The reason I thought I would space them out several hundred yard was souly to avoid drifting. I have talked to most of the area people in the industry and they have given me different oppinions.
10 different beekeepers 10 different answers.
Drifting can be beneficial to a weak hive or a nuc if placed next to a strong hive.
One migratory beek offered nuc's and drawn foundation.
Nucs with drawn foundation are good. Easier than a package not quite as good as a fully established hive.
Another said that if I got anything from him I should get something in writing saying there will be no AFB.
No beekeeper can tell you you will never have AFB. They can tell you they have done everything they should to protect against it. But you can buy a tire with all the warrenties in the wrold and still get a flat. No beekeeper I know will give you something in writing saying his hive is AFB proof and if he does he is an moron. Every hive has a few AFB spores. The difference is that a healthy hive isn't affected by them. AFB tends to get hold when a hive has health issues. Your intestines have E Coli bacteria. They don't present a problem unless it gets outside of your intestines. That is usually due to a health issue. A healthy hive is still the best defense against most things out there.
Another offered alot of advise but his neighbor told me not to trust him. This neighbor was the one that told me to never vistit others apiaries or allow other beeks to enter mine.
This advice you have been given borders on some of the most ridiculous I have ever heard.
This comes from old style beekeepers trying to keep "trade secrets." Beekeeping is in decline. We need to do what we can to promote it. You want to be a good beekeeper see as many beekeepers as you can gain an idea as to what they do and then customize it to work for you. Trust the beekeepers you feel comfortable with. Sounds like you have a group that does more gossip than a sewing circle.
Another with many hives told me he has mite problems but treats for them with method that he would show me. I told another of this method and he said " He cant do that its not approved" I got to say if I listen to them all my hobby would be limited to staying in the house watching feral bees from the safty of my livingroom. If I do start out with only new foundation verses drawn out how much time will it set them back
Mites and chemical treatments are a fun topic. Down here in Florida they are basically now stating to say certain chemicals are no longer effective or to dangerous to use in the hive but others are fine. I will throw you one more curve ball. I use no chemicals. have next to no mites. That will cause your sewing circle to have siezures. My opinion on this (and soley mine) is you should be a beekeeper and not a pest control operator. <--- See comment on 10 different beekeepers, that is number 11. :)
Drawn comb is a nice way for bees to start all they have to is start filling cells with brood, pollen , and honey. Gives them a bit of a head start. With Foundation they have to draw their own comb that takes a bit longer. And you will need to supplement their diests a bit longer. Drawbacks are if you don't know where the comb came from you can't be 100% sure as to it's health state. However I will be one of the first to tell you if a hive is weak to throw in a frame of brood from another hive to help it along. Seems kinda contradictory, but beekeeping is like that. Lots of rules and even more exceptions to the rules.
A small note. Information on beekeeping when you are starting can cause your brian to melt. Stress headaches, information overload, contradictions, 6 million different methods which one is right for me, all can raise one's blood pressure. And then beekeeping stops being fun. Unless you are in business with beekeeping keep it fun. Don't get upset over the mistakes. Laugh at the swollen lip when you get stung. And when the family imitates you dancing around because your bees are having a bad day, laugh with them it's funny. And then tell them they get no honey. :)
I have been to several of the memebers beehives on this board. members here have traveled far and wide and meet others on this board. Several of us have consumed quite a bit of alchool telling our beekeeping stories in person. Maybe if there were tons of beekeepers and the price of honey was .50 cents a pound it might be different tale. But in the meantime I have blender with frozen margaritas and almost 80F/26C weather. And my beekeeping stories get better the more I drink. ;)
Sincerely,
Brendhan
Topic: following everthing by the book (Read 3822 times)