Honey bees are under threat

Hi all,

It is a great hobby, but bee very careful..... You start with one, then two then four, and then it can get a bit out of hand.

And sometimes, the numbers can jump in minutes. One memorable afternoon I got eight swarms in two hours!

Almost any back yard or porch could have one hive, and most would cope with 2 - 4. Any more WILL be grief with the family and neighbours come Sep, Oct, Nov and early Dec.

The best way is to kick off with one, and start out with 8 frame full depth boxes and frames. That way when, not if, you expand, the gear is standard.

Other gear you need is a bee suit, gloves, hive tool (Australian type - "j" shape) bee brush and smoker. Other stuff can be hired, borrowed or purchased later as required - buckets, drums, extractors, uncapping planes/knives, strainers, frame grips, etc etc.

And the best fun bit is building all the boxes, bases, frames and lids!!

Gumnut
Keeper of bees

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Originally Posted by Gumnut

Hi all,

It is a great hobby, but bee very careful..... You start with one, then two then four, and then it can get a bit out of hand.

Gumnut
Keeper of bees

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:D very true. Dad had bees and did well from them. Brother and I got into it with him as a hobby years ago, just wanted about 10...ended up with 50!

Got out. Now brother is back into it with 200! And has another 200 empty boxes ready to go!

When it was a family hobby 20 years ago, we used to get $1 - $1.30 per kg honey. Now it's around $3.50 - $4. News is it will go a lot higher as bee numbers decline...:(
.

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Originally Posted by bob10

Became interested in this subject after joining the Northside Bee keeping association. When I am sufficiently educated, I will take delivery of my first hive. It is a most interesting hobby, when you get into it. An important one, as well. Bob


BBC News - US sets up honey bee loss task force

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G'day Bob,
How long does your education take? Is there a course or something like that?
Does sound like it should be an Interesting Hobby.
It's all the Buzz...........at the moment. Quite a popular thing to do.

looks like a bad year for bees
News and Events

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Originally Posted by bob10

Hive beetle can be controlled. There are new bottom boards that allow the bees to chase the beetle into the bottom of the hive, where they are dispatched by drowning in oil , or chemical means, such as cockroach bait. The bees can not access the bottom area. Bees will chase the beetle, but can not kill it, as the beetle is too small. BTW, scientific tests have determined our native bee honey to have more medicinal properties than NZ manuka honey, Bob

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Bob &/or Others
Do you know if Hive Beetle affect Natives & if so, what should I be looking for? Is it an introduced species?
I have the small, black, stingless Natives.
Cheers
Steve

Just found this!!
Keeping Out Small Hive Beetles - Aussie Bee Online Article 18

Probably a good idea to produce your own as there has been several news articles recently that a lot of the imported 'Honey' is not even Honey and is derived from corn syrup!
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/...-local-keepers

cheap honey products might be corn syrup | Dynamic Business

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Originally Posted by Saitch

Bob &/or Others
Do you know if Hive Beetle affect Natives & if so, what should I be looking for? Is it an introduced species?
I have the small, black, stingless Natives.
Cheers
Steve

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I am going to a meeting tomorrow night, our association has a number of native bee owners. I will ask the question, and get back to you. I may even get an e-mail address for you, to talk direct. Bob

Thanks Bob.
Our bees are in trees so I would like to know if these beetles attack tree hives. One of the trees is dead & becoming a bit of a problem with falling branches, so I may have to remove it in the next year or so.
I will have to look at how to relocate the little fellows properly which will bring the beetles in to play perhaps. We're not in suburbia but do have visits from a small number of Euro bees.
Steve

I am getting my first hive delivered in spring. Can't wait.:). Great thing is that my mate - who owns plenty of hives, will look after it and teach me all about it as I go. He takes half the honey in exchange.

Win/win. Hopefully I'll learn enough to start building up from there.