Is it too late to start a hive this year

[chris8126]

I have been interested in bees and wanted start a hive for a while.  I recently had some bees removed from an out building and have really been thinking seriously about getting a hive.  I have looked at many sites selling equipment and don't want spend $200-$300 on a starter kit.  I have a box or two for a hive don't really know the dimensions, leftovers from a relatives bee days I guess.  The guy that came and got the bees left a bunch, he took the queen and some comb and bees but there is still some comb the bees are on and they are very active.  Is it possible to get a queen and put these bees in a hive.  If not is it too late in the year to order bees with a queen from a dealer.  Any suggestions on good bee suits or other equipment.

[Bill W.]

It is not too late to start, since people are still doing splits and hiving captured swarms right now.

You don't get more specific than 'recently,' but if it has been more than a week since you had the hive partially removed and the bees are still busy on the remaining comb, it is very likely they are raising a new queen and will survive.

If you want to try to box that hive, you probably want to get yourself a nuc, remove the remaining comb and band it into frames, and then hope that they complete the process of raising a new queen in the nuc.  You will then have a small hive to get ready to overwinter for next year and you may not have to buy any bees.

You then have about nine months to get your feet wet with your nuc and to learn enough that you are confident about moving them into a full-size hive next year.

The other thing you could do is set up a feeder for the hive where it is right now, feed them until next year to ensure they survive, and then move them into a hive in the spring.

ETA: A nuc is a cheaper way to start, but you are probably going to end up spending a few hundred bucks on bee gear by the time you get them into a regular hive.

[Kathyp]

you might be able to pull it off with what you have, or you might be able to buy a nuc.  if you started right now, you probably could build them up well enough to overwinter.

did the guy who did the removal leave hive behind because you wanted him to??

[Bill W.]

Whoops - double post.

[JP]

I have been interested in bees and wanted start a hive for a while.  I recently had some bees removed from an out building and have really been thinking seriously about getting a hive.  I have looked at many sites selling equipment and don't want spend $200-$300 on a starter kit.  I have a box or two for a hive don't really know the dimensions, leftovers from a relatives bee days I guess.  The guy that came and got the bees left a bunch, he took the queen and some comb and bees but there is still some comb the bees are on and they are very active.  Is it possible to get a queen and put these bees in a hive.  If not is it too late in the year to order bees with a queen from a dealer.  Any suggestions on good bee suits or other equipment.

Chris, are you the guy that reported just the other day about having bees removed and a basketball sized cluster was left?

I meant to respond if that was you, it sounds as though he missed getting the queen as a possibility. Did he show you or tell you he got the queen?

I think what Bill W makes a lot of sense, leave the bees where they are, feed them, read up on removing bees and do it yourself in the spring or find someone who can assist you.

BTW, I would have called the guy back, did you?


...JP

[Kathyp]

doesn't sound like he did a good job.  hope he didn't charge for it.......for you, if you want to keep bees, it might have been a happy accident :-)