Food & Dining Any bee keepers here?

My husband got me a flow hive for my birthday so I am now madly researching bee keeping. I am hopeful to spend the next 4-5 months learning and then start putting in bees in Spring. Is there anyone here who is keen to talk bees?

 

How exciting! I can’t convince the kids or mrs... have to make do with the chickens dogs cats goldfish and worm farm. I’d be interested in learning how you get on.

 

Oooh I'm jealous you got a Flow hive!
I'm thinking of getting one for our 10 acres because I love bees (even though I'm allergic) and I've also heard that they help control wasps and we have wasps making nests constantly so I'd love to get rid of them!

 

Join a bee keeping club in your area (yes, they do exist), lots of experienced people there. Fastrack your knowledge.

Bees will go dormant (in sydney) around Anzac Day.

 

My dad was a commercial bee keeper for almost 60 years. He had about 1400 hives.

 

Is there a cure or did he live with it?

 

We are in exactly the same position - bought a flow hive for the house xmas present and now wondering what next after putting it together .
We happen to have a natural bee hive in a tree in the back yard, and hoping we can get someone to gently move it into the new flow hive. I've rung a couple of people from the internet as the bee person in your area, but haven't had a reply. So will be joining a local club soon.
Let us know how things go.

 

Oh Beehave!

 

Unfortunately a, "Natural bee hive", isn't actually as natural as most people think. Those that occur in urban areas tend to be a direct result of amateur bee-keepers not meeting the needs of the hive, so the hive 'swarms'. Essentially they're not getting enough food or water, they might be getting sick. As a result they move somewhere better.

It occurs a lot in winter. Food becomes scarce or it gets too cold for the hive. In response they move into the walls of a house where it's a bit warmer, hopefully near some fruit trees so they can have access to food.

Commercial bee keepers move their hives all over the country, essentially following the food. Dad is an encyclopaedia of different trees, flowers and weeds all over Vic, NSW and SA of when they're flowering and how productive various locations are.

There's also numerous mites and diseases that can affect the health of bee hives. In-breeding can be a problem as well. Dad had numerous strategies to deal with these problems. You can actually purchase queen bees from all over the world, delivered via post, to avoid in-breeding.

Some links and resources to help you take care of your hive and keep it healthy:

Australian Honey Bee Industry Council — representing the Australian Honey Industry
Home
http://www.theabk.com.au/

 

Freyja, there is a bloke in Sydney who knows all. His name is Doug Purdie and his company is The Urban Beehive. He does classes and his book is great.
Urban beekeeping and supplies
They manage hives all over Sydney, but are very keen to get people into bee keeping. I did an evening thing with him at Cornersmith in Marrickville a couple of years ago. He brought along a dozen different Sydney honeys all harvested that week. It was amazing how different they all are.
When I get time, I'm going to get myself a hive.
Scott

 

Well, my beehive is up and running! It's been a lot of learning - and still more to learn! The bees have built out ost of their frames and I will be adding a super soon.

 

Awesome! I can't wait to hear how your first honey tastes.

 

That is amazing!
I'd love to get something similar but I think my yard is too small..

 

They don't require much exercise so a small yard is fine provided they can raid the neighbourhood for pollen.

 

Sounds like you need a magnify glass, pair of tweezers & some pepper @geoffw

 

I'll Buzz orff now.

 

That stingks.