BEES! Lots of bees.

[The_Eric]

My wife has taken on the responsibility of tending a bee hive. She started out with 1 pound (about 3500) and over the course of the summer has had to add more hive sections to accommodate growth. The other night she went to check on them and when she came back, she told me to grab the camera...

The bees were "bearding", a way of keeping cool. There were also some perched at the entrance facing outward fanning the hive in an attempt to cool it down.

Right now she is estimating there are about 25-30,000 bees... Also, for those of you who wouldn't come near that hive, she has only been stung once so far. It was on the head (not a good place) by a bee that got stuck in her hair and was really annoyed. When I took these pics, I was about 6' away to get the first one and about 2' away for the second and nary a bee cared...

Also a video of them going about their lives. Turn up the volume and you can hear the whole hive buzzing. They make a surprising amount of noise.

Bees

 

[addyguy]

Bee's, when they have a hive to attend to, really aren't a problem - they are so busy keeping the hive going that they really can't be bothered messing with people, even if they get close.

Hornets and wasps are the problem - they seem to go looking for trouble with people, and are nasty about it!

 

[antiqueshell]

I've never been afraid of honey bees you really have to go out of your way to get them to sting for the most part, even wasps are not too bad. Ground hornets are the worst, and I do fear them. The [censored] things will pursue you for over 100 yards if they really have it in for you. And they sting in large groups and repeatedly.

Interesting aside I also just noticed, this is the first year in what seems like a couple decades that I have seen large numbers of ordinary bumble bees around, at least this area.

 

[daves87rs]

Cool!

 

[addyguy]

Originally Posted By: antiqueshell
I've never been afraid of honey bees you really have to go out of your way to get them to sting for the most part, even wasps are not too bad. Ground hornets are the worst, and I do fear them. The [censored] things will pursue you for over 100 yards if they really have it in for you. And they sting in large groups and repeatedly.

Interesting aside I also just noticed, this is the first year in what seems like a couple decades that I have seen large numbers of ordinary bumble bees around, at least this area.



That is so true - I've noticed lots of Bumble Bees around this summer as well. They are a really cool-looking bug....a flying blob of fluff, LOL!

 

[oilboy123]

Got stung 4 times trying to get rid of a hive that started in a couch my Mom had sitting on her porch. She wanted to restore it, but we just threw it out.

 

[tomcat27]

whats the mason jar for?

 

[crinkles]

FIL is an apiarist, switched from beef farming as he is a little older now. Seems like a great job. He sells a fair few 44 gal drums a year.

 

[The_Eric]

Originally Posted By: antiqueshell
I've never been afraid of honey bees you really have to go out of your way to get them to sting for the most part, even wasps are not too bad. Ground hornets are the worst, and I do fear them. The [censored] things will pursue you for over 100 yards if they really have it in for you. And they sting in large groups and repeatedly.

Interesting aside I also just noticed, this is the first year in what seems like a couple decades that I have seen large numbers of ordinary bumble bees around, at least this area.


Yeah, those little wee beasties don't tolerate much... I swear they wear born with a mean streak!

Originally Posted By: tomcat27
whats the mason jar for?


Initially it was filled with a sugar water mix to supplement the bee's food in the spring when she got them. This because there was no honey stored in the hive and they hadn't started producing any yet.

Once the colony got established, she was able to remove the sugar water mix. Now, it's back in place strictly as a water source as during the really hot days, the bees won't bother gathering pollen but instead look for water for the hive. They definitely use it, as they'll drain in it a few days or less. In fact she topped off their water once I was done shooting pictures and the bottom was completely covered with them...

Originally Posted By: crinkles
FIL is an apiarist, switched from beef farming as he is a little older now. Seems like a great job. He sells a fair few 44 gal drums a year.


WOW! He's a heck of a lot bigger than she is.

 

[crinkles]

Originally Posted By: The_Eric
Originally Posted By: antiqueshell
I've never been afraid of honey bees you really have to go out of your way to get them to sting for the most part, even wasps are not too bad. Ground hornets are the worst, and I do fear them. The [censored] things will pursue you for over 100 yards if they really have it in for you. And they sting in large groups and repeatedly.

Interesting aside I also just noticed, this is the first year in what seems like a couple decades that I have seen large numbers of ordinary bumble bees around, at least this area.


Yeah, those little wee beasties don't tolerate much... I swear they wear born with a mean streak!

Originally Posted By: tomcat27
whats the mason jar for?


Initially it was filled with a sugar water mix to supplement the bee's food in the spring when she got them. This because there was no honey stored in the hive and they hadn't started producing any yet.

Once the colony got established, she was able to remove the sugar water mix. Now, it's back in place strictly as a water source as during the really hot days, the bees won't bother gathering pollen but instead look for water for the hive. They definitely use it, as they'll drain in it a few days or less. In fact she topped off their water once I was done shooting pictures and the bottom was completely covered with them...

Originally Posted By: crinkles
FIL is an apiarist, switched from beef farming as he is a little older now. Seems like a great job. He sells a fair few 44 gal drums a year.


WOW! He's a heck of a lot bigger than she is.


Yeah - he used to have his stepson spin the frames out by hand. Now that they've built it up a bit, he's bought an eletric motor spinner. Bet the stepson enjoys that! actually his own son came home (he is in his 40's) and is helping him do some cattle again too.

 

[01rangerxl]

Originally Posted By: addyguy
Bee's, when they have a hive to attend to, really aren't a problem - they are so busy keeping the hive going that they really can't be bothered messing with people, even if they get close.

Hornets and wasps are the problem - they seem to go looking for trouble with people, and are nasty about it!


Agreed, bees don't really bother me at all. It's the other flying/stinging insects I don't like.

I absolutely hate yellow jackets. They are obnoxious and can be hard to track down and get rid of. I've learned that if you're going to swat at them, do so to kill them. I've found the $3 Horror Freight electric bug swatter is good for this.

 

[The_Eric]

I used to be of the opinion that all wasps/hornet type critters needed to die. Not so much any more. There's a whole troop of the buggers (mud wasp/dobber/hronet) in my garage and while they might fly over to investigate me, they leave me alone. If I get aggressive with them, then you'd better bet that they'll return the favor. The key is to not to shy away, just completely ignore them and go about your business. I think that the paper wasps are more territorial and defensive of their nests and will zap you if you tread too close to the nest.

Now with ground bees, all bets are off. There seems to be a much smaller margin of error with those things.

 

[The_Eric]

Originally Posted By: crinkles

Yeah - he used to have his stepson spin the frames out by hand. Now that they've built it up a bit, he's bought an eletric motor spinner. Bet the stepson enjoys that! actually his own son came home (he is in his 40's) and is helping him do some cattle again too.


I think that's how we're going to end up doing it (the old fashioned way). Any tips?

 

[ltslimjim]

Nice job.

 

[rjundi]

Originally Posted By: The_Eric
Originally Posted By: crinkles

Yeah - he used to have his stepson spin the frames out by hand. Now that they've built it up a bit, he's bought an eletric motor spinner. Bet the stepson enjoys that! actually his own son came home (he is in his 40's) and is helping him do some cattle again too.


I think that's how we're going to end up doing it (the old fashioned way). Any tips?


My wife is going through this. She is a first time beekeeper with two hives. We are fortunate to live near a blueberry farm and flower farms beyond suburbia so they absolutely thrive.

She can borrow a manually spinner but we have no idea what we are in for.

They are definitely docile when working. She wears the full bee suit tending them while I wear flip/flops, shorts and tee shirt with gloves. She cannot lift the boxes easily so I help.

I did actually get to see one our queens and got an iphone pic of her.

 

[volk06]

Question. What do the bees do during winter months? Where do they go?

 

[The_Eric]

Without the bee keeper close at hand (wife), I may be a bit off on this...

During winter, they stay in the hive and feed off of the honey reserve. As I understand it, they are pretty much inactive, but are aware. In fact the better half says that from her reading, they're actually more aggressive during the cold months. Another bit worthy of knowing is that the hive kicks the drones out when the cold weather comes so as to keep food consumption down.

If I remember, I'll double check with her to verify this info..

 

[volk06]

Originally Posted By: The_Eric
Without the bee keeper close at hand (wife), I may be a bit off on this...

During winter, they stay in the hive and feed off of the honey reserve. As I understand it, they are pretty much inactive, but are aware. In fact the better half says that from her reading, they're actually more aggressive during the cold months. Another bit worthy of knowing is that the hive kicks the drones out when the cold weather comes so as to keep food consumption down.

If I remember, I'll double check with her to verify this info..


Very interesting! So do you guys bottle the honey and sell it?

 

[UNC151]

Originally Posted By: The_Eric
During winter, they stay in the hive and feed off of the honey reserve.

I am almost positive that you are correct on this. I helped a local guy in Louisiana years ago during the summers to collect honey (he sold it too). At the last collection we would take a small percentage of the honey as compared to the other collections and this was to allow the bees to have food for the winter.

I have always wanted to put up a hive or two after working with him that summer in 1980, but time has not allowed thus far. LOL, who knows...I could be that guy in a few years.

 

[The_Eric]

Originally Posted By: volk06
Very interesting! So do you guys bottle the honey and sell it?



I'm not discounting the possibility, but for now, no.

You see, she has wanted a hive for some time now to help increase the (dwindling) bee population around here. Well, as luck would have it, our neighbors received a hive kit from their son as a birthday present. The problem was that they really didn't have the time to tend to them with travel and work. So the better half stepped up to the plate... Even though the bees are technically the neighbors, my wife is the one doing ALL the work.

Now on to the honey. For the first season, we're not going to do anything to ensure the bees have enough for the winter. Next season as the hive grows more established, we may indeed harvest honey. For that size of hive, they should produce 90lbs or more of honey (actually more, but that's about what you can harvest). Knowing this and seeing them in action really gives a whole new meaning to "Busy as a bee"! I know that I'm interested in it, but we'll see.



Originally Posted By: 2010_FX4
Originally Posted By: The_Eric
During winter, they stay in the hive and feed off of the honey reserve.

I am almost positive that you are correct on this. I helped a local guy in Louisiana years ago during the summers to collect honey (he sold it too). At the last collection we would take a small percentage of the honey as compared to the other collections and this was to allow the bees to have food for the winter.

I have always wanted to put up a hive or two after working with him that summer in 1980, but time has not allowed thus far. LOL, who knows...I could be that guy in a few years.


You should. Really it doesn't take much time. The occasional hive inspection, adding water or sugar water and maybe harvesting some honey.



All in all, It's pretty amazing to see the little wee beasties in action. I was pretty skeptical at first, but I'm growing more and more interested. In fact, I'm excited to see what next year brings in the way of honey production.