Author Topic: My first hive (Read 9631 times)

JB · « **on:** March 11, 2008, 08:50:04 pm »

Hello everyone,
Like I mentioned on the welcome page this will be my first year with my very own hive! Now that I have the equipment built it is time to start beelining. I live in a suburban area between San Antonio and Austin so only time will tell if this is actually going to work for me. If not I will be stuck waiting for a swarm to move in. I plan on posting pictures so those of you that are interested can come along. Well first things first lets attract some bees!! I have a jar of my grandfathers honey that I am using as bait. I mixed a little with some water and put it on a plate in the back yard. It did not take long before I had a few visitors. I plan to give them a few days before setting out to find the hive. This way I have plenty of bees to follow. Wish me luck!! -JB

Kathyp · « **Reply #1 on:** March 11, 2008, 09:49:59 pm »

you might read up on hive removal. you'll find lots of stuff on here with pictures. put an add on craigslist.com, or list with your fire department, bee store, etc. that way, you may be able to do some simple removals and get some bees.

some people charge. i don't have the experience to feel comfortable doing that and i am only doing out buildings, and swarms. no houses, etc. you might be surprised how many people have bees in the barn wall and want them removed.

Jerrymac · « **Reply #2 on:** March 11, 2008, 10:35:52 pm »

You can of course add your name to the Beemaster map so people can find you and call.

http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php?topic=8337.0

Then I have gotten calls (from people in your area) from these locations.

http://www.ebeehoney.com/swarmremovalmap.html
http://www.honeyrunapiaries.com/
http://www.beecare.com/indexDynFrames.htm?http://www.beecare.com/Navigation/BBoard/SwarmList.htm&1

JB · « **Reply #3 on:** March 12, 2008, 05:08:53 pm »

Thanks for the tips. I am going to try beelining first and see what happens. If I can't find a hive you can bet the whole town will know I am looking for bees! Thanks again- JB

Moonshae · « **Reply #4 on:** March 12, 2008, 08:31:17 pm »

Those are some great pictures!

Jerrymac · « **Reply #5 on:** March 12, 2008, 08:33:59 pm »

About those pictures..... Were you hiding in the bowl of syrup?

jimmy_in_texas · « **Reply #6 on:** March 12, 2008, 10:44:29 pm »

In your area you'd best be prepared in case you do find a feral hive,
they just might turn out to be AHB, they potentially could find you before you find them if you get in the hives defensive zone.
not trying to scare you, but you never know.

Good luck and stay safe but a package sure is easy and you get a good queen too,

JB

JB · « **Reply #7 on:** March 13, 2008, 12:03:51 am »

Moonshae- Thanks I enjoy taking pictures of them as much as working with them!

Jerrymac- Sure looks that way. I was trying out the zoom lens and was about three feet away.

Jimmy- Thanks for the word of caution. I have already arranged for testing if I manage to find a hive. Unless they find me first. Then I guess there is no need for anymore testing.

steveouk · « **Reply #8 on:** March 13, 2008, 12:06:56 am »

JB those pictures are awesome ! Well done and good luck with your hive !

Cindi · « **Reply #9 on:** March 13, 2008, 12:10:35 am »

JB, you got some pretty cool pictures going on there. Nice. Good luck with your beelining, have a wonderful and beautiful day, Cindi

JB · « **Reply #10 on:** March 13, 2008, 03:22:28 pm »

Steveouk, Cindi- Thanks with any luck I will get out this weekend to see If I can find the hive. I will have my camera with me just in case!

JordanM · « **Reply #11 on:** March 13, 2008, 08:34:08 pm »

How do you plan on following the bees back to there hive. They fly pretty fast and can get pretty hard to see and follow.

JB · « **Reply #12 on:** March 13, 2008, 10:22:30 pm »

JordanM- I am lucky enough to have a grandfather to show me how to beeline. Rather than type the lesson I got from him ( would take forever) you can get a pretty good idea of how its done by doing a forum search for "beelining".

JB · « **Reply #13 on:** March 15, 2008, 04:59:52 pm »

I was able to mark a few bees this morning and time them to get an idea just how far I would have to walk. I was surprised to find the bees were much closer than I had thought. So with bees in tow I headed over to the end of the street about 300 yds and released a few bees and waited. The released bees flew in a straight line toward a wooded lot about 500 yds away. I moved to the edge of the woodline and released a few more bees and waited. In a few minutes I had plenty of bees to follow so I put the honey down and started to follow the flight line. I made it about 40yds into the trees and there they were.

bassman1977 · « **Reply #14 on:** March 15, 2008, 05:54:03 pm »

Wow! Doesn't seem like there was much effort at all.

Cindi · « **Reply #15 on:** March 15, 2008, 09:09:23 pm »

JB, now isn't that just the cat's meow!! Wow, how impressive. You were really lucky to have been able to follow them, I can't wait to see the pictures. You have to tell us more about this thing, it is going to be a really cool story to hear about. I can bet your bottom dollar you are going to get a whole bunch of people interested in this beelining thing, it is cool. Have a great and wonderfully awesome day, Cindi

Kimbrell · « **Reply #16 on:** March 15, 2008, 10:52:46 pm »

Fascinating! I had heard of beelining before, but never had thought about the actual practice. Congratulations on your success! Beautiful pictures, too.

JB · « **Reply #17 on:** March 15, 2008, 11:19:31 pm »

Sorry the pictures are not that great but I didnt have any gear on and was afraid they might be african. Tomorrow I will get a sample and send it off to be tested on Monday. The land that the tree is on will be cleared for construction some time next month. If the test comes back negative my grandfather is going to come down from E Texas to help with the cutout. This has really been fun so far and I am glad I tried this out. I will keep you posted. Thanks, JB

asciibaron · « **Reply #18 on:** March 16, 2008, 01:13:09 am »

I sure hope the test come back negative - saving the colony from the bulldozers is a great thing, but being able to foster and grow the hive is the ultimate statement. Can't wait for the cutout pictures...

-Steve

Brian D. Bray · « **Reply #19 on:** March 16, 2008, 01:49:25 am »

Build an x out of a few boards to hold the one end up and cut if off at the ground. You can start moving it towards your place. Personally I wouldn't wait for the test to come back before doing the cut out. You can always requeen an AHB hive.

bassman1977 · « **Reply #20 on:** March 16, 2008, 02:00:31 am »

Yeah, go get that sucker! :lol:

JB · « **Reply #21 on:** March 17, 2008, 10:59:57 pm »

I put out a plate of honey and waited for them to really start flying before going to the tree to get a sample. They were very calm and did not pay any attention to me. I should hear one way or the other in a few days.

JB · « **Reply #22 on:** March 20, 2008, 06:26:04 pm »

Well bad news, The test came back positive. I would do a cutout and requeen but I dont have anywhere to keep them while they are hot. Since the hive is going to be in the way of construction I am going to have to report it to the city. I really dont want to see any of the construction workers get hurt. I am going to see if I can find another hive but if the results come back the same I will be buying some bees :-\

Ericnwicklow · « **Reply #23 on:** March 20, 2008, 07:25:43 pm »

hello Jb

First of all the pictures are fantastic ,great shots keep them coming i have had my hives a couple of years now and i have been lucky so far a couple of swarms last year ,i gave one swarm to the neighbour who wanted to keep bees a long time so we are both learning together its great fun and really does capture something within theres something special about those bees you know.
Anyway what i was going to say was find out about local beekeepers if there are any nearby ,thats where my first bees came from ,i was give n a nuc from a beekeeper in the association i joined and i have enjoyed my days beekeeping so much since.
Good luck and will keep a look out for your photos and progress.

Regards Eric.

Jerrymac · « **Reply #24 on:** March 20, 2008, 11:50:19 pm »

Was it an actual DNA test or just the FABIS measuring test?

bassman1977 · « **Reply #25 on:** March 20, 2008, 11:56:03 pm »

Quote

I would do a cutout and requeen but I dont have anywhere to keep them while they are hot.

How long does it take for their temperment to come down? Does the generation of bees raised by the africanized queen have to die off and be replaced by the new queen in order to notice a difference? I haven't had to requeen due to temperment.

JB · « **Reply #26 on:** March 21, 2008, 10:59:40 am »

Jerrymac- I dont know what test they use at TAMU but it is probably the FABIS test. After talking with the state inspector last night I am having second thoughts about even trying to keep bees in this area.

Jerrymac · « **Reply #27 on:** March 21, 2008, 11:54:10 am »

Here is the problem I believe exist with the FABIS test. It measures the bee. It is believed that the AHB is smaller than the EHB. But if European bees are out in the wild long enough building their own comb they will become smaller. The foundation used for the past 100 +/- years has artificially enlarged the bees. They go back to building smaller cells (regressing) if left with no artificially made
foundation. Smaller brood cells = smaller bees = FABIS test wrong.

So if they have been testing a bunch of feral hive only with measurements then perhaps there are not as many AHBs as they think they are. If you can go to this hive and start messing with them and they don't cover you up the go for it. I live in AHB area also and have done cut outs. I have not seen anything near what is claimed AHB do.

Ross · « **Reply #28 on:** March 21, 2008, 12:55:36 pm »

The real test is the attitude of the bees. Whether they have AHB genes or pure European, they can both be extremely hot at times. I wouldn't be afraid to cut into them wearing a suit a gloves and see what they do. Just standing in front of the hive is enough if they are truly hot AHB.

Michael Bush · « **Reply #29 on:** March 21, 2008, 07:14:50 pm »

If you want my opinion (and for that matter the opinion of Marla Spivak) I'd go by temperament.

http://orton.catie.ac.cr/cgi-bin/wxis.exe/?IsisScript=OET.xis&method=post&formato=2&cantidad=1&expresion=mfn=010125
http://orton.catie.ac.cr/cgi-bin/wxis.exe/?IsisScript=OET.xis&method=post&formato=2&cantidad=1&expresion=mfn=018195

Besides, the "holy grail" of bee breeding should be to find good, nice, productive AHB. They can survive and flourish well enough to displace EHB, and there are only a few traits standing between them and good productive bees.

JB · « **Reply #30 on:** March 21, 2008, 09:59:33 pm »

I agree with everything that has been said. If I had a place that was out of the way to keep them I would not have a problem working a hot hive. Since the hive is going to be in the back yard I need bees that are very calm. I also need bees that will pass state inspection (which I found out happens to use the FABIS test). Should one of the neighbors get stung and try to take me to court I need to have all the paperwork in order to show the bees are without a doubt EHB. Right now I am asking myself if its worth all the trouble to try and keep bees in the backyard? What would you do?

bassman1977 · « **Reply #31 on:** March 21, 2008, 10:35:59 pm »

Quote

What would you do?

Heh...me....I would go get that hive and requeen the sucker.

I'm curious, how far away are your neighbors? How far would the hive be from the majority of the people traffic. Did you have any issues when you went and took their picture?

If worst came to worst with the african hive. Get a good italian hive and don't let AHB deter you from beekeeping.

JB · « **Reply #32 on:** March 21, 2008, 11:51:21 pm »

Bassman- I had no problems taking the pictures or getting the sample of bees(holding a mason jar over the entrance). My back yard is about 50yds wide by 25yds deep with a 5ft wooden fence between the houses. So anyway you cut it the traffic around the hive will be about 25yds.

bassman1977 · « **Reply #33 on:** March 22, 2008, 01:18:01 am »

Quote

Bassman- I had no problems taking the pictures or getting the sample of bees(holding a mason jar over the entrance). My back yard is about 50yds wide by 25yds deep with a 5ft wooden fence between the houses. So anyway you cut it the traffic around the hive will be about 25yds.

Ah ok. I was just curious if you were in a farm or backwoods type area, you would probably be fine. Having no experience with AHBs, I would be curious to know what some of the others in the forum would think about the distance you mentioned...especially after a requeening.