I'm sure there are some beekeepers on here.

I've been rolling around the idea of getting into bees.

Honey seems to be some of the better allergy medicine I've found.
Locally grown honey that is.
And I like me some good honey anyhow.

I know there are many benefits to having been hives

My wife isn't 100% on board yet, still about 50%

I'd like to hear from members that are bee keepers to help me build my case

Join bee club and learn the proper methods, it will save you SOME money , not cheap to get into beekeeping

My dad has been keeping bees for over 50 years. He has had anywhere from 2 to 200 hives. He had two going into last winter and both died off. He is planning to get a couple nucs this spring. It can be very time consuming, or not, depending on how you approach it. It is a very rewarding endeavor, expensive starting out, but worth it, if it's your passion. Dad always said, "Bees seem to survive in spite of everything you do to help them, or they croak". They can be quite fickle. Go for it and good luck!

I run 6 hives definitely join a bee club will shave years of learning off if you were closer I would be more than happy to help find someone locally that has been doing it and learn from them

X2 on the local club. If there's one thing us beekeepers love it's talking bees.

Get a mentor. Whether club or not having an experienced beekeeper to bounce questions off of will cut your learning curve greatly.

Get two colonies to start. Two is one, one is none. Two can be mutually supporting as you can borrow from the strong to bolster the weak.

Nucs while more up front cost grow better than packages as they have all the essentials versus a package which has to start from scratch.

READ, READ, READ

Beekeeping is continuing education.

Now to help the missus. Bees are not by nature aggressive, they are defensive. They would much rather be busy making honey than stinging. There are many benefits other than honey to having bees. Every product of the hive is both edible and useful. Propolis has antimicrobial properties. Beeswax has many uses from candles to polishes to balms and lotions. Your garden and fruit trees will thank you.

Oh, and do not expect to harvest a honey crop in year one. Year one goal is to get them strong enough to get through winter. Strong colonies coming out of winter are your honey producers. You'll get a taste of honey year one but don't expect a bumper crop.

And the fastest way to make a small fortune in bees is to start with a large fortune.

Another rule of beekeeping, ask ten beekeepers a question and you'll get ten different answers and they'll all be correct.

I’ve had bees for 50 years, got my first hive in 1974. I learned from my Uncle and Grandfather.

Today, new guys got a big advantage having the internet as a reference. Thousands of YouTube clips, bee sites, bee forums, articles etc out there to learn from.

Like trapping it becomes very addicting and there is so much to learn. It can be overwhelming in the beginning and it can be expensive until you have your set up but once you have everything it's a very cool hobby with some reward. I think everyone should learn beekeeping. I grew up with my dad and grandpa raising bees and wanted nothing to do with it until I got my own place and started really cherishing time with my dad a lot more and now it's one of my favorite hobbies. Make a swarm trap and try to catch some and start out cheap. There's also lots of good videos on YouTube that explain things very well to help the learning curve. I say go for it!

I have been reading a lot on bees/bee keeping the last few days.

I attended a "seminar" over the weekend.
It was VERY uninformative. The ol boy spent more time pimping his honey and handing out thank you's to the green house where he has his hives than he did offering any information or covering the topic.

I'm going to join the Missouri Beekeepers Association this week coming. As well as reach out to some of the local beekeepers for information and direction.

Sounds like beekeeping will be just like the rest of my interests. Expensive !
But I'm used to that.

Bigbrownie touched on something, the massive availability of information. Much of it good much of it not.

Do not buy into "treatment free" hands off do nothing styles of keeping bees. Bees are livestock and subject to all sorts of diseases and parasites. You would not get a flock of chickens and not do what you can to keep them healthy or prevent predators from carrying them off. Do the same for bees.

My advice learn to walk before you try to run. Go with what works and has worked for over a century, standard langstroth hive and standard practices. Once you got that down then feel free to try other things. The good things is that bees will be bees and they know what they are doing. Learn to work with them and not against them.

When you're ready to tackle the varroa issue go to www.scientificbeekeeping.com and read everything. That'll keep you busy for awhile.

Do not adopt an anticommercial position like so many try to get new beekeepers to do. The commercial guys love bees just as much if not more than the backyard keepers. Matter of fact many of them rely on backyard keepers for bee sales such as packages, nucs, queens or equipment and many go out of their way to help new beekeepers.

One youtube channel to watch is Bob Binnie's.

I second Bob Binnie on youtube. Also Kamon Reynolds is another good source.

The treatment free folks are the ones lining up to buy new 3# packages every Spring.

I have a qustion is the high flow hive any good??

OOooo boy you did it now. Lol. Id steer clear and learn the age old techniques of standard equipment vs flow hive

Read anything by Michael Bush. Bees can be very rewarding - and frustrating. And it costs some money to get in.

Disagree on Bush. Probably killed mores bees than any man alive.

I've tried almost all of his recommendations and all were failures.

Amazing bit of engineering. Problem is bees didn't read the manual.

Bees prefer natural wax over plastic. Bees are the original redneck, if it moves and it ain't supposed to then propolize it.

It can be made to work BUT you have to know how to convince the bees to work it. Kind of like mule wrangling, you convince them that it was their idea to do it.

And most egregious, I ain't never seen a bee tree with hot and cold running taps. It ain't natural and you have no way to determine if the honey is properly cured in all of the frames before draining it.

It promotes a terribly abusive mindset of no care take all the honey, leave the canoli, beehaving.

Raghorn67, you got a grifter in your area promoting a style of hive and beekeeping that probably worked quite well a hundred or even fifty years ago in his native Russia but is entirely unsuited in today's situation of varroa, viruses, small hive beetle.

Another tip in beekeeping. Those with doctorates in beekeeping, or other fields, rarely go around calling themselves Dr and those that do you learn to question. Beekeeping tends to humble you that way.

Been keeping bees 60 years. I think used equipment could be cheaper than new, especially if you find someone going out of the business that was a hobby bee keeper. Wish you were closer as would have you over every time I worked my bees and that is really the way to learn, hands on.

I have made every mistake a bee keeper could make at least a couple of times and still learning. You could really start with little cost with right priced used equipment, coursing wild bee trees and with permission cut the tree, remove the bees and you will have a hive that will make surplus honey this year.

Every bee keeper thinks what he does is the best way and getting two keepers to agree on some things/procedures is impossible.

I have been a real estate broker for almost 50 years and still work a couple of days a week but call me any time after you get a list of questions. How far are you away from Mountain Home,
AR as I might have some used equipment I could help you with.

Kent Smith
kent@century21Lemac.com
870-405-0500

Short answer NOT a good idea. Look cool I can't see it working successfully. No good way to work the hive check queen health or if you have one, tell if they are ready to swarm or know if honey it at the correct moisture content.

First do not tell her how much it will cost to get into bees, That is a deal killer with most women lol. Do not be afraid to treat your bees, dead bees can not produce honey.

What part of the state u from

I had two hives in an old house on my property that I want to tear down this year. I didn't want to harm the bees and just could not get anyone out to take them. So my son and I decided
to get a couple of hives and get them into them. My thoughts were it was a pretty passive hobby. Boy was I wrong, theres a lot to it. We were successful in getting them, along with the queens
into them but we sold them to a distant neighbor as I didn't need another hobby. After our start he is doing good with them. Hopefully I just get some honey from him as I love it.

Warrior what is your take on embeded wire in foundation? That id the way I was taught. My mentor said it was much better then plasticell.

Drifter I know you asked warrior but I will give my thoughts and limited experience with both.

They both work. Definitely want some wire to support the wax when it is hot out. But the bees use both about the same for me.

So my preference is for the plastic especially the dark plastic for bood boxes. Why because it much easier to see 1 day eggs when doing inspections with the darker background vs light color wax.

Camp Valor Seminar? My co-worker just told me he went as well

I figured out many years ago that women don't need to know how much some things truly cost.

God I hope she don't sell my guns when I die for what she THINKS I paid for them. Lol

I live in Henry County.
West central Mo.
Basically about half way between KC and Springfield

Kent. I'm about 3 and a half, maybe 4 hours from Mountain Home Ar.

I never have a single issue with my wife on what things cost and I don't keep anything from her or tell her it was less than it was.

At most when I say something like if I can't get the parts for the UTV I'm just going to buy a new one I may get an o boy and just let me know so I can move money around but that's it. When I buy guns she never says a word. She knows it's a good deal or something I wanted for a while since I don't spend money loosely.

I think she also know how hard I work and how I put the family as the priority. She saw how her mother hounded her step father when he spent money on tools he needed to work with as a kid and never agreed with that. Maybe I'm one of the lucky few to have a great wife. Or maybe the bad controlling ones just get talked about more and there are more good ones out than people think.

It's just another areas of many where I'm so blessed to have my wife.

I say this as I get ready to go drop somewhere aroung 2 to 3 k on med honey suppers frames and queen excluder. Well and may add a 6 frame electric spinner also. Tomorrow hopefully a barnn builder will have time to come out to add on to a building roof the existing and add a porch on one side. That's going to be expensive. But the addition is for my daughters mouse and rabbit breading business, that will open up the existing for a gym and small work shop for the boys. The porch is for the wife to have a covered place to grill,boils down sap, butcher chicken, and have a nice place to sit and drink coffee. One think you may notice is there is not a thing involved in that for me. Yet I benefit from all of it one way or another.

I'm an old school wire and wax guy. That's what I started with and stuck with. But I've got plastic that was given to me. Plastic works IF it is well coated with wax AND the bees are in a drawing mode. If not they will chew the wax off or draw wonky comb. I like the Acorn plastic but still think wax is better.

I have seen better use with wire beeswax foundation than plasticel, but it is way more difficult to replace. If selling honey, you will generally get more money from the folks who want comb honey - but that means you cant reuse your foundation.

I have had decent success using some of his techniques. I would caution future bee keepers that everything does not work everywhere. Bees can require a lot of work and considerable expenditure of money. I always wondered about those bees that get in the walls of a structure that seem to live forever. My son bought a vacant house for a deer camp. There were some bees in the eave that had been there for five years and before the remodel contractors moved in, they said the bees had to go. It was a job working two stories off the ground trying to save the bees. I salvaged what I could and tore the rest out and sprayed the survivors with everything I had. After the remodel, they were back in six months and have been there for the past nine years with nobody doing anything with them

Run all plastic Acorn foundation - low on wax I roll it on. Cant seem to figure out the pressure washer setting for cleaning up wood/wire/wax frames...........tired of wiring, tired of wax sheets - went to all plastic. Wax moths dont seem to prefer to nibble on plastic as bas as wood either.......

Very good club in Clinton MO. Where I started at.

Acorn is the best I've tried and my lazy streak likes it, alot lol. Heavy wax or rolling on a thick coat helps considerably.

I'm still not a fan of plastic though as I get new beekeepers every year with that double comb hanging off the foundation asking me how do I fix this.

But that's just a symptom as wired wax can get just as boogered up if the bees decide to chew it up when they hit a dearth.

Maybe we're not teaching the art of getting good drawn comb?

Got to put it on, wired or plastic, when the bees are in the drawing mode and if possible use good straight drawn as guides to get it drawn straight.

I can show pretty quickly how to fix that double comb issue - with my hive tool - I scrape it right off and MAKE them redo it. I used to feel bad killing brood etc. Anymore, I make them lay it down where I want it or else do it over........
You are 100% correct - when they want to draw it out matters - you can get very nice foundationless frames filled off a popsickle stick when they want to build comb - they want to build comb. I have found keeping them on syrup when flow diminishes at all really aids some but wont help if no flow coming in. Last year was plain terrible all year with drought. Couldnt get 10 frames pulled all year..........

We are getting down to 25 degrees tomorrow morning and really I have not even started evaluating my bees yet this year. Probably get into them again in a week with stabilizing weather and start making some splits and treating with OA for mites.

Yup, scrape it off and use it to rub onto the foundation. But I hate the double work involved.

It is very addictive hobby.

I had a brainstorm that actually worked. Got 2 pieces of glass that used when embedding the wire. One on each side of the glass. Stopped the curls and bumps.

If the reason you're getting into bees is because of the honey, you are wasting your time (and money). If raising bees sounds interesting to you, you are on the right track. The honey will come later. Much, much later and at a premium expense.

I remember when I sold my 1st gallon of honey to my friend. He said "I'll give you however much you have into it so far". I said "OK, That'll be 5 grand in cash". And I wasn't joking.

It's like any business (trapping alike) it takes a lot of money before you start to break even after expenses.

That said, I think bee keeping prompts a similar response that trapping does. If you like trapping, you'll probably like bee keeping.

I haven't read one bee keeping book but I've probably watched thousands of hours of videos (I'm a visual learner). There are some good guys (commercial guys included) on youtube. Just have to sort through them some.

A class is mandatory but some beekeeping assertions are filled with screwballs and people that are stuck in 1st gear when it comes to bee keeping, IMO. Finding someone that actually runs it as a business is gold.

Would love to see that. I use the old standard embedding board jig and still get a few ripples in a few.

Having my own honey is part of the reason I have an interest in bees.
More bountiful fruit trees and gardens are at the top of the list
I have always wanted bees,but I have traveled for many years of my career.
Now I'm done traveling and my life is more suited to get into things like this and getting into trapping again. Which I haven't been able to do since I was in my teens.
I'm not looking to get rich from them. Should there be a time when they make me a few extra bucks,then that's great. If it happens like that, then I will have a little extra something for trade bait for things like fresh milk and cream. Because I have no interest in having a milk cow.

Give it a go Raghorn. You'll either fall in love with it, or you'll let it die out. Only one way to find that out. Sounds like the timing is right. Once you get your feet under you a little bit, Take a look at Micheal Palmers videos regarding "The sustainable apiary" (free on youtube). Most hobby bee keepers lose most of their money buying bees every year that die off in the winter. Learn how to make your own bees from your current bee stock (going into winter with more colonies than you want come spring is the key) and quit buying bees every spring at $180 a pop. I haven't bought a bee in years and years now and this is how I save a LOT of money (or spend a LOT less). Beeing a good beekeeper turns into being a great honey producer. Has to be in that order, though. Learning how to keep those bees alive this far north all winter is the key. I wish you the best.

Bob Binnie has a very easy to listen to style and shares a lot of information. I don't have bees but keep learning and say someday.

There is an extreme amount of peace in looking out at my bee yard and seeing bees fly after winter......I know I have enough resources and the knowledge to build up just as many hives as I want to take care of. I very much enjoy raising up my own queens and seeing them lay good patterns of new brood for me. To me - that beats the enjoyment of honey. With a little knowledge and several failures, a bee keeper has the ability to build up however many hives they want in a few short years without purchasing any new bees.

I built mine as an addition to what my mentor was using. It doesn't eliminate all the ripples but does help.

I used the .5 MM wire that get from the supplier and the eyelets that push into the frames. If don't use them the wire pulls down into the frames and will not stay even on tension.lace the wire to have 4 strands. I staple the ends. Next need to build a base to hold the frame in place his was made of 1 inch board. It was sized to the top of the board the glass rested on.and the foundation was under the wire. next a 1 x 1 about 3" long drill a hole for it to pivot on about 1 /1x1/4 from the bottom frame. This will bow the bottom frame up some.

Glass goes in next then the heat to embed the wire.

Several designs on how that is done but a transformer from E bay made for it works for me. release tension and slide sideways a bit to break the wax bond and you are done. If you have embedded before you know you have to play around some to find your happy spot. Any questions fire away.

Make sure your not allergic. Today I went over and hived a swarm I caught and I over winterered at a friend's house I caught it at. He wanted to get into bee keeping so I picked him up all the supplies.

Or schedules didn't line up untill late this evening (aka all the bees were at home). I prefer to do this mid day when a lot are out of the hive. He wore a Vail and London sleeves but got stung a few times. Not long after he said he always itching and his lips were swelling up. I sent him in to get some Benadryl and we finished up. He has never had that kind of reaction from being stung before. I left to go to work he went to the walk in clinic and got two shots in his butt. I'm now wondering how long he will be keeping bees.

I didn't wear a Vail and had on a t shirt. I got several stings where I smashed them on accident and a few on my head. Got more than I realized. My buddy said let me get these stingers out of your four head. I thought it felt like I had one but he got out5. He asked me how many stings I got and I didn't know but it was more than I thought. He guessed 25 I don't think more than 12 maybe 16 max. I can't see through a Vail well and don't like wearing gloves or long sleeves. I get more stings at times but often I don't gat any.

I used to swell up and it would get worse with each successive sting even if it was days to a week between. Now it takes a several stings in a one area to get a light reaction. They really don't bother me much any more.

My wife used to not be bothered by them at all . Now she had a negative reaction swelling and sore for days and had to get antibiotics a few times.

So our bodies reactions change and just because you have been fine in the past doesn't mean your ok now.

Antibiotics for bee stings?

Work bees at night or during rain you will suffer the brunt of them.

And Darth.

Yes, the stinger causes some sort of infection.

Shortly before moving here had an allergic reaction hadn't heard of. Get hit on right side made me swell up for a few days. Get stung on left side just itching and a red dot. Anyone else heard of that?Before that used to swell some but nothing serious.

My wife swells up and gets a large red welp often first size. A few times it keep growing and that when she went to the DR. Oddly she used to have no reaction and stings didn't bother her at all. At the same time stings mad me swell and have irritation and it would be much worse if I was stung again within a week. Now stings don't bother me much at all even when I get over 20 at a time. But now I e stung cause her irritation and discomfort for a few days.

American honeybees are at an all time high:

https://www.wpr.org/news/honey-native-bees-popular-struggle

I didn't realize there are so many types of native bees.

A little about Bob. For a west coast transplant he's about as good a north Georgia sourwood beekeeper as there ever was. Bob will go just about anywhere in the state to talk to a local club and refuses to take speakers fees and his operation is about as far north as you can go and not be in North Carolina. He's active in our state association which makes him an oddity as most commercial guys washed their hands of the Atlanta/UGA clique over a decade ago. Bob regularly donates time and bees to the UGA bee lab and participates in ongoing bee research.

I don't know Bob well but he's one of those guys that I enjoy being around and take note of all that e says when it comes to bees. The late Carl Webb was another.