The odds of beeking with out meds???

[RangerBrad]

Howdy folks, This is my first year to keep bees(2 packages of Russians next week). I've been reading alot and they all write about all these meds and giving them at certain times of the year and at certain nectar flows  for all these diffrent problems etc.......

My question is what are the odds of raising my bees with out all these meds?
Don't get me wrong I have no problem using chemicals if I have to or as a preventative if the risk of a problem occurring is high. It's just all these meds and timing of application and x number of weeks prior to a certain nectar flow just seem daunting to me. I have chickens, rabbits, garden, land clearing etc... oh, and a full time job that sometimes works me 50 or 60 hrs a week. all advice is appreciated. Thank's, Brad

[JP]

Most on here use very little or absolutely no chemicals in our hives whatsoever.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2b3xk_bobby-mcferrin-dont-worry-be-happy_music


...JP

[Kathyp]

but...there is aways a but :-)

i have been working toward using little or no meds in my hive.  that has more to do with me being cheap, than anything else.  my experience has been that package bees from an apiary that has used medications do not do well without any treatment.  treatment for mites, if nothing else.  those hive that were two or three years old, and dug out of an old barn, have done really well with no treatment.  i think that key is to know your bees, know what you are looking at, and know when to help.

none of my package bees survived into the 2nd year.  part of that may have been my own inexperience, but i think part of it was the bees.  the swarms that i have gotten from the agricultural areas have not done as well.  they come from pollination hives that have most likely been treated.  the swarms that i have gotten from known feral hives, have done well. 

be careful not to buy into hype about one method or another.  make your own observations and be prepared for loss as you learn.

[JP]

Check this section out, you will find some of the answers you are looking for http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/board,87.0.html


...JP

[Michael Bush]

>My question is what are the odds of raising my bees with out all these meds?

If you don't use meds, then the odds are 100%

> Don't get me wrong I have no problem using chemicals if I have to or as a preventative if the risk of a problem occurring is high. It's just all these meds and timing of application and x number of weeks prior to a certain nectar flow just seem daunting to me.

What's worse they are counterproductive.  Treating merely continues the problem.

When I was on large cell and not treating before Varroa I had no problems.  I had Buckfasts, so I didn't even notice the tracheal mites.  But when the Varroa came I lost 100% within about 2 years and when I got bees again on large cell and didn't treat lost 100% again within about 2 years.  Then I tried treating and still lost 100% again within about 2 years.  The bottom board would be covered in dead bees and there were thousands of Varroa on the bottom board with them.

I went to natural cell size using starter strips and when the size proved to be significantly smaller than 5.4mm I also used small cell in addition.  I have not seen a large Varroa population since.  But I do still lose hives now and then.  Sometimes it's obvious they were stuck on some brood and starved.  Sometimes I can't see any cause.  But I lose a lot less bees than when I treated.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfoursimplesteps.htm
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesnaturalcell.htm
http://www.bushfarms.com/beespests.htm

I do not treat for anything in any way and except for a couple of years where I did out of desperation, I have not treated for anything since the mid 70's.

My bees are inspected every year:
http://www.bushfarms.com/beescerts.htm