Farmall Cub

These two charming surrogate grandkids (my tenant's kids) Nia and Brynnie love the honeybees!! I call them my honey strikers ! Wonderful children....other pics of the hives...I just installed another hive yesterday (including the queen)...the other hive wintered again...(5th year now)...The 3rd picture in this lineup is a watercolor painting I did...yep, I do that too...check out Hobbies & Crafts in the Better Half Section-watch my video on my artworks http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTe_BFey ... e=youtu.be (Click this link to watch my video) ....thanks guys n' gals for letting me share !!! [attachment=3]

Lost my bees this past winter. Have a package and queen coming Sunday. Hive is all cleaned up and ready.

They are expensive toys, if you have to replace them, every spring! Ed
They sure make good honey, though!

Not a lot different than buying seed, Ed.

At ScottyD's Dad: I had 2 hives 5 years...so I feel I got the better end of the deal...one hive made it for its 6 th year....I replaced the one hive I lost at $100...I get $8 a pound bottle of honey at 330 bottles per year average....not such an expense at all is it?? Have a great day! Tinkertoy

Question about bee keeping.
I plan on getting a couple of hives built this winter and populated in the spring.
I have a local bee guy that I can get everything ordered from.

He says I need to order early because his supplier almost always runs out of supply (nucs & queens, etc.)

Any advice from your guys?

I was thinking of getting a couple of the kit hives this winter, build them, and order the bees for the spring.

What do you typically do to start from scratch?

Thanks,

Thackery

Doug,

If you're a good woodworker, I'd say build your own hive bodies, bottom boards and covers. The dimensions need to be very precise. There are lots of plans out there on the internet. Also, talk to Cecil. He's built a number of hive bodies. As far as the frames and foundation, I'd buy them pre-cut, but unassembled and put them together yourself. Order your bees for next spring as soon as your supplier will take the order. Now, if he's willing. Do some research at this web site. http://www.ohiostatebeekeepers.org/ They have a good online training program. Also, try to find a local beekeepers club and get involved.

We can talk more at the Bash.

http://honeybeeclub.org
http://brushymountainbeefarm.com

take a course locally in your area

check out these 2 sites....good luck, Tinkertoy

Thanks for the advise, I thought about making my own boxes, yes I know that the dimensions are critical.
What type of wood is best? Pine?

What I thought would be really great is if I made boxes, bought frames etc. and then came across a swarm and then I would have a hive at minimal cost.
Of course that's wishful thinking, although I have seen a couple of swarms.
My neighbor is a keeper so he can help me out as well.

As a side note, I just saw an add in Dayton Craigslist about renting hives from a keeper. $198 for 2 years, you get 1 gallon of honey the first year and 2 gallons each year after. They do all the maintenance and take all the risk.

I am not considering doing this but thought it was interesting.

Doug

The latest on CCD...

http://www.foxnews.com/science/2013/05/ ... p=features