Trouble with Neighbors

TheMasonicHive · July 27, 2008, 12:21:02 PM

Hi!

I'm just curious if any backyard beekeepers here have had any issues with neighbors or your county concerning your colonys.

How did you deal with something like this? I haven't started a colony yet, and I might not next season either, but I'm trying to prepare myself for the possibilities.

Thanks!

Michael Bush · July 27, 2008, 01:41:41 PM

I've always had the best luck having the bees for a year before they realize it. Then when they freak out, they realize that nothing is really different.

MrILoveTheAnts · July 27, 2008, 04:09:46 PM

What really strains there minds is how low a number you can usually give them to the question, "How many stings do you have for the year?"

Someone posed this question to me and I said "4 so far this year, of 5 hives of 60,000 bees."
She almost had a hear attack and gasped. "That's it!" she said.
So I asked when was the last time you were stung? She really had to strain her mind but couldn't recall it.

My neighbors are usually pretty good about it. Occasionally a swarm will land on there tree or gutters or something. And thank god I've always been around to collect them. Most of the time though they swarm to high up in the tree to be collected and we watch them fly away. I always give my neighbors a jar of honey when I can, and especially if they have a bee swarm.

Shawn · July 27, 2008, 04:18:17 PM

So far I only have one neighbor that knows that I have a hive and he wants them there, he has apple trees. The other neighbors wont know anything until I start supplying them with fresh honey, if I ever get any.

Bee-Bop · July 27, 2008, 07:05:40 PM

Get some books, go to your local library, they have bee books or they can get them thru inter-library loan.

Read these forums, but take some of the info. on the inter-net with a grain of Salt. question those who post for there own experience, and their actual sources !

Join your local bee group, you don't have to have bees, you can get hands on experience.

Then when you get bees, you can carry on a experienced, intelligent conservation with your neighbors.

It really is easy to tell when someone actually knows what they are talking about.

Good Luck

BeeBop

Ps. Most neighbors are pertty good folks !

Jim134 · July 27, 2008, 07:35:37 PM

I would set up a bee hive now Top,2 Hive Body,Bottom Board now and no bees and tell no one.
Put in Frames, Foundation,Bees in April or May 2009.

BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)

Moonshae · July 27, 2008, 07:59:29 PM

I told my neighbors after the fact. One shrugged like, "why are you telling me?" and the others thought it was cool. With 5 kids under 10 between the two houses, and now two years without stings, neither has any problems. Of course, the promise of free honey the first year and then the follow up earlier this month with the bounty also helped!

Odds are good that even if your county has ordinances against beekeeping, they aren't out looking for hives. Maintaining good relations with your neighbors is a sure way to avoid trouble.

tlynn · July 27, 2008, 08:19:24 PM

Quote from: Moonshae on July 27, 2008, 07:59:29 PM
I told my neighbors after the fact. One shrugged like, "why are you telling me?" and the others thought it was cool. With 5 kids under 10 between the two houses, and now two years without stings, neither has any problems. Of course, the promise of free honey the first year and then the follow up earlier this month with the bounty also helped!

Odds are good that even if your county has ordinances against beekeeping, they aren't out looking for hives. Maintaining good relations with your neighbors is a sure way to avoid trouble.

Absolutely. Don't go alerting everyone and just keep good neighbor relations. We decided to tell our next door neighbor because the only sunny area of our yard put it in very close proximity to their yard plus we have a good relationship with them. In fact they are concerned for our bees because they found 6 in the pool filter and wanted to know how they could help keep from drowning them. They put out a bird bath just for our bees. I could well imagine on the flip side if we weren't friendly and didn't reach out to them they might well look over one day and see the hive and get very upset, because the wife told us she was in fact allergic since a child and has epi pens. But she was absolutely fine with it because of our relationship.

Steve M. · July 27, 2008, 09:30:13 PM

We also have had no real problems with our neighbors and our bees. Our best location for the bees put them across the street from our neighbors at the back end of a small clearing. One set of neighbors (with 4 young children) were very excited about it. The other neighbor (who we know well) really didn't like the idea too much...I think they were just nervous...until they saw my family, the other neighbors kids, and another family with 4 kids working in the garden about 20 feet in front of the hive with no apparent difficulty. After that they didn't seem so nervous.

I have had another neighbor complain, but he was complaining that he hadn't seen enough of my bees around his place. I know he was half joking....he was really excited when I told him I was getting bees, and he said he couldn't wait to see them in his fruit trees. I told him that they were most likely visiting his place opposite to his schedule.

--Steve

golddust-twins · July 27, 2008, 11:45:11 PM

Alot of people around me didn't realize I had bees. What they did notice was their fruit trees producing more fruit :).

hankdog1 · July 28, 2008, 12:02:22 AM

Heck you can always follow my example i live a half mile from my nearest neighbor and unless he needs something and unless you know where to look you wouldn't know i have any at all. Plus i don't have to put up with nosey neighbors. :-D

Mklangelo · July 28, 2008, 12:10:11 AM

Quote from: TheMasonicHive on July 27, 2008, 12:21:02 PM
Hi!

I'm just curious if any backyard beekeepers here have had any issues with neighbors or your county concerning your colonys.

How did you deal with something like this? I haven't started a colony yet, and I might not next season either, but I'm trying to prepare myself for the possibilities.

Thanks!

The urban beekeepers credo: Keep your head down and your neighbors honey pot full.

annette · July 28, 2008, 12:11:52 AM

I have my bee hives on a friends property up the block for the same reason, that being so close to neighbors was a worry for me. I agree though with the members here who say just maintain good relations and try to keep the hive as hidden as possible.

Good Luck
Annette

Scadsobees · July 28, 2008, 09:56:49 AM

Quote from: Moonshae on July 27, 2008, 07:59:29 PM
I told my neighbors after the fact. One shrugged like, "why are you telling me?" and the others thought it was cool. With 5 kids under 10 between the two houses, and now two years without stings, neither has any problems.

That is exactly the same as my neighborhood, except I've got the one house with 5 kids 11 and under! I've had more people say how neat it is and they'd like to see the harvest.

My biggest concerns are swarms and pools. But it has been 5 years and I haven't heard any complaints.

From what I've read on the forums is that most always works, the problem starts when there is one super-paranoid whacko in the neighborhood that won't listen to anything, especially reason. And you more than likely know if you have one of those in your area.

Rick

Keith13 · July 28, 2008, 11:29:06 AM

Quote from: Scadsobees on July 28, 2008, 09:56:49 AM
Quote from: Moonshae on July 27, 2008, 07:59:29 PM
I told my neighbors after the fact. One shrugged like, "why are you telling me?" and the others thought it was cool. With 5 kids under 10 between the two houses, and now two years without stings, neither has any problems.

That is exactly the same as my neighborhood, except I've got the one house with 5 kids 11 and under! I've had more people say how neat it is and they'd like to see the harvest.

My biggest concerns are swarms and pools. But it has been 5 years and I haven't heard any complaints.

From what I've read on the forums is that most always works, the problem starts when there is one super-paranoid whacko in the neighborhood that won't listen to anything, especially reason. And you more than likely know if you have one of those in your area.

Rick

And the problem with that wacko neighbor is he can spread fear and concern over bees faster than you can spread honey and sensible thinking.

Keith

KONASDAD · July 28, 2008, 11:35:40 AM

If they dont see them, they are unlikely to know. They will fix on water so provide some. My neighbors ekither are cool w/ it, or dont know. I live in haevy suburbia too. Also make sure flight path is not over a sidewalk or the like.

I would not volunteeer this info to township. Most do not expressly forbid bees and askin will only trigger a response which you may not like. If they find out and there is no ordinance, you will be grandfathered in by law.

Bee-Bop · July 28, 2008, 12:05:58 PM

One problem you may enconter is;

HUMMING BIRD Feeders, if your neighor has them they will also have your bees, bird watchers don't like that !!

I have two bee hives here at the house, and 6 humming bird feeders, they all seem to share,
however if one of the feeders is leaking a little, no contest the bees win BIG Time.

Oh, the Bee-Guards on the feeders :roll: are resting places for the bees !

Again I say read, read, and get some hands on experience at your local bee club, go to your local Co Extension Office, ask around. I'll bet there is someone in your neighorhood eho can get you started on the right tract.

Bee-Bop