming, but after mid June, something will have to keep them going well enough to satisfy you as well as to keep them through the winter, or else you'll have to feed them lots of sugar-water, which is in itself expensive. Then sometimes when everything is supposed to be working right, it simply doesn't. I've found Murphy to be the rule rather than the exception, -that explains the "off" phase. If you just want honey, you might try hiring yourself out to a bee-keeper when he's busy, and suggest he pay you in product.

[btr568]

beesourse.com    it's a bee keeping forum,I've learned alot there allready just reading posts