Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: buzz on January 28, 2005, 06:47:47 pm

Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: buzz on January 28, 2005, 06:47:47 pm
I thought it would be cool to find out how many NEW hives you all are starting this year. I'm starting two (ordering bees tomorrow), which will put me at a total of three hives. How about you???
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: Horns Pure Honey on January 28, 2005, 06:51:52 pm
I was told that I am at least getting 20-35 new hives, I hope more, 50 would be grate. That way if I can get them really strong I can split them into 2 and have 100 next spring. I plan to get at least 50 new ones every spring and keep splitting untill I have at least a 1000. I want to reach this as soon as possible, bye
Title: getting one
Post by: amymcg on January 28, 2005, 07:39:41 pm
I'm getting one, but my brother in law down the road is getting one also, so at least we can compare and/or share brood if necessary. Im hoping for two next year.
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: Finman on January 29, 2005, 07:02:43 am
Quote from: Horns Pure Honey
I was told that I am at least getting 20-35 new hives, I hope more, 50 would be grate. That way if I can get them really strong I can split them into 2 and have 100 next spring. I plan to get at least 50 new ones every spring and keep splitting untill I have at least a 1000. I want to reach this as soon as possible, bye


First you must learn beekeeping skill, but I quess that you daddy knows the skill.

If you start as a new with 20 hives, they will escape to sky.  And probably you have muscles to handle the weight of hives and driving licence to manage alone.

Huge plans you have.

You say :I want to reach this as soon as possible  ... But when are you going to learn beekeeping? The fastes beekeeper I have met was a man who learned it in 3 years.
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: Anonymous on January 29, 2005, 09:38:21 am
8) Our plans are to add 7 new colonies to our holdings.
We plan on buying a bee yard from an older beekeeper who is selling due to poor health. We had talked with him last fall but he said he didn't feel right selling going into winter. Only will sell what colonies make it thru the winter. A fine old gentiman who has forgot more about beekeeping than I will probably ever know.
 :D Al
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: TwT on January 29, 2005, 12:14:59 pm
I'm starting 5 in march and 3 in june, the 3 in june are going to be russians from  http://www.mountain-honey.com/productionqueens.htm
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: Lesli on January 29, 2005, 12:22:25 pm
Quote
If you start as a new with 20 hives, they will escape to sky.


Well, if they do, Ryan can learn a lot about capturing swarms!

It does sound ambitious, but Ryan, if you're will to spend the time, read the books, and learn from others, at worst, you'll make mistakes and lose some colonies. and maybe that's not the worst--we all learn from our mistakes.

I had two colonies last year; I could have handled five, easily.  That's why I'm getting five packages for spring, and I may split my current colony.  And I do have a full time job. What will be time consuming (and expensive...) will be extracting--and finding a good extractor, setting up my extracting "station."

Over the last year, I've learned a lot from the books I've read--including some over 100 years old, from the others in my beekeeping club, and from foums like this one.

I'm fortunate that I live in an area with a long history of beekeeping, and a long history of beekeeping research. For instance, you may sometimes see a bee brush referred to as a "Coggshall brush,"  or see the definitive book on beeswax processing by Coggshall and Morse. Well, the Coggshalls started the first commerical beekeeping in this area about 3 generations ago--and as it happens, I know William Coggshall's daughter!

Roger Morse, who died in 2000, also lived and worked in this area at Cornell University, a stone's throw from where I live.  Cornell University still does quite a bit of research, so I get the low down on local bee info.

While my experience is limited to a year, all of these resources mean that I have a heck of a lot of theoretical knowledge that I can work into my own practices, and test in my own backyard. [/i]
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: golfpsycho on January 29, 2005, 12:44:51 pm
I have ten packages scheduled for mid April, and plan on splitting the 3 I currently have.  Hopefully will get off to a good start as I ended last season with 10 deeps of drawn comb.  Picked up 10 more deeps and frames a couple weeks ago.    I guess I'm expanding.. bahahahahahahaha  This HOBBY is going to pay it's own way if it takes every penny I have!!!
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: Horns Pure Honey on January 29, 2005, 02:43:58 pm
Finman I know more about bees than meets the eye, my family has a VERY long line of bee keepers and we have records of it over 200 years old. I have jurnal entries by my ancestors and have learned from there mistakes. I have baught and read like at least 15 books. And no my dad dosnt know more about bees than me although he is doing a good job catching up. I really dont have to work, so I do have the time to spend 8-12 hours a day with the bees and longer if needed. I get my licesens in 2 weeks and I can lift at least 150 pounds. And for the last 6 months, half darn winter, I have been an apretice to my grandfathers very close friend. I know I can do this and have no doubts in my mind I can handle this. So if something does go wrong it is my fault and I will make up for it but I doubt it will, bye
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: Jay on January 29, 2005, 03:25:04 pm
Quote from: golfpsyco
This HOBBY is going to pay it's own way if it takes every penny I have!!


What is that little rule of thumb, oh yeah, You CAN make a million dollars in beekeeping. The first step is to start with TWO million!! :lol:
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: beemaster on January 29, 2005, 03:30:43 pm
I agree Jay... I read once that Beekeeping is like a burning candle, it give you plenty of en"light"enment while it's burning, but eventually the flame goes out - I guess the best we can do is hope for SLOW BURNING WICKS!!!
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: Horns Pure Honey on January 29, 2005, 03:31:41 pm
:lol:  :lol:  :lol: funny jay.
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: Finman on January 29, 2005, 03:59:22 pm
Quote from: Horns Pure Honey
Finman I know more about bees than meets the eye, my family has a VERY long line of bee keepers and we have records of it over 200 years old.


I think that it might be so becaus your talk was not normal to hobbiest.. Your numbers were so huge.  200 years? We haven't even had bees so long in Finland.  :P
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: Horns Pure Honey on January 29, 2005, 07:48:15 pm
I planned for it only to be a hobby, just like my ancestors. I just plan to go larger and turn it into a company. The mansion that my grandmother owns is over 200 years, it says in the history books that there was a very large walk in observation hive on the third floor. There are still 3 metal tubes sticking out of the bricks for the entrance.
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: golfpsycho on January 29, 2005, 08:20:34 pm
Just a couple words Ryan.  Reading about keeping bees, and actually keeping them, are very different things.  Trach and vorroa mites, small hive beetle and Kassmir disease add a level of difficulty to beekeeping that people have not dealt with in the past.  This doesn't include drought, flooding, dearth, and the myriad of other things that can and do go wrong. The difference between getting 80 to 100 lbs of honey, and feeding that same amount to overwinter succesfully, is a huge wad of cash. Thousands of people that have kept bees in the past have thrown in the towel.  Not all of them were backyard hobby beekeepers.

I hope you do well and succeed

PS.  Can you get pictures of the walk in observation hive?  That interests me.
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: Horns Pure Honey on January 29, 2005, 08:23:58 pm
I will see if I can finde a pic, I am shure the town hall has it on record, I will see if I can find it in the next few weeks or draw it up or something. I will ask my grandma.
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: buzz on January 29, 2005, 09:43:30 pm
Quote from: golfpsycho
Just a couple words Ryan.  Reading about keeping bees, and actually keeping them, are very different things.


Very true. I had my hive swarm in the first month or two last year, which is something that none of the books had talked about.

Are you planing on building your own hives? I know that hives aren't cheap. :lol:
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: Horns Pure Honey on January 29, 2005, 09:46:35 pm
I am buying my first hive in a kit with everything I will need from mann lake. Then we are building every hive after that.
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: golfpsycho on January 29, 2005, 10:05:27 pm
You are getting behind right now.  If you buy the begginer kit, you are overpaying by about 200%.  I realize you probably need a smoker, a veil, but beyond that.. what are you paying for?  Your buddy, or fathers buddy is giving you a bunch of colonys.  I'm guessing they are in a langstroth style hive.  It's time to cut corners. ... split rather than bye.. and it's cheaper to buy hive bodys than to build if you have gainful employment.  Take your colonys.. look for boomers.. and pic a queen to breed from... here we gooooooooooooooooo
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: buzz on January 29, 2005, 10:54:19 pm
I would think it would be alot cheaper to build all of your hives if you have the equipment/know how. They try to suck you in with their "everything you need" kit and charge alot for what you get. Just my .02
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: Anonymous on January 29, 2005, 11:14:53 pm
I'm not so sure building is cheaper than buying.   What is your time worth?  When Im' working, I fugure my time is conservatively worth 30 per hour.  I can get deeps for 0.9.50, frames for .78. I think you can save money on tops and bottoms.  Otherwise, buy the stuff..get if ready.. and get your bees working.. .this is a race... whether you realize it or not.
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: buzz on January 29, 2005, 11:36:29 pm
It would have to be cheaper for a 1000 hive purchase, with the quantity discounts. Just think about it. 1000 hives is 2000 hive bodies. How long would that take you to make?
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: Jerrymac on January 29, 2005, 11:48:50 pm
$30 an hour? Is that what you make while watching TV?

 I figure that any time you are existing and not raking in a buck or two, then that is free time. If one is building their own equipment, and save a buck that way, then you just got paid a buck where other wise you would have made nothing playing games on the computer.
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: ibeecanadian on January 30, 2005, 12:10:43 am
id like 10. thats with splits and mail order.

 i agree with jerrymac. money saved is money earned. besides, i make my own hive boddie's and i enjoy it.
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: Beth Kirkley on January 30, 2005, 01:36:14 am
Oh I totally agree with Jerry.

Your time is only what you make of it.

I always thought it was silly when people made comments like that (I make such and such an hour, so my time is valuble.) Well sure that would be true if you were actually LOSING that money while doing something like building hive bodies. But generally that's not the case. Usually it's done in your leisure time - and whether you make hives or don't - you're income is not changing. You could be watching tv, working out, playing with the kids, cleaning house, or building hives. So I say this.... would you say the same thing about watching tv, that the time used then is worth $30 an hour?

I love the time I use building hives. It's worth a lot to me because it means less out of pocket cash. So my time works out to be what ever is saved. If I save $10 for 5 hours work it's still worth it. I'm certainly not "making" that kind of money watching tv. :) Not only that, but working with wood is a great way to spend leisure time.

Beth
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: buzz on January 30, 2005, 01:56:56 am
If you had the tools and enjoyed making them, then that might be a little cheaper. But, in the time you could make 2000 hive bodies, and probably 2000 supers, you could have done alot of stuff. Does anyone here know how much lumber runs for a hive body?? I would like to know how much cheaper it actually is to build them.
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: Horns Pure Honey on January 30, 2005, 02:30:33 am
I could probly make 20 hives a day or so if I had one more person and worked hard. I already have all the equipment, and enough skill to build them. I will look, If it is cheeper to build my hives and buy my frames I will do it, or cheeper to build my own hives I will spend what I saved on factory frames.
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: Finman on January 30, 2005, 06:20:51 am
Quote from: Horns Pure Honey
I could probly make 20 hives a day or so if I had one more person and worked hard. I already have all the equipment, and enough skill to build them. I will look, If it is cheeper to build my hives and buy my frames I will do it, or cheeper to build my own hives I will spend what I saved on factory frames.



Hey! I make you shedule that you have objects!

20 hives = 6 boxes per hive = 120 boxes, 20 bottoms, 40 covers

in 4-5 places to transformed

10 frames per box = 1200 frames

frame sticks worked 5000 pieces.

1200 foundations smelted in

If you work 10 hours, you have 600 minutes.

If you 4 hours to frames and 4 hours to boxes, you have 2 hours left to another things.

It makes  5000   sticks   14400   sec   1 stick/ 3 sec

You have 12 seconds to make frame from board and wires, eylets and  foundation.  (clue not needed either eylets,)

1200 frames  240 minutes = 5 frames per minute from nothing to ready.

 Are you sure that it is  "job of USA citizen". I would give that job to China, Mexico, Malaysia or somewhere cheap work country.  :shock:

Estonians make to us our frame stick. Their level of wages is 15% from us.
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: Jerrymac on January 30, 2005, 07:58:19 am
I tried not to do this but I can't help myself.

I spend the next ten years building a house. I average four hours per day. 365.25 days X 10 years = 3652.5 days X 4 hours = 14610 hours X $30. per hour = $438,300 for cost of house. (my time)

Now did I waiste $400,000 dollars worth of my time or did I save $40,000 minus cost of materials?  As it equals to a $40,000+ house.
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: Anonymous on January 30, 2005, 09:51:51 am
Starter kits are just that, a kit to get started with. Most all the beekeeping books say for a colony of bee for the first year you need two deeps (9 5/8") two shallows (6 5/8") plus the veil and smoker just for starting a colony and keeping them one year. A hive tool,frame grip and brush are nice to have but other things can be used with out any problems
If you break the needs down then it is cheaper to put together your own starter kit by slecting the things you want in it. :)  I build my own hive bodies. They are not less costly than buying from companies like Kellies, Mann lake or Bushy Mountian. A 1"x12"x8' (You get one deep and have one board left for the second one)at Lowes now sells for about $15.00 give or take a few cents. Buying them from Kellies (I have their catalog on the desk) is $13.00 each if you buy five.
 :) I build my own because I like to use my wood working equipment. It is part of the hobby and pride of building it ones self. Also I don't have to lay out $65.00 at a time to build hives.
 :shock:  I assembled some of the hive bodies that were bought for our club at $9.00 each. Poor quiality wood with knots that were loose and finger joints that wouldn't line up properly. Also finger joints that I had to rework because the dado wasnt as wide as the fingers that were to go into it. I spent as much time assembling them as I do making mine from scratch.

 :D Al
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: NCSteve on January 30, 2005, 09:53:39 am
My friend and I are building 8 complete hives, top to bottom.

 Now we're contractors. We each have a shop with tools, his is bigger.  :?
 We've been building homes for 20 years so our skill level is a lil above average.  :wink:
 

 
Quote
If you had the tools and enjoyed making them, then that might be a little cheaper. But, in the time you could make 2000 hive bodies, and probably 2000 supers, you could have done alot of stuff. Does anyone here know how much lumber runs for a hive body?? I would like to know how much cheaper it actually is to build them.


 Its cost us $0 to build besides nails/staples/ and some electricity.
 And keep in mind anyone can go to a construction site and get scrap plywood and dimensional lumber. Most carpenters dont care a bit as long as you ask them what they dont need/want. Get your wives to ask if you arent a girl. We cant say no to girls. We had a older lady bring us cookies one day to trade for some scrap. We loaded her poor car down.  :shock:

 As far as how much my time costs... It doesnt. If it doesnt take away from my job, why count it? And do what other stuff? Play Xbox? Watch TV? Its winter. Its freakin cold.


 
Quote
 I could probly make 20 hives a day or so if I had one more person and worked hard. I already have all the equipment, and enough skill to build them. I will look, If it is cheeper to build my hives and buy my frames I will do it, or cheeper to build my own hives I will spend what I saved on factory frames.


 Complete hives? Not a chance. Hive bodies, maybe. Im not one to pee in another mans wheaties, but thats a statement I couldnt let slip by.
 Id say to make 4 of each part to get a feeling for the time itll take. If you have to buy the material it wont be that big a pile and youll get an idea of tool setups, and how many different steps it takes per piece.
 And dont worry about the hive bodies. Theyre a snap. As soon as you get your jig set up for dovetails or your router with a rabbeting bit, its done.
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: Anonymous on January 30, 2005, 09:58:19 am
I might also add that there is more to managing 1000 hives than just saying it. How are you gong to harvest the honey? Where are you putting all those colonies, they can't all go in one spot??? How are you going to transport all the equipment and extra bodies and frame you'll need?
It's nice to have a dream/goal but is better to set them with in reason, and a time line for each step.
 :D Al
Title: don't be dreamstealers
Post by: amymcg on January 30, 2005, 10:09:43 am
I know you guys are giving Ryan alot to think about in how to manage the colonies and how to get his equipment, but be careful not to be dream stealers.

Ryan has quite an ambitious dream, and only he can make it happen or not.  If this is what he really wants to do, then I am quite confident he will. Sure, he will make mistakes along the way, like all of us do in any of our endeavours. He might do well right away, or he might struggle, but he has help, and will stick to it.
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: NCSteve on January 30, 2005, 10:12:14 am
Quote
A 1"x12"x8' (You get one deep and have one board left for the second one)at Lowes now sells for about $15.00 give or take a few cents.


 Geebus. A 1x12 white pine/spruce here is $1 per foot. So it really comes down to where you live and what your lumber prices are. And you are right, You always know the quality of what your getting when you make them yourself.
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: Finman on January 30, 2005, 10:23:09 am
When I saterd, I remember when it took me one day to make 24 super boxes, not hives or frames for boxes. And I worked 16 hours per day.

I use  polystyrenic hives for 15 years.  They are light to handle. My sigle wooden boxes are 40 years old. You use sigle whole wood boxes, but thy are heavy,  and during winter they consumes food more than insulated box.

I transport them from my yard during summer , and I perhaps change the honey place twice during summer.  In the middle of summer hives weight about 200 lbs per piece and I just split them for transportation, that I am able to move them. I do job alone. 3 polystyre box drop the total weight about 60 lbs per hive.

When I started to use  polystyrenic  boxes I found that spring development was so fast that hive brought the cost back during first year. Bees were earlier ready to collect honey.  

So you see, it is not merely self made question.

I use self made wooden floor and self made covers. They are easy to make and strong in use.

35 years ago I made my own frame parts. Now it is enough that I put them together. It doest not taste "hobby". If you make one hive, you must put together 60 frames, to wire them and put foundantions. After 40 years it is not nice hobby any more. Just obligatore job.

Every year I must have new box of foundations for every hive. They hinder swarming when you give them to hive during first honey flow.

I have now too many hives. I tried to dimish then at autumn, but I failed.  New nucs were to big to put together.
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: Jerrymac on January 30, 2005, 10:24:24 am
Inventors are dreamers. Just look at what we have because of all those dreamers of the past.
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: NCSteve on January 30, 2005, 10:57:48 am
Quote
I know you guys are giving Ryan alot to think about in how to manage the colonies and how to get his equipment, but be careful not to be dream stealers.


 Ryan should know most of us are old and married so our dreams have already been crushed to dust. :wink:  
 
 But he should realize the truth too. I think the best service any of the older people can give him is to share our experience with him so he can make solid decisions and plan well.

 No ones telling him or anyone else they cant have 1000 hives. Theyre just saying it will probably take longer then he realizes. I hope he gets 2000, I just dont want him to become jaded when it doesnt happen as quickly as he wants.

 Dreams are called dreams for a reason. A solid business plan is what he needs.

 We plan on having quite a few hives also. Why only start with the 4-8 if we could have gotten more our first year? Because its a new venture.
 And Ive learned to keep all new ventures out of my wallet as much as possible.
 That way when the bees attack and kill me my wifes not broke.  :lol:
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: Finman on January 30, 2005, 11:10:06 am
Quote from: Jerrymac
Inventors are dreamers. Just look at what we have because of all those dreamers of the past.


What are you talking?  I am near 58 and I have dreams.

I change hobby when I learn a one. Now my dearest hobby is stock investing.

I have changed my real job four times.

If you mathematics does not work, it is not dreaming  :D

Every summer when I go to my summer cottage,  I have plans 10 times more I can execute.  But it is  my free time place, not free time prison or exhibition of my lacking dreams.  I prefere to jump into car and I go watching woodlands.

In Soviet Union Moscow they had " The Exhibition of National Achievements". I visited there year 1975.  There was a statue of " Hero of Sosialim Work". It was a statue of bull, which have mated with 1648 cows ( I do not remember real figures) . Now the place is flea market.
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: Jerrymac on January 30, 2005, 12:10:22 pm
My comment about dreams was more in reply to what  amymcg wrote. Sorry it landed below your post and caused confusion.
Title: Re: don't be dreamstealers
Post by: buzz on January 30, 2005, 12:53:38 pm
Quote from: amymcg
I know you guys are giving Ryan alot to think about in how to manage the colonies and how to get his equipment, but be careful not to be dream stealers.


I'm not trying to be a dream stealer, I just know that there is more to having 1000 hives than I think he realizes. How does he plan to extract 20,000 frames? How does he plan to uncap all of them?
Title: Re: don't be dreamstealers
Post by: Finman on January 30, 2005, 01:22:45 pm
Quote from: buzz
Quote from: amymcg
having 1000 hives than I think he realizes. How does he plan to extract 20,000 frames? How does he plan to uncap all of them?


When I have a hive, it will have 7 boxes.  If it is bad summer, I extract 6 boxes and it is  60 frames.

If summer is best, I extract supers  2,5 times  and brood box once. The lowest brood box will be not extracted.

supers  4 pieces  2,5 times and  1-2 times brood box. Lets say 120 frames.

It will be  120 000 frames per summer at best, and at lowest 60 000 frames, in my system

If you have 100 yield days, it will be 1200 frame per day and 2,5 frames per minute (8  efficient hours within 12 hours day)

Each frame has 3,5 lbs honey and it is tolally 225 000 kg or 450 000 lbs. You must sell every day 1233 lbs honey out.

From where comes 20 000 frames?

I just calculate real hives because they are ahead next summer.


It keeps busy.

When I nurse bees, I spend 1/2 hour per hive. Professionals said that they spend  15 minutes per 10 hives unit. They were 2 men =30 min.  10 times faster.

During day in Finland one man  spends time  for 100 hives  5 hours + car driving = 10 hours per day. During week 500 hives. 2 men 1000 hives per week.
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: buzz on January 30, 2005, 01:24:41 pm
Maybe it is different where he is, but around here we use two supers, and extract once a year. So that would be 1000x2x10=20,000
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: Horns Pure Honey on January 30, 2005, 01:33:30 pm
I think no matter what age you are you should have dreams. I am only building a hive with 2 supers and 2 frames, not 3 of each for each ive. When I have a slow time in getting bees I will build hives or extra parts as replacements. I can do it, I know I can.
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: Kris^ on January 30, 2005, 02:50:56 pm
Quote from: Anonymous
I'm not so sure building is cheaper than buying.  


I can build a full hive, with a top feeder, for about $20 less than ordering from Mann Lake.  That doesn't include the shipping charges on buying and delivering a built hive, whcih can be as much as $45.  So actually, I save over $60 per hive.

 By far, the greatest cost of building a hive is filling it with frames and foundation.  I've gotten them in quantity from Mann Lake at $1.95 a piece.  Filling a complete hive with 80 frames -- plus the shipping for those frames -- costs about twice what the rest of the hive costs to build.  Buying frames disassembled is only a minor savings.  I've seen much less expensive frames and foundation at Kelly, but wonder what the difference in quality might be between two disparately priced products.

As it is now, I have one active colony and a complete hive setup for a second colony.  I plan to split the existing one in an attempt to make comb honey.  I also have the lumber and frames to build two more complete hives, in which I plan to house two packages I purchased for this coming spring.  I think I can manage 4 hive at a time.  :-(

As for what my time is worth?  I know what I charge clients per hour, and I also know that I rarely bill someone for every hour I'm at work.  I figure as long as nobody is paying me to do something for them, my time is my own -- and my time for myself is priceless.

-- Kris
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: Finman on January 30, 2005, 03:27:56 pm
Quote from: buzz
Maybe it is different where he is, but around here we use two supers, and extract once a year. So that would be 1000x2x10=20,000


One reason is that you leave honey for winter. I my country it would mean that half of yielf will stay in hive. - So we take all off and give sugar for winter.

Another reason may be that density of bees on area is too big, and pastures are overloaded. That is why I move my hives to areas where is no other bees.
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: Horns Pure Honey on January 30, 2005, 03:59:50 pm
Finman, isnt your winter half the year???, My winter is 3 months so I dont think it will be to hard to just let them keep there own honey, if they need sugar I will give it to them. :) Thanks for all the info. :D
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: Finman on January 30, 2005, 04:09:03 pm
Quote from: Horns Pure Honey
Finman, isnt your winter half the year???, My winter is 3 months so I dont think it will be to hard to just let them keep there own honey, if they need sugar I will give it to them. :) Thanks for all the info. :D


We give sugar in late August or in first week of September. Sugar must be sufficient to the end of May.  It makes 9 months. In May they get some honey from willows.

Also in Germany their let bees keep their honey, if quality is poor.
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: Horns Pure Honey on January 30, 2005, 04:16:40 pm
I thought I might possibly let them keep all there honey the first year even if they do have a little surplus for there first year. I dont really expect any the first year so this would be no problem to me, thanks for telling me how you take care of your bees in the winter, bye
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: Lesli on January 30, 2005, 06:16:51 pm
I didn't expect honey my first year, either, but I got some anyway. Be prepared!  :D
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: Horns Pure Honey on January 30, 2005, 07:16:37 pm
Yeah, all the books I read say you wont get any your first year, but I was like that cant be all true. So who ever I talk to says they got a bit and a bit is better than none. As we all know your first years honey is the sweetest honey you'll ever taste becuase it is yours.
Title: New Hive Questions
Post by: fiveson on January 30, 2005, 09:29:19 pm
I have to ask -  Ryan how old are you. You seem like a super nice young man?. Also I love your 'bye' at the end of your posts.

I am putting in one new hive - and resusitating (restartingf) my original this spring so I count that as two.

Questions (always questions):

I read somewhere (was it Finman?) someone wrote that if you do the math - the extra honey you get by not overwintering and leaving an extra super and just buying packages in Spring - works out better $ and easier. So I am wondering why do we bother to try? Cretainly it would make requeening easier.

Also - I have seen plans for hives that always include some kind of 'locking' joints - then nails and glue. Is there a reason one couldnt skip the woodworking challenge of the locking end joints - and just glue - use nails and or screws - and external 90 degree bracing via angle braces? Wouldnt that be strong enough?

Rob
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: Lesli on January 30, 2005, 10:32:56 pm
:D

My girls made almost two full supers, though they were hived June 23. So it can happen!
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: Horns Pure Honey on January 30, 2005, 10:43:19 pm
I am 16 fiveson, thanks for liking my bye, lol. bye
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: golfpsycho on January 30, 2005, 10:54:06 pm
Yep.. that tv watching is a tough gig.. but one I'm well suited for.. bahahahahahah

I think building your own stuff is great, if that's what you want to do.  20 years ago, thats what I would have done.  But now, I would rather let someone else do it so I don't cut off any of my fingers hurrying to get the last cuts made.   I just think Ryan is young, and seems intelligent, and because of that.. his earning potential probably surpasses many of us.  He doesn't have to do it all tomorrow.  He can take some time, build up a sideline operation, and grow it into a career if that's what he wants.

I talked to a beekeeper that sent 475 colonys to work the almonds this year.   as he does every year.  The almond pollination isn't over yet, and he has lost 200 of his colonys to the mites and the virii they carry.  He treated with oxalic in October.  Now might not be the time to jump in with both feet.
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: Horns Pure Honey on January 30, 2005, 11:04:18 pm
Well I know none of you know this, John might, I am very interested in 2 other building projects other than bee hives. I am building a 1970's teardrop camper and plan on starting a 30 foot long sail boat soon. I think I can handle it, lol, bye
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: Finman on January 31, 2005, 05:34:58 am
Quote from: Horns Pure Honey
Yeah, all the books I read say you wont get any your first year, but I was like that cant be all true. So who ever I talk to says they got a bit and a bit is better than none. As we all know your first years honey is the sweetest honey you'll ever taste becuase it is yours.


2 years ago it was disarster winter for large area for bees: Finland, germany, Sweden.

I lost  60% of my hives.  Then I take into use all  my knowledge I could. Also I started to heat my hives with  terrarium heaters.

I had 5 fist size colonies at the beginning of August.  We named them "Coffee Cup Colonies" in Finnish forum.

I give pollen to all hives at spring, and when large ones got hatching brood, I gived frames to Cup Colonies. At the beginning of June all Coffee Cups had one box full of larvas.  

Summer was late 2 weeks  Cup Colonies developed marvellously. When turnip rape began to bloom in the middle of July, I put 4 coffee cup hives to area, where were 30 hectars blooming turnip ripe. Almouust 10 hectars per hive. I formulated normal hives from my yard.

They brought honey medium yield  180 lbs per hive.  The best, which was 5 frame hive in August, it brought  300 lbs.  It was 9 box tower.

Last spring I made same system, and it was a great succes.

The truth is, that a little colony will not rise bigg enough with it's own aid,  but you can make a lot of tricks that you use the power of queen's egg laying.

It needs time that colony has a balance within home bees and gathering bees. So you can put together  boxes full of larvas and the hive, which have no brood because of swarming. Together those are good unit.

You can take from bigg hive whole box of bees and you give it to weak colony. So it gets it own living like a swarm. An many more....

DON'T BE sentimental with your bees!


You know that swarms collect honey well, because at first they have no brood.
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: Rich V on January 31, 2005, 11:20:08 am
Go for it Ryan, Aim High!

Rich V.
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: buzz on January 31, 2005, 02:09:13 pm
Well, as I said before, my hive swarmed a month or two after I got them, so I didn't even get a full super. I did get 2 frames, which will last through the summer for me.
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: Finman on January 31, 2005, 03:01:43 pm
Quote from: buzz
Well, as I said before, my hive swarmed a month or two after I got them, so I didn't even get a full super. I did get 2 frames, which will last through the summer for me.


As I have met new beekeepers, they unsucceed for swarming, because they have no experience, what bees are going to do next, and how beekeeper  leads bees' intentions.  When little hive is full of honey, it swarms without any warning.  Even fist size mating colony swarms and queen escapes.

Did I understood that hive was 2 frames? . It is a size, which is not able to develope anywhere.   When I started my beekeeping, I bought tens of swarms. I put them together to 8 lbs colonies, so colony occupied 1,5 langstroth boxes.  I saw, that in is the way every 1 kg ( 2 lbs) bees brought 10 kg (20 lbs)  honey.

If you put only 4 lbs swarm in the box, I got honey at all.  But with 8 lbs I got  80 - 100 lbs honey during first summer! So I got my money back during first year.

That is the way I collect my hives to great hives when honey flow begans.

But I must confess , that before I was able to do that, I have tryed 3-4 years before I understood the idea. On that time experienced beekeepers kept 2-box hives. One brood and another super.

Soon I met one of the best beekeeper in Finland. He has been a forest worker in Canada and he had booked 2 bee magazine from USA to Finland.  He teached me tricks.

And my Coffee Cup Colonies, I did it ater 40 years experience. But I did it, and I proudly to all, that it is possible. Nobody believe me, mut it is not my head ache.

As we say, nobody is blacksmith when he borns.

That my teacher, he got breeding queens from Canada, and he smuggled breeding queens from Sovjet Caucasia to Canada via Mexico. - 35 years ago!  The race was Caucasian bee.
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: buzz on January 31, 2005, 03:51:47 pm
Quote from: Finman

Did I understood that hive was 2 frames? . It is a size, which is not able to develope anywhere.


It is a full size langstroth hive, the reason I got two frames is because that is all they filled up in the super. Part of that was because I had an excluder on also.
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: BigRog on January 31, 2005, 05:55:54 pm
Ryan
Go for it. But be prepared to have it take a little more time to get to your goals.
If you are going to be building all those hives you're going to need a table saw a jig for your joints, a couple of glueing bottles and the space to put them up once they are drying. I would also rccomend a air nailer.

Please also be careful a table saw is a great place to change the configuration of your hand - forever. It's easy, when doing a lot of cutting to have a momentary lapse that you will be reminded of forever.
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: Horns Pure Honey on January 31, 2005, 06:18:06 pm
Thanks all for the support. When my mom and dad got devorced I was given one of the sheds that is 40x60. It is fully stocked with at least 2 of each tool and that is why I have no problem building things. I have the sapce and the equipment and money for all the wood is no problem which is quite nice. I am VERY careful around the saws becuase I dont want to get cut or even worse loose a finger or so. The tear and the sailboat dont have to be finished so quickly, I think I am going to finish the tear in the next  few months and start on the sail boat. My dad can get the stuff for the bees and I can make shure it is all put together right and in the right spot. Right now I am focused on finishing the tear, might even get it done real soon. bye
Title: Ryan Be Careful!!
Post by: fiveson on January 31, 2005, 08:47:30 pm
When I was 13 my best friend lived next door. His dad decided to build a sailboat - a ferro cement boat (cement on chicken wire for the hull - super strong).  He works on this thing all the time for about two years. Then it was ready.

I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP

It was then that he realized that this thing would not fit to get out of his yard. He ended up having to level the garage entirely to get it out! We all stood there just shaking our heads.

Now I know you wont do that - but it is somethig to think about young man!

Rob
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: Horns Pure Honey on January 31, 2005, 11:59:51 pm
Well I am not doing a cement boat, I am doing marine plywood and fiberglass. I am not worried about getting out of the shed due to the doors are 20 feet tall. I am also not worried about the normal problems of getting the finished boat on a trailer, we own a 15 ton limit crane, as I said earlier, we have a car company so we have wierd but fun equipment to mess around with. bye
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: pardee on February 02, 2005, 03:24:18 pm
I plan on starting eight hives this year and will mentor a couple of young men that want to take up beekeeping, they are 15 and 17 years old and have had a passion for beekeeping I hope to have an impact on the next generation.
Title: How many new hives are you starting this year???
Post by: Anonymous on February 02, 2005, 09:31:49 pm
Excellent Pardee. I attend two different beekeepers clubs and the avrage age at both is in the 60's.
Although the seven pond club is real close to being in the 40's.
 :D Al