Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

Just wondering how many years everyone has been in the beekeeping business???? Oh and post your years if you don't mind so we know who is who...... I am just starting my second year... Rookie but still learning...

for my first year things I have learned to do ..

make package bee's
catch swarms
do building and home bee removals
make foundation
make wax cell cups for queens
made all my equipment (cell bars, nuc's, supers, brood chambers, BB's, SBB's, slatted racks, hivetop feeders, etc.)
make queen cell starter hives
make queen cell finishing hives
walk away slits
grafting

that's some of the things I have learned.... not bragging , just gloating  :wink:

I've had bees on and off since I was around 10.  That was over 40 years ago, but I had a few breaks along the way, so I checked the 20-30 year range.  I bought my first car with "honey money"  My uncle was a commercial queen producer and helped me get started.

I enjoy the bees, and making honey, so I always have to fight to keep things in check.  I split my colonys last year, started 10 packages, and assembled the equipment for another 10-12 splits this winter.  Looks like I'm on the ropes!!

who is the 41+ member?????????

I'm starting my 2nd year.

Quote from: amymcgI'm starting my 2nd year.

Ditto

Hmmm
Poll option not avaliable
> 1 year
So far I have learned that , the queen is vital to the hive.
Powdered sugar works to help control mites.
Bees need enough room to grow or they will swarm.
A deep with 10 frames full of honey is really really heavy.
Move hive boxes at night.
Put branches in front of the hive to force reorientation.
The time it takes for a queen cell to go to egg laying queen can be so long that a weak hive will not survive.
Use mediums not deeps.
Drones can be freaking huge.
Smokers can be tricky to first deal with and to get to stay lite for long periods of time.
Use sphagnum moss for smokers.
Small Hive Beetles are nasty rotten critters.
Cardboard can be used to catch SHBs
My sister is "pretending" to be allergic to bees in order to prevent me from putting hives on her farm.
And most important of all, if I make it through year one and get any honey at all it will be an amazing thing.

Starting my second season also

I started studying bees in 1972.  I started keeping them in 1974.

Hi all
I started when I was ten years old and my mum started keeping them. By the age of 12 I had grafted my own cells sold a few nucs and passed my British beekeepers association adults prelim exam. It's been down hill ever since :lol:

Women and alcohol took a few years out in my 20's. Oh yes and those Finish girls know how to keep a man warm at night :wink: What CAN YOU TELL US FINSKY.

So top end of the 11-20 range.

Michael: I was born in 72 :lol:


Regards Ian

Hello everyone,
  I started beekeeping in 1962 at the age of 14, I have continued to keep bees and today is the beginning of my 45th year. The first money that I made from the sell of a wonderful Sourwood crop was in 1963. That money was spent on a trip to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico $165.00 with $20.00 left over for spending money. Both of these things were life changing experences for me. I retired 10 years ago very well off and my success started with beekeeping. I have never been a commerical beekeeper but the experence I gained as a young boy guided me until present day. I still keep my bees and have come full circle in my life,I started, it with bees and I intend to go out with them.  Bill

My signature says it. I too have never been commercial. Most of the time I hadn't even managed them for honey production. I primarily keep bees for the enjoyment of observing their many fascinating behaviors.

Hello All-

I am starting my third year and in the spirit of TwT's first post, here's what I've done..

year one:
installed package bees
got stung a little bit
successfully overwintered my first hive.

year two:
captured my first swarm
lost my second swarm
tried to split my hive unsuccessfully
lost a queen
got stung a bit more
harvested honey
entered honey in local fair, didn't place
sold honey
missed my window for fall treatments
was late putting up mouse guards
had mouse damage
thought that I lost one hive
thought that I had wax moths
both hives have (knock on wood) successfully overwintered

year three:

will be ready early to anticipate swarming
will be ready early with drawn comb and new foundation
will be ready with fall treatments
will be sooo ready with mouse guards
(will keep better records)

Looking forward to year #3

Melissa

>will be ready early to anticipate swarming

I'm afraid of swarming here in the North right now.  If I hadn't been doing my taxes I would have opened all the brood nests up Saturday or Sunday.

It must be prime swarm season in California.  Maybe eve in Norther California.

I'm starting my third year. This started as a cooperative effort with my son. He has since lost interest, I think getting stung on the head took the wind out of his sails. I must confess to being somewhat of a negligent beekeeper so far. I have harvested honey twice and really enjoy that part.

I kept bees from 86 to 92 before I came to America. It was my dream to be able to be back to beekeeping, and it came through. And after 12 years it finaly came through. But so much has changed that I considere myself newbee. It is my second season here.

too bad there isn't a category for under one year... :lol:

2nd year beekeeping, 16 yrs in pest control field, have turned over rocks looking for bugs since in diapers 41 yrs ago. Learning that there is never ending learning when it comes to beekeeping.