Bee hive question

March 09, 2017, 08:43 AM

thumperfbc

Bee hive question

Is it possible to have maintain a small beehive with very little effort on my part? Some years we don't seem to get much bee attention to our small selection of plants in our backyard. Mostly tomatos, berries, and squash. Is it possible to put a small hive somewhere without it getting huge?

March 09, 2017, 08:46 AM

dgshooter

You might try contacting a beekeeper and asking if they would put a hive on your place.

I took a bee keeping course a few weeks ago. Really seems like a lot of work.

March 09, 2017, 08:51 AM

Elk Hunter

quote:
Originally posted by dgshooter:
You might try contacting a beekeeper and asking if they would put a hive on your place.

I took a bee keeping course a few weeks ago. Really seems like a lot of work.

I would suggest this. And bees have this tendency to multiply!! When the population in the hive gets too high, they swarm and part of the population moves out with a new queen and starts a new colony.

Elk

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FBHO!!!

The Idaho Elk Hunter

March 09, 2017, 09:09 AM

ryan81986

Yeah you can easily find a beekeeper that would love to keep a hive on your property that they would maintain.

March 09, 2017, 09:16 AM

Gustofer

quote:
Originally posted by thumperfbc:
Is it possible to have maintain a small beehive with very little effort on my part?

\
Short answer? Yes.

You can put as much or (pretty much) as little effort into beekeeping as you like. I've got a buddy who put up two hives last year. Once he did his install, he did absolutely nothing with them until he harvested in September. I'm a little more involved with mine than that, but not much.

Bees have been taking care of themselves without any help just fine for a few million years.

March 09, 2017, 10:52 AM

cparktd

A little bee related sidetrack...

I saw someone on Craig's List selling 50 gallon drums of high fructose corn syrup, targeting bee keepers. $150.00

My first thought was WTF? Are they cutting their honey with it? that would be pretty profitable. $3 per gallon vs 60-80 per gallon for honey. With little risk of getting caught.

So after a googling... Turns out they are! At least some are, and it's extremely hard for the consumer to detect.

Also some feed it to the bees, and apparently it isn't very good for the bees.

We buy Honey from local bee keepers to mix with fruit juice and vinegar and take 2 or 3 oz daily for arthritis and allergy abatement...

So I was just wondering.
How wide spread or how big of a problem do you think this is?

March 09, 2017, 11:23 AM

thumperfbc

quote:
Originally posted by cparktd:
A little bee related sidetrack...

I saw someone on Craig's List selling 50 gallon drums of high fructose corn syrup, targeting bee keepers. $150.00

My first thought was WTF? Are they cutting their honey with it? that would be pretty profitable. $3 per gallon vs 60-80 per gallon for honey. With little risk of getting caught.

So after a googling... Turns out they are! At least some are, and it's extremely hard for the consumer to detect.

Also some feed it to the bees, and apparently it isn't very good for the bees.

We buy Honey from local bee keepers to mix with fruit juice and vinegar and take 2 or 3 oz daily for arthritis and allergy abatement...

So I was just wondering.
How wide spread or how big of a problem do you think this is?

I've read that much commercial honey is actually of Chinese origin. That scares me. I buy mine direct from a local bee keeper and I doubt he is cutting it with syrup, but if he was I'd be beyond livid.

March 09, 2017, 01:24 PM

ryan81986

quote:
Originally posted by cparktd:
A little bee related sidetrack...

I saw someone on Craig's List selling 50 gallon drums of high fructose corn syrup, targeting bee keepers. $150.00

My first thought was WTF? Are they cutting their honey with it? that would be pretty profitable. $3 per gallon vs 60-80 per gallon for honey. With little risk of getting caught.

So after a googling... Turns out they are! At least some are, and it's extremely hard for the consumer to detect.

Also some feed it to the bees, and apparently it isn't very good for the bees.

We buy Honey from local bee keepers to mix with fruit juice and vinegar and take 2 or 3 oz daily for arthritis and allergy abatement...

So I was just wondering.
How wide spread or how big of a problem do you think this is?

It isn't very common, if not non-existent in the local beekeeping world. I can't speak for the commercial apiaries.

Beekeepers do feed sugar water to bees during times of drought or early in the spring before there are adequate nectar sources. But that is usually just 1lb table sugar to 1lb water.

March 09, 2017, 01:40 PM

thumperfbc

How much honey is typically harvested from a hive?

March 09, 2017, 02:01 PM

bendable

the l.e.o.'s have seen a pattern here.

Those that place their hives where visible from the county roads, are getting them stolen.

three thefts in the last two years.

those placing them out of sight are not reporting
thefts, so far

March 09, 2017, 02:29 PM

ryan81986

quote:
Originally posted by thumperfbc:
How much honey is typically harvested from a hive?

It really varies depending on the season and the strength of the hive. For a really good season, 60lbs.

March 09, 2017, 02:51 PM

Wreckless

It is work but I wouldn't call it alot. The initial setting up of the hives takes time. The building and prep work. The first year is extra work because you have to feed them daily since they are making all the new wax for their hive. After that the bees do most of the work. Just inspect every two weeks and treat for vermin.