Renting Hives for pollination

bwallace23350 · June 07, 2016, 10:24:17 AM

So I have the wild idea to try to catch swarms next spring and eventually rent them out for extra money and to put that money back for my son's college education/trade school or what not. So the question is how to transport bees and is this even a viable idea for extra money?

sc-bee · June 07, 2016, 10:42:01 AM

Every swarm takes equipment. A hive rents for no more than $50 a crop here..

bwallace23350 · June 07, 2016, 11:10:04 AM

Not as lucrative as I thought. Perhaps honey sales would be better combined with this.

GSF · June 07, 2016, 02:30:16 PM

bwallace, Some of the produce growers in Chilton county look for hives to rent I don't even think they pay that much. Personally to me it isn't worth it. If you send them out of state such as California to the almond groves you'd do much, much better. Unfortunately Alabama state laws wouldn't let them back in state unless they were put in a package - no comb law. I hear both sides of the no comb law. From my perspective(limited) I'd say it's a good law.

sc-bee · June 07, 2016, 04:12:10 PM

He would probably spend enough $$$ to pay for his son college trying to run bees in CA

bwallace23350 · June 07, 2016, 05:21:49 PM

I am just trying to get creative. He is only 8 months right now so I am trying to find ways to supplement my income.

Psparr · June 07, 2016, 05:23:23 PM

Maple syrup?

sc-bee · June 07, 2016, 08:41:22 PM

Quote from: bwallace23350 on June 07, 2016, 05:21:49 PM
I am just trying to get creative. He is only 8 months right now so I am trying to find ways to supplement my income.

OH I understand, I have not done it so do as I say not as I do. Forget pollination... do queens or bees (but queens take a tight schedule), Or if into the honey thing.. Honey, lip balm, lotion bars etc. In particular if you have an industrious female to help you create girls products from your girls. I can not get my wife interested. This guy has built a good base.

https://www.facebook.com/BeeBayou/?fref=ts

BeeMaster2 · June 07, 2016, 11:27:04 PM

I think you would bee better off making and selling nucs.
I have a friend that does the pollination routes here in FL but he is also using the sites for honey. This way his bees, for the most part are making honey most of the year and he is being paid for pollination. Honey is his main income.
Jim