My name is Jim and I am from Santa Fe, TX.
My friend Danny was a beekeeper and was getting me and my boys into it a few years ago when he suddenly died. I "inherited" all his stuff but it sat fora few years while I figured out the right time to order packages! ;^)
So I took the plunge this spring and ordered two packages. Almost immediately friends started calling me about cutouts. Finally I figured I had enough basic experience to take on a call from my son's boss:
It about 4' x 1.5' or about 3 basketballs worth! Apparently he's been driving hives from his eaves for several years and abot a year or so ago it apparently took up residence in this tree. He said take it or loan him a suit so he could kill them so we decided to take the plunge.
(http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm87/bnsaijim/IMG00492-20120602-0817.jpg)
(http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm87/bnsaijim/IMG_0382.jpg)
(http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm87/bnsaijim/IMG_0378.jpg)
This was hanging about 15' up in his oak tree over where his wife likes to park her Lexus. My sons and I decided to go for it so I did some research and that lead me to here and JP's videos. I also met another keeper who gave me some pointers. I built a "RubberMaid Bee Vac" Saturday morning and we set out to collect this bear Saturday evening.
The Vac lacked head pressure to be really effective but I scooped 99% into the tube to be sucked into the box. None of the videos prepared e for the waterfall of honey that his hive had. I mounted about 6 frames of brood comb. All this was installed into a medium super with another plastic framed on top of that in a seperate area of my garden away from my other hives. I too one pint of honey for myself and left the rest of the spoils for them which they've already made a major dent in reclaiming.
I never did see a queen- not that I have the experience to pick one out without a flourescent drop of paint but I plan to go back into the hive Saturday to see how they are doing. I reall y hope this queen is they're as I heard they are supposed to be pretty bad arse from an external hive this old? If not I guess I will re-queen by purchasing or steal a foundation with eggs from one of my other hives and install that?
Well, that's my plunge into this and any advice is appreciated.
Welcome to the forum, that's a great first post!
i like the waterfall of honey part. :-D
hey pm me your info, I am called from your area all the time.
Beautiful pictures. I really enjoy seeing the exposed colonies.
Sounds like you have done a pretty good job with it.
Good luck with your new bees, and thanks for sharing it with us!
Joe