Life The bee keeper diaries - Page 4

**Iowanian** · 02-02-2017, 06:59 PM

It's a great time to buy stock in eppy pens.

This thread is a repository for bee keepers or those interested.

A couple of years ago, a couple of friends an my brother started puttering with honey bees. I didn't buy off because, well, I've never been a big fan of bees or getting stung by them. Last summer I tagged along a couple of times to check their hives and to remove honey bees from a house, public building and an old garage.

I realized at the end of the summer when I was helping them process some, that it's actually pretty interesting, and fits into my expanding "grow my own" logic. I'm not full blown hippy but I see a lot of logic in the self sustaining food thing and I'm doing some of that too.

That said, this thread is about bees, honey bees, bee keeping and bee fighting war stories.

I'm taking the leap and plan to get 2-3 hives this spring and maybe build some bee swarm traps to make it cheaper or to make a few bucks.

Join me and I'll share the real life lessons of an ameture bee keeper. I'm sure I'm going to learn some things the hard way.

**Iowanian** · 05-14-2017, 04:49 PM

Well, that didn't take long.
I received my first call yesterday for a swarm. Bees were boiling in their yard and balling in a tree. I was there with my bother within half an hour...which didn't make brideowanian happy because I was preparing to host a party in 3 hrs....

By the time we got there, the owner had called again and he bees were relocating to a bush on the ground....much better than 15 feet above the ground. Everything didn't go perfectly, Jt we were able to gather the majority of the bees into a nut box, and had them in a new hive in my bee yard in an hour and a half.

After some discussion about seeing it done, I saw my brother take off a glove and stick his hand completely into the swarm. I'm not there yet.

KS Smitty · 05-17-2017, 07:31 AM

Wow, bee thieves.

A report right after it happened:
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/l...120-story.html

Update from May 16:
http://www.kfbb.com/story/35446097/s...s-make-it-home

**Iowanian** · 05-17-2017, 04:55 PM

I've heard several times to not keep hives visible from the road because people will steal them. I guess if you figure a value of $300/hive and a hundred bucks and not considering the value of honey if it isn't there.

On a positive note...bees are swarming and we nabbed 2 more easy swarms in the past day and found a cemetery with a bee tree issue.

I've filled what I have and need to buy some more parts. I now understand how it happens....

**Iowanian** · 05-23-2017, 03:04 PM

I did another tree cutout last Friday. A storm knocked a tree down on a house and a power line and they couldn't fix power and remove tree until bees were gone. Got 1 sting on the thumb trying to take a pic....but other than that it was easy.

I learned of another tree near me that's had a known honey been hive since 1990. We'll probably try to get it cut out sometime this week when time and weather allow. I'm getting more of a charge out of doing this stuff than I ever figured I would.

seclark · 05-23-2017, 03:06 PM

sounds cool, iowa...pics are great, too.
sec

**Iowanian** · 05-26-2017, 05:37 PM

We had calls for 2 swarms tonight gut and went to get them. The one I went to grab seemed easy enough...they were in a pine tree about 5' off the ground and seemed docile. Got them in the box and with the exception of a sting on the back, I literally drank a beer and watched them go into the box.

Dropped the, off at the bee yard of choice...everything was fine and then after checking s couple of boxes d cited to leave. Not exactly sure what happened but when I was taking off m Oompa Loompa suit some bees gave you the shoe you have been praying for on video...but it wasn't on video. I took a hit to th chin, a couple on the nose, one on the on the neck

The landowner texted an hour after I left and said a swarm flew over the house, so I think they flew away.

As a consolation prize I am giving you this picture of my finger in a bee hole.

ghak99 · 05-26-2017, 08:55 PM

Bees have always been interesting to me, but I've never taken the plunge into playing with them.

Have an old farmall H in a fence row that has a hole in the side of its rear tire. It's been occupied for at least three years now. A hickory tree in my father's back yard has a hole about 20' up that has been occupied for several years as well. Both hives work the clover field between the two when it's in bloom and it's quite interesting just to sit and watch how deliberately they come and go.

**Buzz** · 05-26-2017, 09:13 PM

Why the **** would you poke the bear?

**Iowanian** · 05-26-2017, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buzz

Why the **** would you poke the bear?

Men who wouldn't wear a romper might ask....why wouldn't you?

Sometimes when a kid learns to ride a bike, the ride over jumps because th have seen people with years of experience do it. It feels cool to do it at the time, but you know you're going to land on your chin sometime.

**Buzz** · 05-26-2017, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iowanian

Men who wouldn't wear a romper might ask....why wouldn't you?

Sometimes when a kid learns to ride a bike, the ride over jumps because th have seen people with years of experience do it. It feels cool to do it at the time, but you know you're going to land on your chin sometime.

Good luck with that, let me know when you start selling honey.

vailpass · 05-26-2017, 09:47 PM

That's ****ing cool.

**SAUTO** · 05-27-2017, 08:28 AM

Yeah, I have a problem with always poking the bear.

Hog's Gone Fishin · 05-27-2017, 09:09 AM

Honey is supposed to be a really healthy food. Some antibiotic properties as well as cardiovascular health. I was reading the other day there is a honey that comes out of a particular bee in Brazil that cures cancer.

Hoopsdoc · 05-27-2017, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghak99

Bees have always been interesting to me, but I've never taken the plunge into playing with them.

Have an old farmall H in a fence row that has a hole in the side of its rear tire. It's been occupied for at least three years now. A hickory tree in my father's back yard has a hole about 20' up that has been occupied for several years as well. Both hives work the clover field between the two when it's in bloom and it's quite interesting just to sit and watch how deliberately they come and go.

The old old house I grew up in had a pretty large hive under the eaves in the rear. Dad wouldn't allow anyone to mess with it and that hive was still there when we moved out.

We kids just learned not to play near it but they never bothered us at all.

Hog's Gone Fishin · 05-27-2017, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoopsdoc

The old old house I grew up in had a pretty large hive under the eaves in the rear. Dad wouldn't allow anyone to mess with it and that hive was still there when we moved out.

We kids just learned not to play near it but they never bothered us at all.

Yeah, well, maybe those weren't pimples you were always broke out with.

02-02-2017, 06:59 PM
Iowanian Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Utopia Casino cash: $3288454	The bee keeper diaries It's a great time to buy stock in eppy pens. This thread is a repository for bee keepers or those interested. A couple of years ago, a couple of friends an my brother started puttering with honey bees. I didn't buy off because, well, I've never been a big fan of bees or getting stung by them. Last summer I tagged along a couple of times to check their hives and to remove honey bees from a house, public building and an old garage. I realized at the end of the summer when I was helping them process some, that it's actually pretty interesting, and fits into my expanding "grow my own" logic. I'm not full blown hippy but I see a lot of logic in the self sustaining food thing and I'm doing some of that too. That said, this thread is about bees, honey bees, bee keeping and bee fighting war stories. I'm taking the leap and plan to get 2-3 hives this spring and maybe build some bee swarm traps to make it cheaper or to make a few bucks. Join me and I'll share the real life lessons of an ameture bee keeper. I'm sure I'm going to learn some things the hard way. Attached Thumbnails
Posts: 62,484

05-14-2017, 04:49 PM	#46
Iowanian Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Utopia Casino cash: $3288454	Well, that didn't take long. I received my first call yesterday for a swarm. Bees were boiling in their yard and balling in a tree. I was there with my bother within half an hour...which didn't make brideowanian happy because I was preparing to host a party in 3 hrs.... By the time we got there, the owner had called again and he bees were relocating to a bush on the ground....much better than 15 feet above the ground. Everything didn't go perfectly, Jt we were able to gather the majority of the bees into a nut box, and had them in a new hive in my bee yard in an hour and a half. After some discussion about seeing it done, I saw my brother take off a glove and stick his hand completely into the swarm. I'm not there yet. Attached Thumbnails
Posts: 62,484

05-17-2017, 07:31 AM	#47
KS Smitty Cool as a Cucumber Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: on the edge Casino cash: $3466717	Wow, bee thieves. A report right after it happened: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/l...120-story.html Update from May 16: http://www.kfbb.com/story/35446097/s...s-make-it-home __________________ A D with Sneed is a D indeed.
Posts: 3,823

05-17-2017, 04:55 PM	#48
Iowanian Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Utopia Casino cash: $3288454	I've heard several times to not keep hives visible from the road because people will steal them. I guess if you figure a value of $300/hive and a hundred bucks and not considering the value of honey if it isn't there. On a positive note...bees are swarming and we nabbed 2 more easy swarms in the past day and found a cemetery with a bee tree issue. I've filled what I have and need to buy some more parts. I now understand how it happens....
Posts: 62,484

05-23-2017, 03:04 PM	#49
Iowanian Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Utopia Casino cash: $3288454	I did another tree cutout last Friday. A storm knocked a tree down on a house and a power line and they couldn't fix power and remove tree until bees were gone. Got 1 sting on the thumb trying to take a pic....but other than that it was easy. I learned of another tree near me that's had a known honey been hive since 1990. We'll probably try to get it cut out sometime this week when time and weather allow. I'm getting more of a charge out of doing this stuff than I ever figured I would.
Posts: 62,484

05-23-2017, 03:06 PM	#50
seclark MVP Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: nemo Casino cash: $-300100	sounds cool, iowa...pics are great, too. sec __________________ "Mr. seclark. Wrong for gravy, wrong for jelly, wrong for biscuits." -rj "If every Planeteer who was disliked by another Planeteer stopped being a Planeteer we wouldn't have any Planeteers." -rj
Posts: 13,440

05-26-2017, 05:37 PM	#51
Iowanian Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Utopia Casino cash: $3288454	We had calls for 2 swarms tonight gut and went to get them. The one I went to grab seemed easy enough...they were in a pine tree about 5' off the ground and seemed docile. Got them in the box and with the exception of a sting on the back, I literally drank a beer and watched them go into the box. Dropped the, off at the bee yard of choice...everything was fine and then after checking s couple of boxes d cited to leave. Not exactly sure what happened but when I was taking off m Oompa Loompa suit some bees gave you the shoe you have been praying for on video...but it wasn't on video. I took a hit to th chin, a couple on the nose, one on the on the neck The landowner texted an hour after I left and said a swarm flew over the house, so I think they flew away. As a consolation prize I am giving you this picture of my finger in a bee hole. Attached Thumbnails
Posts: 62,484

05-26-2017, 08:55 PM	#52
ghak99 MVP Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Missouri Casino cash: $-137750	Bees have always been interesting to me, but I've never taken the plunge into playing with them. Have an old farmall H in a fence row that has a hole in the side of its rear tire. It's been occupied for at least three years now. A hickory tree in my father's back yard has a hole about 20' up that has been occupied for several years as well. Both hives work the clover field between the two when it's in bloom and it's quite interesting just to sit and watch how deliberately they come and go.
Posts: 8,718

05-26-2017, 09:13 PM	#53
Buzz I like Pie! Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In my garage Casino cash: $10016623	Why the **** would you poke the bear?
Posts: 5,383

05-26-2017, 09:47 PM	#56
vailpass Psycho Bag Of Squanch Join Date: Sep 2001 Casino cash: $9594244	That's ****ing cool. __________________ “Education is a weapon whose effect depends on who holds it in his hands and at whom it is aimed.” Joseph Stalin
Posts: 69,591

05-27-2017, 08:28 AM	#57
SAUTO Shit Join Date: Jun 2008 Casino cash: $10039067	Yeah, I have a problem with always poking the bear.
Posts: 55,715

05-27-2017, 09:09 AM	#58
Hog's Gone Fishin Fish are scared of me Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $-219523	Honey is supposed to be a really healthy food. Some antibiotic properties as well as cardiovascular health. I was reading the other day there is a honey that comes out of a particular bee in Brazil that cures cancer.
Posts: 40,656