Orders to Africa

[CVBees]

With potential orders to Africa for 7 months leaving 2 Aug should I bother starting bees this spring, knowing they will be on their own from Aug to Mar. my lovely wife could look in on them but is not going to have the knowledge of inspections all summer to base difference on.  I suppose they can make in the wild.. why not in a hive  they are going to be local bees anyway.

Sigh   :-\

[buzzbee]

If the honey doesn't get robbed off in the fall,which I would not recommend anyhow,they should do just fine. Really they do well on their own once you get them started.

[Kathyp]

sure.  you could check them before you go and just let her know if she needs to feed.  other than that, they would probably be fine.

what the heck are you going to do in africa?

[CVBees]

I maintain and repair medical equipment there is a rotation for that position and my number is up...*grumble razza frazzle stupi... grrrr*

[AllenF]

Back in my younger days, (and before mites), when beekeeping was easy, I remember as a boy several summers that dad was too busy working to pull the honey and we left the suppers on all winter.  I really don't remember loosing and hives those years.   With plenty of food in the supers they should do just fine.