Wife wanted to get some hives so we now we're getting two hives full of bees delivered today. Anyone else on here bee keep? I'm going in blind on this project.
neighbors have hives. The honey seems to cure all throat issues. I spend my time with Raid vs red wasps hornets and tennis racket vs carpenter bees, my sworn enemy. The adrenaline after sending one to the moon is enjoyable.
I have a worldometer death count as I open up the back area each year. I used to wear goggles and have 5 or 6 cans of raid ready as I kick over nests with brutal ground and aeroassaults. This year just beginning but we are between 75-100 wasps/hornets and closing in on 20 carpenter bees, though waiting on tests because 13 of the carpenter bees I swatted may have covid so I wouldn't get credit for those or the hornets nest that was by the garbage.
I have several friends that do it, and it's a lot harder than you would expect. If you don't have the first clue as to what you are doing then I give these hives 3 months, tops.
Dad's been doing it for 5 or 6 years and there is never a time where stuff "just works". Always something to fix, something messing with the hives, or they need to be split, or they're swarming or whatever. A bit of a money pit but it keeps him busy
Nope. Uh uh. No way, no how, if we could survive without them, I'd gladly vote to kill them all along with all ther buzzy stinging compatriots.
I have a local bee guy that's helping me. Just got done working them and putting them into position. A little bit different being in a box with 30,000 bees going crazy. They might die and I'll be out a couple hundred dollars but something to do.
Spoken like a true American. "I accidentally murdered thousands of bees, but it gave me something to do."
I've been stung by just about everything native to Kentucky and Tennessee. Red wasps are the most painful, IMO.
Wife's brother has kept bees for 20+ years. Alot to it. He says best resource for newbies is contact your state beekeeping organization, i.e. TBA, if in Tennessee. They have classes and old farts that are more than willing to advise/mentor those starting out. UT Ag extension offices (depending on county) can also be helpful.