HONEYBEE KEEPING

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    • #30176
      mailman55
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        just wondering how many bee keepers we have?

        i have 4 hives with more coming in april, currently  they consist of 3 russian and 1 italian

        lost 4 hives to the small hive beetles  ;  this is my 3rd year keeping bees, still a newbe;

        leon

      • #31368
        DavidPrivett
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          the wife has 2 hives here and 1 hive at her mothers all 3 made it threw the winter,are the russian bees as mean as they say?

        • #31370
          mailman55
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            i don't see the russisan as being more aggresive ; but they are a little more protectve when working in the hive;  and tend to follow you as you move back from the hive,to let them settle down;  where as the italyians once you step back from the hive they will pretty much leave you alone;

            with the italyians that i started with the first year, they seem to have more trouble with the mites;  and not as motivated and hardy as the russisans ;  

            i am thinking about going with a horizontal hive set up this year using the standard frames, but allowing them to fab their own comb instead of using fondation;  will just have to see how it works, it will be sort of a modified top bar hive set up

            leon

          • #31373
            RichWaugh
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              If you'd like some really husky little buzzers that will follow you a looooong ways after you get near their hive, just let me know, Leon.  I'll send you some of the Africanized bees we have here in the Virgin Islands.  I've had them chase me two hundred yards after I drove the tractor too close to their tree and annoyed them.  They weren't chasing me to thank me for the wake-up call, either.  laugh

              The local bee keepers seem to do fine with them, however.  I just try to stay clear of them since I get tired of the poor little things sacrificing themselves to sting me.  I had to have the bee man come out and re-locate one hive since those little dudes wouldn't let me do my mowing without zapping me a dozen or more times every time I drove by with the mower. 

              Bees are really amazing little critters, aren't they?  Once I get the house built on the new property I may try to set up a hive or two, or get one of the local beekeepers to do it and split the honey.

            • #37649
              DavidPrivett
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                I seen it has been a few years since this was added to so how are the bees?

              • #48601
                DavidPrivett
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                  well it has been a few more years since I last posted this, the neighbor had over 20 hives now down to 2, wife has none now . Is anyone having any luck with bees?

                • #48602
                  Bob Rooks
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                    I believe Rich passed away three years ago. He was a great contributor.

                    Account deleted.

                  • #48603
                    DavidPrivett
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                      I seem to remember that now that you wrote that, I guess no one else fools with them. Putting new tires on the JCB back hoe going with 14 ply all the way around , hopefully that will be the last set I need.

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