re: Anyone here keep Bees?

Just go ahead and email me your contact info

I would put your hives closer to your house so that you can check on them more easily. I understand your concern about mites, but unfortunately, all hives have them regardless of where they are located.

Picked up 2 hives yesterday (2 deeps, bottom board, cover). Ordered frames as well, should be delivered Tuesday.

Now I need some bees. Going to put out 2 traps (nuc boxes) and see how that goes.

Dumb question, if bees are in the area can I bait a swarm directly into the hive itself?

Plenty safe. That’s a lot of area. My wife has hers up in the Felicianas but had them off of Choctaw for years.

Well I know a gal in Broadmoor that has bees and chickens. I had scrambled eggs for dinner from her chickens for dinner.

Bee Man

Which size and how many brood boxes do you use once your colonies get going?

Seems some swear by one and some are just as vehement about 2 deeps.

The Ebay bug bit and I will have more than enough equipment to get started, planning on three hives, 2 normal 10 frame langstroth in addition to the flowhive.

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Dumb question, if bees are in the area can I bait a swarm directly into the hive itself?

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You can. The difficult part is hanging a box that size in a tree. It’s even more difficult removing it when it’s full of bees.

Be sure to have some type of bee hive entrance gate or disc on the swarm trap or hive entrance. You’ll need some way to lock them in while you’re moving the bees to your yard.

You can attempt to bait them into your hive where you will keep them, but that location is usually a little too low and not ideal to catch swarms. It might be worth a shot, but I’d try to find a location that has some of the things that increase your chances (edge of a field, near a water source, and a highly visible landmark). Height is supposed to be another favorable attribute when trying to attract swarms. It’s something like 15-20 feet high. In my opinion, it’s not worth it. It’s very difficult and dangerous handling boxes from a ladder. I hang mine around 5-6’ high.

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Pretty sure I know the answer but how about a half acre?

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Believe it or not, 1/2 acre is plenty room for a hive. Bees will fly up to 3 miles to find food if they have to, so it doesn’t really matter how small your yard/lot is. There are just a few things to be aware of:

1) Although not required, it’s not a bad idea to inform your neighbors that you will be getting a hive. Typically telling them that you’ll give them a pint of honey will set their minds’ at ease.

2) If you are really tight on space, place some type of “wall” or screen in front of the hive so that they have to fly up and over it to leave the hive. Your neighbors won’t even know they’re there.

3) Depending on where you live, most parishes/counties have a mosquito spraying program. It’s important to call them and tell them that you have bees so that they don’t spray near your house.