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Post by The witch on Mar 12, 2007 12:25:27 GMT 1
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Post by mickthecactus on Mar 12, 2007 15:19:51 GMT 1
I must say that I was very pleased to see quite a few bees over the last few days. with all the scares about them disappearing it was quite reassuring.
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Post by 4pygmies on Mar 12, 2007 23:26:11 GMT 1
Ooh, I would LOVE bees. I have several times found out where the local society secretary lives and nearly got equipment etc but we always seem to have a financial crisis when I get to that stage. It is not a cheap hobby. I will one day.......they are wonderful creatures. I have great faith in the healing qualities of honey. Marvellous stuff.
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Post by The witch on Mar 13, 2007 8:45:11 GMT 1
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Post by seanmckinney on Mar 13, 2007 19:45:37 GMT 1
I have kept bees, some species are aggresive others are not. I had one hive of native blacks and they would sting quite readily so had to be handled with care, I generally worked bare handed as I could then feel any bees under my fingers.
I also had a hive of "Buckfasts" and I have gone into that without any gear on or a smoker.
Once when I was visiting my brother in york he sent me round to an 90 yr old bee keeper who still had some hives. He insisted I had a look, they were viscious bstds and I gave up with 13 stings in one forearm.
If you get a bee sting DO NOT try to pull it out between finger and thumb, you'll crush the poison sacks and just pump more venom into yourself, scrape the sting out with a finger nail or blade so that the edge goes between the sacks and your skin.
It's far to early in the year for honey, I would guess the hive was a nucleus ( a new queen and a few 1000 workers) set up last year and it wont be at full strength till mid summer or later, then depending on the species and the queen there could be 50,000 plus in a big hive.
No bee will sting for fun, its a death sentence to them, and they will generally only sting when provoked or angry. The only time I have found any bee would try to sting as a matter of routine is when I have resuced them from drowning and they are warming up but then I can feel the grip change as they prepare and I egt them onto a plant.
However some perfumes and soap scents will attract them and or may anger them so you if you use scents a lot watch out for their reactions. I would occasionally get chased up the garden by the odd bee if the hive had been disturbed. They may also be able to smell fear to if you are nervous of them avoid the hive.
On the whole I would recommend it to anyone who wants to try it and actually suberban bee keeper can do very well in terms of yield. I knew one guy who got 100+lb off a suburban hive in one season.
Re stings and allergic reaction, unfortunately this is something you have to watch, it can develop over time and I seem to remember that if it starts it gets worse with successive stings but I could be wrong in that.
I got the normal swelling and no allergic reaction but for those who do get a reaction it can be fatal, especially if stung around the throat. A sting in the mouth or on the tougue probably would always need medical attention.
Dogs snapping at bees or wasps is a very bad idea.
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Post by sweetleaf on Mar 13, 2007 19:52:32 GMT 1
I`ve only been stung once by a Bee....... my own fault as it happens and not, I think, a deliberate act by the bee! I was walking through clover, and I think I kicked him in the bum  My entire foot swelled up, does that mean I am allergic, or is that normal? |
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Post by plocket on Mar 13, 2007 20:01:37 GMT 1
I think it's fairly normal Sweetleaf - I've been stung by a bee that got down into the neckline and it looked as though I had three boobs! My brother was laughing so much he couldn't get the sting out  We don't have space to have a bee hive but have had a bumble bee nest in the garden, and often get bees nesting in the garden wall. I'm still working on the hotel and simply love the idea of the bee at the back of the tube bitting the bottom of the one in front to make it get out!!! |
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Post by The witch on Mar 13, 2007 22:41:20 GMT 1
Touch wood I haven't been stung by a bee ........... yet, but I'm still not keen on them :  Sean - how much honey would you expect to get from one hive? |
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Post by seanmckinney on Mar 13, 2007 23:14:24 GMT 1
Sweetloaf that would be normal
The witch I doubt there is a definitve answer, it would depend on the location, the weather, the type of bee, how many hives there where in the same area and what type of honey is sought.
I think I got 20 to 30 pounds off mine in my best year but the seasons werent that good and then I went to uni. Commercial keepers in good areas would probably expect 100lb + per year per hive
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Post by mickthecactus on Mar 14, 2007 9:28:14 GMT 1
That was very interesting Sean. Learnt a lot there. I seem to have an empathy with bees as every time they come into the house or office I am always dispatched to deal with them.
A bit of talking and gentle coaxing and they always go out. Never works with wasps though.
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Post by debbiem on Mar 14, 2007 10:48:49 GMT 1
I've been considering keeping them for years but have only just barely looked into it. I think that with our present garden it's got to be either chickens or bees, as there's not enough room or money or time for both. |
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Post by seanmckinney on Mar 14, 2007 10:54:10 GMT 1
Mrs B, chickens are probably the cheaper initially as a nucleus, hive boxes, frames and foundation etc would be quite a heavy outlay at first. If you were lucky though you might get it back in one season if you sold the honey I used to but equpment from these people www.thorne.co.uk/ that was pre internet |
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but I'm not too keen on bees buzzing round me :
I'm not sure if they have produced enough honey for eating yet though, as the hive is very young. 
