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Mann Lake sells kits for comb honey, which is what you are talking about.
Here's one Mann lake I honestly don't see what the attraction is. |
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Quoted: Mann Lake sells kits for comb honey, which is what you are talking about. Here's one Mann lake I honestly don't see what the attraction is. I like it. My grandfather/dad had about 40 hives on clover and as a kid, chewing comb was awesome. |
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Quoted: http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f308/justsomeguylookin/IMG_1149.jpg My first hive got populated Saturday. Today I went in to make sure the queen was out, she is. This was hanging from the top cover. They are really working in there. I can't believe how interesting this is. New hives make those paddle-shaped combs at first. Make sure you have enough frames in to minimize those burr combs (as much as possible if you are feeding inside a hive body). You'll want to put those back in and let them clean the nectar/sugar water out. That will save them work. |
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Thanks CWO
The hive section is full of frames, except that there's a feeder in there that takes up two spaces. I didn't shove the comb back in, because I would have probably killed some of the bees. They were everywhere. I stuck a pollen patty in on top of the frames for them, hope that was the right way to do it. |
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Quoted: Thanks CWO The hive section is full of frames, except that there's a feeder in there that takes up two spaces. I didn't shove the comb back in, because I would have probably killed some of the bees. They were everywhere. I stuck a pollen patty in on top of the frames for them, hope that was the right way to do it. Thats good. It may deter the burr comb over the open space. My swarm hive built a shocking large ball of comb in 3 days next to an inside feeder. I try to scrape them out frequently to keep them focused on comb building on frames. |
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Mann Lake sells kits for comb honey, which is what you are talking about. Here's one Mann lake I honestly don't see what the attraction is. You've never chewed honeycomb, I'm guessing. 
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http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f308/justsomeguylookin/IMG_1149.jpg My first hive got populated Saturday. Today I went in to make sure the queen was out, she is. This was hanging from the top cover. They are really working in there. I can't believe how interesting this is. You will never be bored keeping bees. Never. |
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Quoted: Quoted: http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f308/justsomeguylookin/IMG_1149.jpg My first hive got populated Saturday. Today I went in to make sure the queen was out, she is. This was hanging from the top cover. They are really working in there. I can't believe how interesting this is. You will never be bored keeping bees. Never. Reminds me of when I was a kid. I have a love affair with IBC Rootbeer (comes in what looks like a beer bottle). I was working in the garden which was maybe 50y from the hives for a few hours with dad. I set my opened rootbeer down and when I went to take a swig of it later on I ended up spitting out 4 or one million bees in a stream like watermellon seeds. Lesson learned  |
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I've had 3 hives for a week now. I opened them up yesterday to see what was going on inside. I pulled out the feeders they had and replaced it with a frame with wax foundation. 2 of the feeders were full of bees. I sat them next to the entrance and they finally filed out of the feeders and back into the hive. I pulled out the frame next to the feeder and it was about 25% full of nectar. I added a deep super to each hive and replaced the top.
2 of the hives were really tame about being opened up. They pretty much didn't care. The last one, was different. I think they were having a bad hair day. I had lots of bees flying around, and running into me. They didn't seem all that happy. I didn't get stung, but they certainly were different from the first 2. The tallow trees are blooming now, and where I live, there's about 600 acres of them next to me. I noticed a lot of the bees returning to the hive had both pollen sacs filled with a dark orange pollen. |
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Quoted: I've had 3 hives for a week now. I opened them up yesterday to see what was going on inside. I pulled out the feeders they had and replaced it with a frame with wax foundation. 2 of the feeders were full of bees. I sat them next to the entrance and they finally filed out of the feeders and back into the hive. I pulled out the frame next to the feeder and it was about 25% full of nectar. I added a deep super to each hive and replaced the top. 2 of the hives were really tame about being opened up. They pretty much didn't care. The last one, was different. I think they were having a bad hair day. I had lots of bees flying around, and running into me. They didn't seem all that happy. I didn't get stung, but they certainly were different from the first 2. The tallow trees are blooming now, and where I live, there's about 600 acres of them next to me. I noticed a lot of the bees returning to the hive had both pollen sacs filled with a dark orange pollen. Hives can take a few weeks to settle in. During that time - they can be a little cranky when you are close to the hive. Try to avoid standing in front of the entrance (although IME they can be cranky 360 degrees of the the hive). They should settle in and be a little quieter in time. |
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I went in for the second time on Saturday, just to make sure the feeder was full. I filled it, and had a look around.
I had another super with me just in case, but they weren't ready. I'll leave them alone for another week, and then sneak a peek. The lilacs are blooming close to the hive. I hope it reflects in the Honey some day. |
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We had to start over this year with our two hives. I starved last years to death.
My 11yr old and I drove up to Hackensack to pick up our new bees at Mann Lake on Saturday. We put them in there new home yesterday. I feel fortunate that I can drive there in just over two hours. I'm sorry I didn't take any pictures while I was there. It was a little busy, with everybody getting their bees. One of the nice things about going there on the pickup day is their bargain cave. I picked up an extra suit hat and gloves for half price. The other thing I liked was the show room. It's basically a small area with all of there catalog items on display. I'll be in that area of MN around the fourth of July. I'll see if I can get a tour and take some pics to post here. |
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Quoted:
I've had 3 hives for a week now. I opened them up yesterday to see what was going on inside. I pulled out the feeders they had and replaced it with a frame with wax foundation. 2 of the feeders were full of bees. I sat them next to the entrance and they finally filed out of the feeders and back into the hive. I pulled out the frame next to the feeder and it was about 25% full of nectar. I added a deep super to each hive and replaced the top. 2 of the hives were really tame about being opened up. They pretty much didn't care. The last one, was different. I think they were having a bad hair day. I had lots of bees flying around, and running into me. They didn't seem all that happy. I didn't get stung, but they certainly were different from the first 2. The tallow trees are blooming now, and where I live, there's about 600 acres of them next to me. I noticed a lot of the bees returning to the hive had both pollen sacs filled with a dark orange pollen. Hives have personalities. I've had a couple of old beekeepers tell me that their "meanest" hives were their best produces. I can't back that up as I don't have the years of experience. I won't put up wtih mean bees, while some beekeepers are much more tolerant. NOT saying that third hive is mean. Probably just settling in as CWO suggested. That said, if you have two wonderful, gentle hives that also produce well, and one consistently bitchy hive, the way to address that (should you choose to do so) is to requeen the bitchy hive. You're WAY too early in the game to consider this. But a year or two from now, if the hive is actually a mean hive, you can change that. Within two months, you'll have, pretty much, a new hive of bees, with the new queen's genetics. |
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Posted by Gun-Crank
We had to start over this year with our two hives. I starved last years to death.
My 11yr old and I drove up to Hackensack to pick up our new bees at Mann Lake on Saturday. We put them in there new home yesterday. I feel fortunate that I can drive there in just over two hours. I'm sorry I didn't take any pictures while I was there. It was a little busy, with everybody getting their bees. One of the nice things about going there on the pickup day is their bargain cave. I picked up an extra suit hat and gloves for half price. The other thing I liked was the show room. It's basically a small area with all of there catalog items on display. I'll be in that area of MN around the fourth of July. I'll see if I can get a tour and take some pics to post here. Busy time of year. I'm sure that whenever you get around to taking pics, they'll be appreciated here.
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My 9 yr old just asked me today if we could start beekeeping. I told him I'd look into in on the internet and guess where the best info is.
This is truly a worthwhile site. Thanks OP. It's worth it to read through this whole thread. And there is nothing better than having your kid ask to start a project that will be years of learning for the two of you. Do it. But your local beekeepers associations/clubs are the best resource you can get. And cheap. |
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My 9 yr old just asked me today if we could start beekeeping. I told him I'd look into in on the internet and guess where the best info is.
This is truly a worthwhile site. Thanks OP. It's worth it to read through this whole thread. And there is nothing better than having your kid ask to start a project that will be years of learning for the two of you. Do it. But your local beekeepers associations/clubs are the best resource you can get. And cheap. Already sent them an email and am reading through this thread and then the other. Thanks for the great info. |
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My 9 yr old just asked me today if we could start beekeeping. I told him I'd look into in on the internet and guess where the best info is.
This is truly a worthwhile site. Thanks OP. It's worth it to read through this whole thread. And there is nothing better than having your kid ask to start a project that will be years of learning for the two of you. Do it. But your local beekeepers associations/clubs are the best resource you can get. And cheap. Already sent them an email and am reading through this thread and then the other. Thanks for the great info. You will be glad you tried it. How did your kid come to ask about this? ETA: Beesource is a good internet resource, but it's a lot of drama to get to the really good info. Local sources are better. |
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My 9 yr old just asked me today if we could start beekeeping. I told him I'd look into in on the internet and guess where the best info is.
This is truly a worthwhile site. Thanks OP. It's worth it to read through this whole thread. And there is nothing better than having your kid ask to start a project that will be years of learning for the two of you. Do it. But your local beekeepers associations/clubs are the best resource you can get. And cheap. Already sent them an email and am reading through this thread and then the other. Thanks for the great info. You will be glad you tried it. How did your kid come to ask about this? He's 9....I have no idea where he came up with it. 
He's kind of a survivalist type kid. Very interested in the outdoors and everything a boy should be. We're starting a vineyard and I think he heard something about bees helping to pollinate crops. He asked me if bees would help the grapes and I told him that they were really important in the polination of all flowering plants. He then told me that he'd like to start raising bees and that he could sell the honey.  I have no problem funding a young entrepreneur.
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The beekeeping group I belong to has a kids program. If you go through/graduate the kids program, they give you a stocked hive. Oh that's a GREAT idea. I may suggest that to our local bee associations. We donate hives to kids all the time, but I like this "program graduation" requirement. |
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The program last almost all year. It includes lectures, class time, and lots of excursions into the bee yard. When they get through it, they know their way around a hive.
We went to the club meeting a couple of nights ago, and teh kids got their bee suits. They were pretty happy. This weekend they are going to get to use them. |
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Just a routine photo update of the hives on a warm May day. As you can see - the big hive (about 6') has bees on the outside to improve air circulation inside the hive. The swarm I collected a month ago is on the far left. http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Eyesofsilver/Beekeeping/2012/IMG_5766.jpg http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Eyesofsilver/Beekeeping/2012/IMG_5767.jpg CWO what are your daytime temps? We're approaching 100. Which is actually normal. We always have a spike in late May about Memorial Day. A friend of mine from Louisville, who makes an annual trek to southern KY for a festival I also attend, said last year, "It's a hundred degrees. It must be time for Glasgow." She meant the Glasgow Highland Games, which are held the weekend after Memorial Day each year in Glasgow, Ky. It's always blistering hot, humid, and we always have thunderstorms. Sometimes severe. HOT BEES!
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Quoted: Quoted: Just a routine photo update of the hives on a warm May day. As you can see - the big hive (about 6') has bees on the outside to improve air circulation inside the hive. The swarm I collected a month ago is on the far left. CWO what are your daytime temps? We're approaching 100. Which is actually normal. We always have a spike in late May about Memorial Day. A friend of mine from Louisville, who makes an annual trek to southern KY for a festival I also attend, said last year, "It's a hundred degrees. It must be time for Glasgow." She meant the Glasgow Highland Games, which are held the weekend after Memorial Day each year in Glasgow, Ky. It's always blistering hot, humid, and we always have thunderstorms. Sometimes severe. HOT BEES! Temps were about 92F - with about 85% humidity. It was sauna-like yesterday...not unusual for the area. I put an Imrie shim on the big hive to help with air circulation and removed the plug. You can see the hole. |
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Just a routine photo update of the hives on a warm May day. As you can see - the big hive (about 6') has bees on the outside to improve air circulation inside the hive. The swarm I collected a month ago is on the far left. CWO what are your daytime temps? We're approaching 100. Which is actually normal. We always have a spike in late May about Memorial Day. A friend of mine from Louisville, who makes an annual trek to southern KY for a festival I also attend, said last year, "It's a hundred degrees. It must be time for Glasgow." She meant the Glasgow Highland Games, which are held the weekend after Memorial Day each year in Glasgow, Ky. It's always blistering hot, humid, and we always have thunderstorms. Sometimes severe. HOT BEES! Temps were about 92F - with about 85% humidity. It was sauna-like yesterday...not unusual for the area. I put an Imrie shim on the big hive to help with air circulation and removed the plug. You can see the hole. Yup. Do you have little sticks or something under the top cover to help vent out the top? |
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Another photo update: Beekeeping is a good family interest. It teaches observation, learning a lifecycle, cultural method and helps younger ones shake off fears by gradual exposure. The hives are positively booming - and there is a LOT of honey. Added supers to two hives plus queen excluders - and one more needs a super.... I'm out of foundation. Ordering 70 sheets tonight.     |
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Another photo update: Beekeeping is a good family interest. It teaches observation, learning a lifecycle, cultural method and helps younger ones shake off fears by gradual exposure. The hives are positively booming - and there is a LOT of honey. Added supers to two hives plus queen excluders - and one more needs a super.... I'm out of foundation. Ordering 70 sheets tonight. http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Eyesofsilver/Beekeeping/2012/IMG_5785.jpg http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Eyesofsilver/Beekeeping/2012/IMG_5769.jpg http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Eyesofsilver/Beekeeping/2012/IMG_5772.jpg http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Eyesofsilver/Beekeeping/2012/IMG_5777.jpg You've got a freaking awesome queen in that hive. 
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Just another photo update from an egg check today: http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Eyesofsilver/Beekeeping/2012/IMG_5972.jpg http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Eyesofsilver/Beekeeping/2012/IMG_5973.jpg http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Eyesofsilver/Beekeeping/2012/IMG_5974.jpg http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Eyesofsilver/Beekeeping/2012/IMG_5975.jpg http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/Eyesofsilver/Beekeeping/2012/IMG_5976.jpg Pretty girls. *sniff* I miss my bees. 
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I read 10 pages looking for your pics on getting the honey out. There are none.  I haven't extracted yet this year. Do you still have a honey flow? Yes - but reduced. Main flow is past. They are working clover now. Very clear honey. I have never tried getting straight crop honey. And I've never studied how you do it, if you aren't moving the hives to that crop. I know that once they start working a source, they ALL work that source, for the most part. But I guess you'd have to be organized enough to take the supers off when the (let's say clover, for an example) nectar starts flowing, then harvest immediately after the clover flow stops. I dunno. Are you going for a straight crop? |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I read 10 pages looking for your pics on getting the honey out. There are none. I haven't extracted yet this year. Do you still have a honey flow? Yes - but reduced. Main flow is past. They are working clover now. Very clear honey. I have never tried getting straight crop honey. And I've never studied how you do it, if you aren't moving the hives to that crop. I know that once they start working a source, they ALL work that source, for the most part. But I guess you'd have to be organized enough to take the supers off when the (let's say clover, for an example) nectar starts flowing, then harvest immediately after the clover flow stops. I dunno. Are you going for a straight crop? Nah... too much work for me. I'm grateful for what they produce. The dark tulip poplar honey is easy to spot - but it will be blended with everything else. |
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related, interesting... http://www.seventhgeneration.com/learn/blog/close-quarters-honey-bees ar-jedi |
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All 10 pages read. Simply fascinating. I was around beehives as a child but after moving to a massive population center those days were gone. Many thanks for bringing up memories, good memories. Great thread! I know people in those massive population centers who have hives in their back yards. |
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All 10 pages read. Simply fascinating. I was around beehives as a child but after moving to a massive population center those days were gone. Many thanks for bringing up memories, good memories. Great thread! I know people in those massive population centers who have hives in their back yards. Or on the roofs of high rise apartment buildings. |