New Hobby: Bee Keeping - Page 2

AdamJoshua · 02-21-2017, 07:41 PM

You should probably find the biggest bee and kick it's ass right away, just as a message to the other bees, not the queen but the biggest drone.

icehog3 · 02-22-2017, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by massphatness

We're going to herf in the back yard this year -- the bees will be out front. That's a good 250 feet away.

I'll bring a suit of armor.

stearns · 02-22-2017, 08:40 AM

Very cool Vin, if I had the space and time I'd love to do something similar. I'm always up for a honey/honey bbq sauce trade

massphatness · 02-22-2017, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLS

I almost think that you should just let them keep all their honey, at least to the point where you end up with more
than one hive. Then maybe start taking some for daddy. I don't know if anyone really knows just how to keep the
bees around forever when they can't figure out what's really going on yet. In any case, you are a guy that goes over-
board to be kind, I am sure it will work out.

From my as yet very limited understanding of honey bee dynamics, bee keepers are taught to only harvest the excess honey. There's not a "brood hive" and a separate "storage hive" -- if I have two hives, I potentially end up with 2X the honey. I'm nowhere near the point where I want to manage two hives, although some instructors recommend starting out with two because it can be easier to deal with problems in one hive if you have a second. But I'm going with one for the time being. I don't want so many bees that icehog won't set foot in New England much less Mass.

icehog3 · 02-22-2017, 10:46 AM

I like turtles.

mosesbotbol · 02-22-2017, 03:27 PM

Make sure the bees have plants to do their work on. If all there is around are pine trees; the honey will have a certain taste...

CigarNut · 02-22-2017, 03:28 PM

Vin, before you get too far into this, you might want to verify that you are not allergic to bee stings

massphatness · 02-22-2017, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

Make sure the bees have plants to do their work on. If all there is around are pine trees; the honey will have a certain taste...

We're quite literally across the street from an apple orchard.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CigarNut

Vin, before you get too far into this, you might want to verify that you are not allergic to bee stings

Been stung as recently as last summer. Can't absolutely say it was a honey bee, but I'm not overly worried.

massphatness · 02-22-2017, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icehog3

I like turtles.

Here you go ...

Tio Gato · 02-22-2017, 04:46 PM

Backyard herfing is better. That way your neighbors won't see Tom's retirement stripper dancing.

AdamJoshua · 02-22-2017, 05:28 PM

Have you seen these hives, Vin?

https://youtu.be/0_pj4cz2VJM

icehog3 · 02-22-2017, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

Make sure the bees have plants to do their work on. If all there is around are pine trees; the honey will have a certain taste...

IPA!

Quote:

Originally Posted by massphatness

Here you go ...

Yay!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tio Gato

Backyard herfing is better. That way your neighbors won't see Tom's retirement stripper dancing.

It better be a chick, Jeff.

massphatness · 03-05-2017, 10:44 AM

Built a hive stand over the weekend from some plans I found online. I'm no carpenter, but the stand is (relatively) stable & the hive fits on it perfectly.

The honey bees are due on April 10 ...

CigarNut · 03-05-2017, 10:50 AM

Wow! Did not realize people still used corded tools!

markem · 03-05-2017, 11:16 AM

Cool! Progress is good. Any chance you'll put up a "bee cam" at some point? By that I mean a small camera that sees inside the hive. Something like this but a wider shot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_9HZeG97Xg

massphatness · 03-05-2017, 12:19 PM

I could see doing something outside the hive, but inside the hive would be tricky based on what little I currently know about honey bees to this point and the space (or lack of space) they like to have in the hive.

There's a concept knows as "bee space" which is between 3/8 and a 1/4 inch. If there's more space, the bees build to fill it in, and if there's less, they seal it up with this resin-like substance they produce called propolis. So a camera in the hive has to take bee space into account at a minimum, and I'm not there yet.

icehog3 · 03-05-2017, 01:17 PM

Most importanr part of beekeeping is yet to come. That would be beekeeping the bees away from icehog.

J/K, stand looks cool, Vin. Looking forward to seeing the project move forward.

AdamJoshua · 03-05-2017, 01:23 PM

Very cool. You never know maybe the bees like to be watched, everyone has their kink.

BigAsh · 03-06-2017, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icehog3

I have had a wonderful time visiting you the past few summers, Vin, and look forward to seeing you elsewhere in the future.

hahaha...

Quote:

Originally Posted by massphatness

Built a hive stand over the weekend from some plans I found online. I'm no carpenter, but the stand is (relatively) stable & the hive fits on it perfectly.

The honey bees are due on April 10 ...

And yet, you have "Jesus sandles"....Oh, and April 11th on my calendar ...

massphatness · 03-06-2017, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigAsh

And yet, you have "Jesus sandles"....

Much like Jesus, my dad has the carpentry skills.

02-21-2017, 07:41 PM	#21
AdamJoshua Article 4 Free Inhabitant Join Date: Jan 2013 First Name: The Other Adam Location: Satellite Beach Posts: 14,787 Trading: (40)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping You should probably find the biggest bee and kick it's ass right away, just as a message to the other bees, not the queen but the biggest drone.

02-22-2017, 08:40 AM	#23
stearns Dogbert Consultant Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Ben Location: Park Hill Posts: 5,384 Trading: (50)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping Very cool Vin, if I had the space and time I'd love to do something similar. I'm always up for a honey/honey bbq sauce trade __________________ "Ignoring all the racket of conventional reality" - Keller Williams

02-22-2017, 10:46 AM	#25
icehog3 Admiral Douchebag Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Tom Location: Clermont, Kentucky Posts: 71,266 Trading: (60)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping I like turtles. __________________ Thanks Dave, Julian, James, Kelly, Peter, Gerry, Dave, Mo, Frank, Týr and Mr. Mark!

02-22-2017, 03:27 PM	#26
mosesbotbol That's a Corgi Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Moses Location: Boston Posts: 6,171 Trading: (6)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping Make sure the bees have plants to do their work on. If all there is around are pine trees; the honey will have a certain taste... __________________ Port Wine & Claret \| British Cars \| Welsh Corgi's

02-22-2017, 03:28 PM	#27
CigarNut Fck Cancer! Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: Michael Location: Clermont, Florida Posts: 18,042 Trading: (111*)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping Vin, before you get too far into this, you might want to verify that you are not allergic to bee stings __________________ Need Beads? Need Five Finger Bags? 2 of 3 Requirements for use of the CA Rolodex: 100 posts/ 60 day membership/ participation in trade (trader rating). New members can be added at any time.

02-22-2017, 04:46 PM	#30
Tio Gato Uncle Kitty Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Jeff Location: Casa Grande, AZ Posts: 2,075 Trading: (11)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping Backyard herfing is better. That way your neighbors won't see Tom's retirement stripper dancing. __________________ "You stink like cigars Uncle Kitty!" Said my Boo age 3. "Kid, take care of your family and the hell with anyone else" My Grandpa Bubba.

02-22-2017, 05:28 PM	#31
AdamJoshua Article 4 Free Inhabitant Join Date: Jan 2013 First Name: The Other Adam Location: Satellite Beach Posts: 14,787 Trading: (40)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping Have you seen these hives, Vin? https://youtu.be/0_pj4cz2VJM

03-05-2017, 10:44 AM	#33
massphatness Where's my buffaloooo ... Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Vin Location: MassHolia Posts: 12,690 Trading: (206)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping Built a hive stand over the weekend from some plans I found online. I'm no carpenter, but the stand is (relatively) stable & the hive fits on it perfectly. The honey bees are due on April 10 ... __________________ *Help Support The Navy SEAL Foundation: HERE*

03-05-2017, 10:50 AM	#34
CigarNut Fck Cancer! Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: Michael Location: Clermont, Florida Posts: 18,042 Trading: (111*)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping Wow! Did not realize people still used corded tools! __________________ Need Beads? Need Five Finger Bags? 2 of 3 Requirements for use of the CA Rolodex: 100 posts/ 60 day membership/ participation in trade (trader rating). New members can be added at any time.

03-05-2017, 11:16 AM	#35
markem Bunion Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Mark Location: Second Star on the Right Posts: 22,621 Trading: (47)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping Cool! Progress is good. Any chance you'll put up a "bee cam" at some point? By that I mean a small camera that sees inside the hive. Something like this but a wider shot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_9HZeG97Xg __________________ I refuse to belong to any organization that would have me as a member. ~ Groucho Marx

03-05-2017, 12:19 PM	#36
massphatness Where's my buffaloooo ... Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Vin Location: MassHolia Posts: 12,690 Trading: (206)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping I could see doing something outside the hive, but inside the hive would be tricky based on what little I currently know about honey bees to this point and the space (or lack of space) they like to have in the hive. There's a concept knows as "bee space" which is between 3/8 and a 1/4 inch. If there's more space, the bees build to fill it in, and if there's less, they seal it up with this resin-like substance they produce called propolis. So a camera in the hive has to take bee space into account at a minimum, and I'm not there yet. __________________ *Help Support The Navy SEAL Foundation: HERE*

03-05-2017, 01:17 PM	#37
icehog3 Admiral Douchebag Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Tom Location: Clermont, Kentucky Posts: 71,266 Trading: (60)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping Most importanr part of beekeeping is yet to come. That would be beekeeping the bees away from icehog. J/K, stand looks cool, Vin. Looking forward to seeing the project move forward. __________________ Thanks Dave, Julian, James, Kelly, Peter, Gerry, Dave, Mo, Frank, Týr and Mr. Mark!

03-05-2017, 01:23 PM	#38
AdamJoshua Article 4 Free Inhabitant Join Date: Jan 2013 First Name: The Other Adam Location: Satellite Beach Posts: 14,787 Trading: (40)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping Very cool. You never know maybe the bees like to be watched, everyone has their kink.