Question #3

ratman · November 09, 2015, 03:31:41 PM

Were do you get the bee's to fill your hive? And how do bee's last during the winter because it gets mighty cold up here. Thank you

OldMech · November 09, 2015, 05:16:37 PM

Get bees from a package supplier, or another beekeeper might sell you a nucleus colony... I posted this in the other thread, but will post it again here;

http://www.outyard.net/index.html

Go to the getting started page and read.. Michael and others have excellent websites as well.

The bees cluster in the winter time, and use their thoracic (wing) muscles to produce heat to keep the cluster warm. They use the honey they store for energy to keep those muscles going, and slowly work their way up through their reserves as the winter progresses....
Hope that helps a little!

dott · November 09, 2015, 05:49:45 PM

I would do what i'm doing. read and surf the net as much as you can, join a local beekeeping club or find a beek that is willing to help and menitor you. go into it as you will/may loose a hive in your 1st year and hope for the best. this spring will be my starting/learning year.

GSF · November 09, 2015, 09:40:47 PM

good luck there dott, and ratman

chux · November 10, 2015, 11:25:48 AM

How to fill your hive? Well, I started with one package my first year, and they failed. Thankfully, I also caught a swarm the same week. 3 years later, I have over 30 hives. All were swarms I caught, or colonies I took from a building or tree that had to be removed. I'm not sure how many hives and how many feral colonies are in your area, but I think you should talk to a local beekeeper who is really "up on their stuff." Someone who seems to be obsessed will be a good resource. If they tell you that there are wild colonies in the area, I would build and set out swarm traps in the early spring. Put out as many as you can build. Spread them out. I would also get an insurance policy by finding a local beek that would be willing to sell a couple of NUCS, just in case you fail to catch swarms.

If swarm traps aren't something you want to try, NUCS are the way to go. Down here in NC, a NUC is only around $130. A package from some suppliers was over $100. NUCS are the way to go.

damar50 · November 23, 2015, 07:34:49 PM

Check out Harvard Egg and Feed near Harvard Ill. They sell Bee supplies as well as Bee package's and class's.

yes2matt · November 24, 2015, 06:15:04 AM

Quote from: chux on November 10, 2015, 11:25:48 AM
How to fill your hive? Well, I started with one package my first year, and they failed. Thankfully, I also caught a swarm the same week. 3 years later, I have over 30 hives. All were swarms I caught, or colonies I took from a building or tree that had to be removed. I'm not sure how many hives and how many feral colonies are in your area, but I think you should talk to a local beekeeper who is really "up on their stuff." Someone who seems to be obsessed will be a good resource. If they tell you that there are wild colonies in the area, I would build and set out swarm traps in the early spring. Put out as many as you can build. Spread them out. I would also get an insurance policy by finding a local beek that would be willing to sell a couple of NUCS, just in case you fail to catch swarms.

If swarm traps aren't something you want to try, NUCS are the way to go. Down here in NC, a NUC is only around $130. A package from some suppliers was over $100. NUCS are the way to go.

30 in three years, all captured? That's amazing!

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chux · November 24, 2015, 10:15:21 AM

yes2mat. Things that helped with that build-up... 1) Being in a club and getting the word out that I do cutouts. Word of mouth around the county that I do cutouts and will catch swarms for free. (I only plan on doing a couple of free cutouts this year if I have significant losses this winter) 2) Having a mentor who is a commercial beek, and gets swarm and cutout calls that are sometimes handed to me because he is too busy or just wants to help me out. 3) Helping an older couple of beeks who have generously called and allowed me to catch a few of their swarms. 4) Swarm traps. Swarm traps are awesome. One of the beek online that I read behind, out of Indiana, caught over 20 in swarm traps this year. It's like fishing. The more bait you spread around out there, the more likely you are to catch something.

yes2matt · November 27, 2015, 07:24:52 AM

Quote from: chux on November 24, 2015, 10:15:21 AM
yes2mat. Things that helped with that build-up... 1) Being in a club and getting the word out that I do cutouts. Word of mouth around the county that I do cutouts and will catch swarms for free. (I only plan on doing a couple of free cutouts this year if I have significant losses this winter) 2) Having a mentor who is a commercial beek, and gets swarm and cutout calls that are sometimes handed to me because he is too busy or just wants to help me out. 3) Helping an older couple of beeks who have generously called and allowed me to catch a few of their swarms. 4) Swarm traps. Swarm traps are awesome. One of the beek online that I read behind, out of Indiana, caught over 20 in swarm traps this year. It's like fishing. The more bait you spread around out there, the more likely you are to catch something.

An ex-beek friend gave me a bunch of supers and frames. Can I make a swarm trap from a 10-deep box or is that too big? What's your preferred bait method?

I work 5 long days, so catching a swarm "live" is not a realistic way for me to grow.

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chux · November 27, 2015, 09:49:05 AM

Quote from: yes2matt on November 27, 2015, 07:24:52 AM
Quote from: chux on November 24, 2015, 10:15:21 AM
yes2mat. Things that helped with that build-up... 1) Being in a club and getting the word out that I do cutouts. Word of mouth around the county that I do cutouts and will catch swarms for free. (I only plan on doing a couple of free cutouts this year if I have significant losses this winter) 2) Having a mentor who is a commercial beek, and gets swarm and cutout calls that are sometimes handed to me because he is too busy or just wants to help me out. 3) Helping an older couple of beeks who have generously called and allowed me to catch a few of their swarms. 4) Swarm traps. Swarm traps are awesome. One of the beek online that I read behind, out of Indiana, caught over 20 in swarm traps this year. It's like fishing. The more bait you spread around out there, the more likely you are to catch something.
An ex-beek friend gave me a bunch of supers and frames. Can I make a swarm trap from a 10-deep box or is that too big? What's your preferred bait method?

I work 5 long days, so catching a swarm "live" is not a realistic way for me to grow.

Sent from my LGLS740 using Tapatalk

I've used 5 frame deep nucs and ten frame deeps. Check out Jason bruns' blog. He gives detailed instructions which are pretty much the same as what I do. I hang the box about ten feet high. Fill with foundation less frames. I put one old comb frame, or a piece of old comb held in frame with rubber bands. This acts as a scent attractant and a guide for building comb. I also put a baggie inside of the box with a cotton ball covered with lemongrass oil.

I have caught small swarms in large boxes, and I had one large swarm go to, then leave a smaller box within days. I suggest going with the larger boxes.