I ordered my first bees. Two 4# packages that were to be delivered on April 22nd. Well, long story short, they still have not arrived. I've talked to the supplier several times and its allways the next week or next day that they'll be shipped which takes me to now. I've not received my bees yet and am wondering if it may be getting to late as within the next month or so we will be coming on terribly hot weather and I expect a dearth. I live in west central Arkansas How late can I go and still expect a healthy package that will have enough time to build a strong hive and make it through winter? All advice is appreciated. Thank's, Brad
That depends on your local climate and plants - especially if you experience a dearth, but I imagine you have quite a bit of time before you need to worry.
I live in a pretty poor place for raising bees (next to the ocean, with a fairly small number of days that reach 60 degrees) and I can start new hives through June. After June, I would need more than four pounds to start a hive and starting combining swarms and cut outs to produce full hives at that point. If you have actual summer weather and not much of a dearth, I imagine you could start new hives well into July or even later. Just don't demand any honey the first year.
I would think you could do a package in July, feed constantly and maybe get it strong enough for winter in Arkansas. It would be pushing your luck here.
Of course the heat makes it more difficult to get a package there in good health, but once they are in the hive they can handle the heat as long as there is water available and you keep feeding them.
IMO, a package should not cost as much later as it does in early spring when the demand is high.
By now I would be asking for a refund and seeking another source.
Who is your supplier??? I just went round & round with one myself. Finally got my package after SEVERAL phone calls... Sorry to hear about your delay- it is very frustrating, especially if this is your first year. I don't really know how late is too late for you, but I have heard from others in WI that we can start as late as mid June for enough winter build up. Good Luck.
I got my first hive in LATE July 2005. Fed until they stopped taking syrup, about a week, and they hit first the trumpet vine and crepe myrtle, then asters, goldenrod, and anything else they were attracted to including accasia bushes. They made it fine and are still great.
Mine did have a head start as they were a cut out and had some brood comb tied in, but no honey stores and they had to make a new queen (Spot).
Thank's folks, My supplier is Hardeman apiaries. They came well recommended. I'm sure their a fine apiary with good bees. These were ordered in the winter and I was given a delivery date of 22nd April. As to price weather delivered early or late, they were allready paid for in the winter. I have to say they are allways reachable unlike the supplier in Washington state a friend is dealing with who is a month late will not respond to e-mail or return phone calls. Well, maybe they will show up soon and we'll see what they can do. I have to say this has taken away some of the excitement I was experiencing from the anticipation of their arrival. Thank's, Brad
Don't worry,
it will still be just as fun,even if it is late. Are youon a swarm call list?
I made 2-3 frames of brood splits in August hear in Oregon. I fed like crazy and had drawn comb but still maybe only 3 gallons total. Now they are booming 2 deeps and 3 westerns. No Joke Either! I wish I had had a couple of more weeks to brood them up better but all 10 of my hive made it. They did have some Alfalfa etc to work on too though. :-P
Well, I received the bees yesterday and got them installed. It went a little diffrent than planed but, fairly smooth I feel. Bees were everywhere and I had a hard time trying to look at the queens with all the bees smothering the queen cages. I installed the 2 about 5 feet apart and feel that most of the bees ended in one hive making it stronger than the other. Some of the bees stayed the night under the hives but, most slept in them. They were very active around the hives till close to dark but settled down. I put the queens in with the candy down because that is how the cages were set up although I would of like to put them in candy up. I guess I'll check the queens on Thursday and see how the release is. I didn't remove any frames but, one to make room for the queen cage then just dumped them on top of her and put the inner cover pail feeder and top cover on and am hoping for the best. I did stick a nail hole in the queen candy to facilitate an easier release and hope I didn't stick the queens but as I said I had a hard time seeing anything for all the bees.
So, anyway I am now a bee haver. Hopefully with time and experience I'll be a beekeeper. Thank's, Brad
Glad you got your bees. The supplier you mentioned as probably others has been swamped this year and weather has not been ideal (rain). Of course that doesn't help you any.
I usually don't do the hole in the candy thing and queens are usually out in three to five days. The long trip there should have helped them bond I would think.
Maybe you can equalize later by swapping stands if needed.
All of the flying around was probably orientation flights. Keep the syrup on them so they can draw out the foundation!
I am very happy with the docicity of these bees. My wife and I changed their water that is in boardman feeders on the front of the hive and when my wife put hers back in she pushed the entrance spacer board in so I had to go in after it and we also checked their feed in the pails above their inner board and none of the bees seemed to care. Brad
LOL they will :)