Thread: Beekeeping

If you keep get'n those Bee's high, they ain't gonna make no honey.

Originally Posted by Hirlau

If you keep get'n those Bee's high, they ain't gonna make no honey.

Those pine cones and old blue jeans are pretty wild stuff, a special combination! Don't tell the DEA!

The smoke makes them think that their house is on fire and they eat some honey to run. That makes them fat and lazy!

Seriously if you smoke them to much that wrecks the production for the day.....

Originally Posted by 32t

Those pine cones and old blue jeans are pretty wild stuff, a special combination! Don't tell the DEA!

The smoke makes them think that their house is on fire and they eat some honey to run. That makes them fat and lazy!

Seriously if you smoke them to much that wrecks the production for the day.....

While I've read and watched quite a lot of things about starting bee keeping there was one thing that stood out about 'smoking' the bees. And that is that the individual used dried cow patties. I watched as he loaded a bit of paper as a starter into the smoker and some small chunks of the turds and I'll be damned, it started putting out quite the smudge. He swore that they would provide smoke for hours as they just smoldered and didn't just 'burn up'.

I guess you never know till you try

There are no cows handy where I have my hives..

Most of what I have read is that people use what is handy to them and smolders. I talked to an older gentleman today and he uses old string from hay bales. In my neighborhood that is not very common. Even he said he is using old stock as they are using plastic string now a days.

I refuse to buy anything to use in my smoker as the bees are in the woods and there is plenty of fuel available. The purchased stuff might be a little more user friendly for use but it is the principle.

Originally Posted by 32t

There are no cows handy where I have my hives..

Most of what I have read is that people use what is handy to them and smolders. I talked to an older gentleman today and he uses old string from hay bales. In my neighborhood that is not very common. Even he said he is using old stock as they are using plastic string now a days.

I refuse to buy anything to use in my smoker as the bees are in the woods and there is plenty of fuel available. The purchased stuff might be a little more user friendly for use but it is the principle.

If you'd like to try a cow pie or two PM me and I'll send some along! Really!! They are quite easy to find here.

,,,,,, Now they're Trafficking In CowPie !!

There are farms closer to where my bee's are.

I would have a hard time approaching a neighbor and asking to gather pies at a certain moisture level.

I live in the inner city and my neighbors think that I am weird enough.

I would find it hard and not worth the effort to explain why I am drying cow patties in my back yard. You have to pick your battles!

I choose the pine cones and blue jeans!

Originally Posted by 32t

There are farms closer to where my bee's are.

I would have a hard time approaching a neighbor and asking to gather pies at a certain moisture level.

I live in the inner city and my neighbors think that I am weird enough.

I would find it hard and not worth the effort to explain why I am drying cow patties in my back yard. You have to pick your battles!

I choose the pine cones and blue jeans!

Not at all! If they keep cows, the likely know exactly why you want dry patty. Most farmers will be happy to let you grab some, and if you cant find dry, take some fresh and set it out in the sun.
I just found this thread, so im late to the party, but I want to agree with the use of mediums instead of large supers. When i was keeping bees, I was doing all the work by myself, and moving the large boxes became a terrible hassle.
I had 24 hives, and lost many to CCD and some others to the bear ( bastard was laughing at me) and eventually just gave up, when I developed an allergic reaction to being stung.
Oh, and up in this area, its a bad idea to take honey from the bees the first year, as our winters are long and harsh, and a starting hive needs every advantage!