Hello all,
The biggest hurtle I have run into with trying to keep bees is well, getting the bees! My Island is 180 miles from Miami and I can't jump into the car and take a ride to pick up bees. My question really is how long bees can survive transport. I have 2 choices, either fly over to Florida, hopefully find some one near Miami or Fort Lauderdale who sells bees either as package bees or nucs, jump on a charter plane from the executive airport in Fort Laud and bring the bee's home. 2nd choice is to order them if anyone will ship them internationally (fed-ex??) and have them delivered. Shipping by boat would take way too long and I would be afraid of the bees overheating during shipment in a shipping container.
I don't think I have ever seen a swarm here, found a hive in an old tire when just a kid, but never saw a swarm hanging in a tree. Is there is certain time of the year that they swarm in these warm climates?
My best chance is on another island about 40 miles away, there is someone who sells honey to shops here, but I don't know if they sell bees or how enthusiastic they would be to sell them given that they are a commercial honey producer.
Sorry if this was a bit of a rant, just have allot of questions and very little resources over here.
thanks
Adam R.
if you will update your profile so we know where you are, it could help us help you , might be someone here from your island already that could share what they did.
profile is current, joined recently. Live in Nassau in the Bahamas
Do you know of any other beek on the island or maybe find a wild hive.
you'd probably need to check with your authorities 1st to se if you can import bees. They might also be able to point you to someone local who can/will sell you bees
Look for Glory Bee apiaries in Nassau. He might be able to help you.
Sincerely,
Brendhan
Ive found Glory bee in nassau, New York, but not in the Bahamas.....\
There used to be someone keeping bees @ an adult rehab center, but it burned to the ground and havent tracked down the hives. Im going to pass by the Ministry of Agriculture to see if they can help me out.
GloryBee
Festival Place, Prince George Wharf
Manager: Mr. Kirk Deleveaux
P.O. Box CB-12979
Nassau, The Bahamas
Phone: 242-362-1883
[email protected]
Thanks for that contact info. Someone gave me his tel # today, but didnt know he had a business.
The one issue this guy who used to keep bees years ago, told me that the feral bees here arent as mild, as well they dont have the productivity that the domestic bees in the USA have.
Does anyone have information on bees suppliers in Central or better yet South Florida.
Lastly since im on an Island, I cant just run out and get what I need spur of the moment, shipping is usually a week unless your chunking out huge $$$. Does anyone have a list somewhere of what I would need to get started and for the first few months, so I can order everything in one shot? Also any reccomdations for suppliers of equipment.
Thankss
Capt Adam R>
I just called Mark McCoy
1586 D Road.
Loxahatchee, Fl
561 798 1120
He only sells bees and queens but I believe he is out right now.
He lives about 5 miles from me. If he has something in stock maybe i can mail you a package or two.
However Mark does not sell hardware like boxes and such. You would probably have to get that from Dadant or Brushy Mountain. You are probably better off making your own in and trying to buy wood locally since shipping will probably be nasty.
Sincerely,
Brendhan
If you have local bees that are defensive, find a swarm and requeen w/ a purchased queen from internet. Put an ad in local paper, call extermnators, fire stations, polica and offer your removal services to get bees. You could also make a Top bar hive and save loads on shipping costs.
The bees being defensive is what i was told, We had a hive in an old tree when i was younger and i almost walked into the hive, walking along the wall and not paying attention, and they could care less.
That is the only wild hive other than the one in the tractor tire that i have come across
After asking around I found somemore infor on this farm in Andros about a hour by boat. It is supposedly some Missions farm, so maybe they will allow me to come snoop around for a few days and get a good idea on what happens day to day as well as gather some specific info about our climate and bees.
I have delt with a shippping company that transports frozen foods and perishables by a small aircraft, maybe If i can get them, I could convince them to ship over some package bees or nucs.
Sorry to be a pain, but what other equipment, ie antibiotics, fungacides, insecticides etc should i have when starting?
Bare minimum equipment
If you do Top Bar Hive
smoker
hive tool
veil
barrel
sticks for frames
plywood for top
suit if you want
For langstroth hive-repeat first 3 items from top
frames
foundation(not always needed) or starter sticks
hive bodies( minimum of 2 deeps, 3 mediums per hive or 6 mediums)
bottom boards
tops-piece of plywood works
This is bare minumum in all likelihood
If you do a top bar hive, it is probably all available locally, even on an island