Sloppy Beekeeping by pros

[the-ecohouse.com]

Hi Guys

I rolled into one of my old bee sites last week, to find a new bee/k has taken over the lease, which is not a drama.

What is a drama is the following:

The site was a freak-en mess, frames and boxes lying around everywhere, rubbish about the place.

I would say just doing a quick walk around, that 80% of the hives were seriously pest infested, as evidenced by No bees in hives, small hive beetle lava and wax moth lava overflowing from the entrances and 15+ swarms hanging in the trees withing a 20mtr radius.
and many more old swarm sites (empty honey comb built on tree branches). The bees were angry  :evil: about this as well, i reckon i was stung 10+ times walking about the place.

It looks like these hives and bees have come from queensland, as evidenced by the stencil on the sides.
Now they could have been bought in by a Vic Bee/k (so don't take offense my northern friends).

Either way i was pretty peeved about the state of the bee site and the bee colony's.
i've left a polite message for the bee/k using the stenciled number but have not heard back yet.

Now i realize that some of these "professional" guys work on 1000 to 1500 colones at a time so 20 or 30 or so hives in terrible condition in prob not a big deal to them, but surely that has to be a waste of money. clearly most of these are write offs, and will require cleaning and restarting.

I' dont know it seems like false economy to let your bees and equipment get in such a state.

I'm no pro, but i have gone from one hive to 20 now working on going to 50. All of my bees are very healthy, robust and well managed!


So what have other people seen?

Have you seen bee sites like this around the place?

or have all the bee/k you encounter taken care of their stock?

[Intheswamp]

With the situation that you describe I wouldn't exactly call them "pros".

Ed

[OzBuzz]

I'd report it to the DPI/DSE - that's bad form!

Any pics?  :)

[yantabulla]

Not sure what state your in Eco but that needs to be reported to the the DPI regulatory officers so that they can take action against this person.

Some photos may assist them

Yanta

[the-ecohouse.com]

yep its preety ordinary

Here is Mallee Vic

not a local bee/k unless they have purchased in hives from somewhere.

I have never seen the brand before.

I was thinking that phone call to the bee/k first then DPI if unsatisfactory whats you take on this?

[yantabulla]

Call the bloody DPI!

[ShaneJ]

You can call the DPI but I'm sure they wont care.
I called the DPI the other day to inquire about the quantity of hives I am allowed to keep. Their policy states for my property size I am allowed 10, but the letter I received pretty well states they don't care unless my neighbors complain.

[ShaneJ]

If I were you though I would walk in and box some of those swarms. :)

[the-ecohouse.com]

lol i thought about it shanej...but then i figured that would be bad form. I have spoken to DPI in the bast about reportable pests, but they never seemed too concerned about it.

[Lord Viykor]

You can call the DPI but I'm sure they wont care.
I called the DPI the other day to inquire about the quantity of hives I am allowed to keep. Their policy states for my property size I am allowed 10, but the letter I received pretty well states they don't care unless my neighbors complain.

Interesting, I'm allowed one hive according to the council. Might have a word to the neighbours and DPI myself.

[yantabulla]

Well done you lot.

Are they diseased?  Your bees may be the next in line.

Contact the regulators in your state that are responsible for bees & make them take action.

I'm pleased that I'm not near this apiary.

Yanta

[Mardak]

DPI - Ring and ask for Daniel Martin - Apiary Inspector - A guy who is motivated and interested in poor keeping practice. There should be a number of some sort of some of the boxes.

[the-ecohouse.com]

yeah i know Daniel, and i have the hive numbers....

bad boys bad boys what ya gonna do.....:mrgreen: