My Beekeeping Hobby Beegins

[Garlicyoda]

Hello,

I just got my hive from a beekeeper near Sacramento, CA. He was willing to spend some time with me opening the hive helping me learn how to pull frames and the like. I am really thankful for the experience, and am sure I will need and be thankful for sooo much more advice as things roll along.


hive came home last night,  Building a proper stand for it today, but here it is this morning.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4VZ4WQeb_s

Planning to do a stand with legs so I can put each one in cans of motor oil to reduce the chance of ants getting to it. Also have a bait box out far to low at 5 ft, but what I have access to at this time ( I am around tons of bees being used for pollination, maybe some will swarm and find it)

Should have photo's up eventually, just need to find a place to dump them to link into the posts here.

[D Coates]

Welcome to your new addiction... hobby... whatever.  It's a whole lot of fun with bumps/bruises/stings and lessons along the way.

[annette]

Forget the motor oil around the stands. I did this my first year of beekeeping and so many bees drowned as they were attracted to the liquid.

I sprinkle lots and lots of cinnamon, which i get in a large container from Costco, all around the legs of the stand. Never had trouble with ants after that.  Also strong hives keep ants away.

Annette

[Garlicyoda]

thanks, will go do the cinnamon. Still built the stand and got the hive moved  over to the new stand. Lots of capped brood, two areas of drone cells.  I did not spot the queen ( first time in the hive ) At  first  a drone got my hopes up, then saw another. . .  I notch it up to my untrained eyes.

[Garlicyoda]

my bait boxes have been out with old comb in them, no swarms in them but hey some time/ some year :0)

I have in my reading seen a lot about lemon grass oil, i am now having trouble picking one as the vast majority are sold for aroma therapy and as such are not required to list ingredients. When they list " 100% therapeutic grade" does this truly mean 100% lemon grass oil that is also therapeutic grade, or could it be marketing trickery  just saying that the contents of the bottle are 100% therapeutic grade ingredients ?

that being asked I was considering this: http://www.amazon.com/Lemongrass-Essential-Undiluted-Therapeutic-Grade/dp/B005XQWYXC/ref=sr_1_4?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1427405730&sr=1-4&keywords=lemongrass+oil

any thoughts comments or better ( quickly obtained) options welcomed.

[Maggiesdad]

One of the more experienced beeks on here said to get the big bottle from Bulk Apoth. http://www.bulkapothecary.com/lemongrass-essential-oil.html  I had already paid thru the nose for a leetle bottle from shrubby Mt... Oh well, next time I'll get the big bottle and all my empty hives will smell like mama just dusted with lemon pledge.

[annette]

I just usually go to the health food store and get lemon grass essential oil.

[Garlicyoda]

thanks to both of you. 

Sorry in advance Lots of questions and potential purchasing guidance requested in future posts.

I built a few  supers from red wood ( I had aged redwood laying around. . . aged since 1983)  is  this type of wood going to cause any issues ? I have seen cedar bottom boards and tops  I know they are different woods, but both aromatic and rot resistant so thought it would be ok.

Also to purchase additional  frames and  nucs and the like I was considering placing an order with Western bee supplies inc.  for basic hardware  is there  somewhere else I should consider  as well? ( honestly my biggest concern is price point when shipping is added in)

[cao]

for basic hardware  is there  somewhere else I should consider  as well? ( honestly my biggest concern is price point when shipping is added in)

It depends on how much that you plan to order.  Mann lake, Kelley's and Brushy Mountain have free shipping with a minimum order.  I've also ordered from Miller bee supply.  I've ordered from all four with no complaints.   

[Garlicyoda]

thanks for the suggestions. On most Items I need mann lake is over 2x the cost at western, so even if shipping matched my order total it would still be cheaper. (except deep frames) kelley's and brushy mountain shall get a look now as well :0) thanks again.

[jalentour]

Garl,
Welcome to my addiction.  I have many. 
Thanks for your tip for Western Bee.  I usually build my own but will look into what they have.
This site is great for beginners, a lot of old timers help out.
J

[Garlicyoda]

So I did a closer inspection ( no veil)  and found the queen, caught her and marked her. 

Find at least for me  the veil makes it too hard for me to see.
I had an 8 frame  bait hive  that has been moved into ( I found this hive mangled on the road side of I5 and some gravel filled drawn frames)  ave

I took two frames of capped brood and gave it to the "captured" swarm a few days back.  Got to watch  three new bees hatch from one of those frames yesterday , it was cool, they looked so cute soft and grey. Since I got the very strong hive  they have drawn out about 1.5 frames ( three sides and started on the 4th). Most frames are very heavy now with honey and orange + yellow pollen.

My wife and son watched a video on here about family members of bee keepers needing to get stung once a month and both intentionally got stung . . . They are braver than I.

As mentioned in an earlier post I  had some redwood laying around  I used it to make a medium super for the 10 frame hive ( currently two deeps)

Today I measured out the boards I had to find good pieces  to cut to make a medium  for the 8 frame in case they need it in a month or so. The medium will be functioning as a brood box.they are all I can build with tools and wood on hand So even if below the excluder I end up with one deep and two mediums  for the 8 frame I am ok with it. 

Also my first bee club meeting is the Tuesday after Easter. http://deltabeeclub.org/

[sc-bee]

Inspections without veils look neat and brave.... when they get you in the face it ain't so neat and brave  Always wear a veil just because you are just one sting away from a blind eye.... just my humble opinion and many will disagree but on what grounds. In particular with kids imitating you later...

[Garlicyoda]

I get what you are saying on the eyes :0P Got one in the lower eye lid when picking up the hive. I looked like a one eyed troll, for about 4 days.So swollen I looked like a stroke survivor when I smiled, the right side would not curve up. 

[Garlicyoda]

Something I did not want to mention until it worked out kind of thing. When I got my new hive the bee keeper who sold it to me said it was ready for a split. Since I had no where 2 miles away to  move a split ( as gleaned from many a you tube video) I split the hive almost immediately  before dawn even  came on the next day ( hoping no one had done orientations yet. Took three  frames out  that had brood, put them in with some drawn and partially drawn comb in an 8 frame single deep. Packed the front of both colonies  with dead grass and weeds from the yard ( forcing re orientation again as many you tube videos instructed) . Went out today and  found a queen.  Think today is day 14 or 15 from the split. This hive has drawn out a lot more comb , and packed in a lot of brown and orange pollen.

since it worked ( I think I got lucky)  I figured I would share.

[Garlicyoda]

Well Today I  got a bad  reaction  to a sting. I am the 1 in 200 now :0/

Any one want to buy some bees ?

[GSF]

What was the reaction? Systematic or local?

[Garlicyoda]

systemic,  stung on arm , body rash swelling tongue, numb tongue, swollen ar pounding in ears, decreased hearing swollen/ red face decreased / blurry vision, even with 50 mg benedryl ( 25 taken right at moment of sting, 25 dissolved under tongue 10-15 minutes later. Still climbing when I showed up at ER, then got  IV's with who knows what. and hours of observation. also for the arm the local reaction was / is crazy as well. I do have hope for next spring after hopefully going to allergist, maybe venom therapy?  we shall see.

[ggileau]

systemic,  stung on arm , body rash swelling tongue, numb tongue, swollen ar pounding in ears, decreased hearing swollen/ red face decreased / blurry vision, even with 50 mg benedryl ( 25 taken right at moment of sting, 25 dissolved under tongue 10-15 minutes later. Still climbing when I showed up at ER, then got  IV's with who knows what. and hours of observation. also for the arm the local reaction was / is crazy as well. I do have hope for next spring after hopefully going to allergist, maybe venom therapy?  we shall see.

I'm sorry to hear that! I don't know what I'd do without them. If that happened to me I would do what you are planning. I wouldn't quit without a fight. Good luck, I hope you find a solution.

[annette]

Wow, thats bad, so sorry you had this happen.

Yes hopefully a doctor can help you with this.

good luck.