Least favorite part of beekeeping?

RHBee · July 21, 2013, 06:23:34 AM

I'm just curious as to which aspect of beekeeping is everyones least favorite. If you don't mind taking the time to answer, would you mind jotting down a reply?
Mine is equipment building and preparation.
Thanks
Ray

edward · July 21, 2013, 07:00:20 AM

Melting down old frames and cleaning and disinfecting dead hives after Winter :-X

:-X Its the worst :-X

mvh Edward :-P

GSF · July 21, 2013, 07:01:11 AM

I have very little experience keeping bees. That said I would have to say knowing I have pests that are trying to destroy my colony. Also the "just not knowing" part.

BeeMaster2 · July 21, 2013, 07:53:30 AM

Cleaning out smelly, full of dead SHB, oil trays. An oil tray that is almost solid black with SHB really stinks. Had to scrap them out and then use the hose to wash them out. Luckily I don't have to add the oil any more. Now, I just have to keep them clean, with my hive tool, because any moth or beetle larvae the bees kick out of the hive, can survive and grow in the pollen and trash that collects in them. Much nicer, faster and cheaper job now without the oil.
Jim

Moots · July 21, 2013, 08:30:41 AM

RH,
Having only kept Bees since January, there's still some parts of the process that I'm yet to experience, such as a honey harvest...That being said, I think I've enjoyed most every step in the process, building boxes, assembling frames, etc. etc. Even painting and getting stung on occassion hasn't been that bad. :-D

However, hands down, my least favorite part is wiring frames, especially when I'm trying to get them as tight as possible and pop a wire...Grrr...Frustrating!

TwoHoneys · July 21, 2013, 08:41:42 AM

Feeding

Tightwad · July 21, 2013, 09:05:19 AM

I have to say that being a newbie am I doing things right. And watching my hive slowly die out and not schour what to do. But with the help of my club and my mentor I am learning how things work in the world of the BEES.

Leather Jim · July 21, 2013, 09:52:00 AM

Quote from: sawdstmakr on July 21, 2013, 07:53:30 AM
Cleaning out smelly, full of dead SHB, oil trays. An oil tray that is almost solid black with SHB really stinks. Had to scrap them out and then use the hose to wash them out. Luckily I don't have to add the oil any more. Now, I just have to keep them clean, with my hive tool, because any moth or beetle larvae the bees kick out of the hive, can survive and grow in the pollen and trash that collects in them. Much nicer, faster and cheaper job now without the oil.
Jim

No oil, I'm confused. What are you using?

Vance G · July 21, 2013, 10:59:33 AM

Selling the honey so I can keep beekeeping is the worst part. Beekeeping would be all fun if not for harvesting and selling honey.

Dunkel · July 21, 2013, 11:13:52 AM

Vance I will second that. It's even worse than cleaning a wax moth infested deadout.

adamant · July 21, 2013, 11:55:25 AM

Getting stung on the fingers

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Gord · July 21, 2013, 09:25:49 PM

Dealing with the honey.

BeeMaster2 · July 21, 2013, 10:47:07 PM

Quote from: Leather Jim on July 21, 2013, 09:52:00 AM
Quote from: sawdstmakr on July 21, 2013, 07:53:30 AM
Cleaning out smelly, full of dead SHB, oil trays. An oil tray that is almost solid black with SHB really stinks. Had to scrap them out and then use the hose to wash them out. Luckily I don't have to add the oil any more. Now, I just have to keep them clean, with my hive tool, because any moth or beetle larvae the bees kick out of the hive, can survive and grow in the pollen and trash that collects in them. Much nicer, faster and cheaper job now without the oil.
Jim

No oil, I'm confused. What are you using?

LJ
After killing thousands of beetles year after year in each hive and not allowing their young to survive their numbers seems to have seriously dropped.
I just open up the trays and kill any beetles in them and kill the larvae. A lot of the hives have no beetles in them, but have a moth larva or a few of them. I just kill them during the inspection. I also check in the STB for beetles.
I stopped using the oil because there were not enough beetles in each tray to justify it.
Clean oil trays are much nicer to deal with. Less smell in the hive, no greasy cleanup, and makes it easy to look for mites. Win win win. If the beetle population increases again, I will start using oil again.
Jim

Leather Jim · July 22, 2013, 12:19:23 AM

Gotcha thanks

RHBee · July 22, 2013, 05:49:47 AM

Jim I've noticed the same thing. My traps were black with SHB last year. This year only a few individuals. I think I'll try no oil for a while and see how it goes. Thanks.

dennis2021 · July 22, 2013, 07:58:29 AM

I love the selling of honey. Its the most satisfying part.

Pest, hate em!
Getting stung on the fingers isn't very nice.
Having bees stolen sucks too.

Over all though, here in Florida, the heat!

JPinMO · July 23, 2013, 01:39:31 AM

I'm in my first year, but painting about 20 screen bottom boards was a real pain!

No, we don't have that many hives (someday, I hope ;)), but we did some work for our mentor as payment for our hives.

Steel Tiger · July 23, 2013, 03:14:19 AM

As of now, wearing a jacket and veil in 95 degree heat.

BlueBee · July 23, 2013, 03:41:49 AM

Quote from: dennis2021 on July 22, 2013, 07:58:29 AM
Over all though, here in Florida, the heat!

Ain't that the truth!

Get yourself a place on Lake Gichigami :)

My least favorite part of bee keeping is harvesting the honey and painting hives. Both of those activities are definitely W-O-R-K.

Michael Bush · July 23, 2013, 09:18:07 AM

Probably a tie between heavy lifting and heat.

Least favorite part of beekeeping?

Moots