Honey bees
#6150180
02/06/18 07:45 PM
02/06/18 07:45 PM
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 208 connellsville pa
wvuarmyeng
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Well I'm joining the club of bee keeping. I'm looking at ordering my bees here in the next few days. I'm located in soith west PA in Fayette county.
Been reading a ton and attending classes and meetings. Didn't realize there was so many options of bees..... so would I be best if with italian bees or Caucasian??
Red fox - 0/3 Gray fox - 0/3 Coyote - 0/1 Bobcat - 0/1 coon - 2/25 possum - 1/20 skunks - 0/5 beaver - 1/6
First in last out, firefighter for life!
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Re: Honey bees
[Re: wvuarmyeng]
#6150235
02/06/18 08:45 PM
02/06/18 08:45 PM
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wvuarmyeng
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the south western PA bee conference is next weekend. cant wait to go and learn some more.
would it be smart to order bees from two different vendors and get two different types? or should I just stick with two of the same. I have a list of a few reputable vendors that have been that have been vetted by other local bee keepers.
Last edited by wvuarmyeng; 02/06/18 08:49 PM.
Red fox - 0/3 Gray fox - 0/3 Coyote - 0/1 Bobcat - 0/1 coon - 2/25 possum - 1/20 skunks - 0/5 beaver - 1/6
First in last out, firefighter for life!
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Re: Honey bees
[Re: warrior]
#6150409
02/06/18 11:01 PM
02/06/18 11:01 PM
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 208 connellsville pa
wvuarmyeng
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Two types might be a good comparison but then again the true differences between them are so slight that only experience over time can detect. From my reading I figured but never hurts to all
Red fox - 0/3 Gray fox - 0/3 Coyote - 0/1 Bobcat - 0/1 coon - 2/25 possum - 1/20 skunks - 0/5 beaver - 1/6
First in last out, firefighter for life!
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Re: Honey bees
[Re: Matt28]
#6150625
02/07/18 09:24 AM
02/07/18 09:24 AM
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 208 connellsville pa
wvuarmyeng
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yea I'm going to work on catching a swarm. the only swarm I saw a few years ago has a marked queen. they claim not many "wild" bees left in my area
Red fox - 0/3 Gray fox - 0/3 Coyote - 0/1 Bobcat - 0/1 coon - 2/25 possum - 1/20 skunks - 0/5 beaver - 1/6
First in last out, firefighter for life!
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Re: Honey bees
[Re: wvuarmyeng]
#6150650
02/07/18 09:47 AM
02/07/18 09:47 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,297 Wisconsin
RdFx
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Any Wis to be bee keepers or established bee keepers my be club is selling 3# pkgs for $100 to club members and $150 for nucs. Pm me if club members of Central Wis Bee keepers or non members for ordering . PM me
RdFx
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Re: Honey bees
[Re: wvuarmyeng]
#6150705
02/07/18 10:44 AM
02/07/18 10:44 AM
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wvuarmyeng
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Well put my order in for nuc of mite maulers and red line italians
Red fox - 0/3 Gray fox - 0/3 Coyote - 0/1 Bobcat - 0/1 coon - 2/25 possum - 1/20 skunks - 0/5 beaver - 1/6
First in last out, firefighter for life!
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Re: Honey bees
[Re: Ranger109]
#6151265
02/07/18 10:42 PM
02/07/18 10:42 PM
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Joined: Jan 2015
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wvuarmyeng
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I am seriously considering getting a hive also, what kind of hive and equipment did you get? http://shop.new.valleybeesupply.com/H105-10-Frame-Beginners-Hive-Unassembled-12600-H105.htmthere is an amish guy out in eastern pa that will be at the conference feb 16th (i think, going to call tomorrow) his prices seem to be a bit cheaper then valley bee. http://foresthillbeesupply.com/ just not sure on shipping. valley has free shipping on most where are you located? i would look for a local bee club they are a ton of help and knowledge. anyone in your area have bees?
Last edited by wvuarmyeng; 02/07/18 11:00 PM.
Red fox - 0/3 Gray fox - 0/3 Coyote - 0/1 Bobcat - 0/1 coon - 2/25 possum - 1/20 skunks - 0/5 beaver - 1/6
First in last out, firefighter for life!
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Re: Honey bees
[Re: Calvin]
#6151267
02/07/18 10:43 PM
02/07/18 10:43 PM
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wvuarmyeng
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I am hearing good things about the Canadian bees (Saskatraz)...especially for out northern climates (if you can find them) I won't buy another bee from the typical Calif supply. They don't do well up here. i did see someone selling them. i hope to have a mix of them to keep them in the next few years to have a nice spread of breads
Red fox - 0/3 Gray fox - 0/3 Coyote - 0/1 Bobcat - 0/1 coon - 2/25 possum - 1/20 skunks - 0/5 beaver - 1/6
First in last out, firefighter for life!
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Re: Honey bees
[Re: wvuarmyeng]
#6151287
02/07/18 11:10 PM
02/07/18 11:10 PM
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Joined: May 2014
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Michigan Trappin
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It's going to cost you money that could be spent on trapping supplies, ask me how I know
Every day is a gift from GOD, don't waste it!!
If they have plenty of food, give them something interesting to smell
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Re: Honey bees
[Re: wvuarmyeng]
#6151457
02/08/18 08:39 AM
02/08/18 08:39 AM
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wvuarmyeng
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yea well I also shoot in a trap league.... during the summer.... haha but the wife wants in on the bees so atleast I got her involved with this hobby lol
Red fox - 0/3 Gray fox - 0/3 Coyote - 0/1 Bobcat - 0/1 coon - 2/25 possum - 1/20 skunks - 0/5 beaver - 1/6
First in last out, firefighter for life!
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Re: Honey bees
[Re: wvuarmyeng]
#6154513
02/11/18 12:15 PM
02/11/18 12:15 PM
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Joined: Jan 2015
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wvuarmyeng
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So what's best to paint or seal with? I was going to get paint but wondered if tung oil or a stain would be better... also on colors I know red looks black tu bees so would blue yellows and orange be good colors to help them differentiate between their hives
Red fox - 0/3 Gray fox - 0/3 Coyote - 0/1 Bobcat - 0/1 coon - 2/25 possum - 1/20 skunks - 0/5 beaver - 1/6
First in last out, firefighter for life!
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Re: Honey bees
[Re: wvuarmyeng]
#6154529
02/11/18 12:33 PM
02/11/18 12:33 PM
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Tradbow1
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Wow rfdx our 4lb packages are 240 each if i remember right! I deleted the email and hung up my smoker! As poor as the last 4/5yrs of packages have been (up here) i’d be better off throwing the $ out the window. I dont know whats changed but we went from decent success with queens to 40% or worse! Not being able to winter as well....$500 can buy a loooot of honey for a single dude! Lol
Edit.... $231.50
Quees $40 ea
Last edited by Tradbow1; 02/11/18 12:35 PM.
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Re: Honey bees
[Re: wvuarmyeng]
#6154615
02/11/18 02:21 PM
02/11/18 02:21 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 25,594 Georgia
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So what's best to paint or seal with? I was going to get paint but wondered if tung oil or a stain would be better... also on colors I know red looks black tu bees so would blue yellows and orange be good colors to help them differentiate between their hives Any good exterior house paint. Treat exactly as you would wood siding. Stains, oils, sealers work as well but same as house siding paints give the best protection. Oil or latex your choice. I prefer oil as latex remains "sticky" and the boxes stick to each other and the paint can peel when unstacking. But that's just my preference. Do not paint the interior, though some do paint the bottom boards, just the exterior. Any color is fine, white is traditional, the bees don't care. Studies do show that geometric designs in contrasting color does help in orientation and may lesson drifting.
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Re: Honey bees
[Re: wvuarmyeng]
#6154618
02/11/18 02:27 PM
02/11/18 02:27 PM
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Joined: Dec 2011
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Tradbow1
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Jeff,
Steves Peterson is where i had been getting mine we've had extremely poor queen success rates the last 4/5 years.
Two years ago i did the 750mile rt trip for two queens in one day from keith, steve was out. By the time i was home one queen had died. The second never was accepted. That year i lost 5 hives in 2 areas so i dont believe it was area specific. Unmated queens, extremely poor acceptance, and 50-50 just poor laying, (some were slow to start....to reiterate for non arctic beeks, once behind you dont catch up )
My buddies are loosing queens as well. Both from Steve Victors and Steve Peterson. Yes Keith is crazy spendy! victors is 200 per anch prices. I dont know if theres a carge to fbks. I have not received Steve Petersons email. That should be anytime now.
Theres not enough time once you are behind. Barring Steve(s) has queens to begin with. Something has changed since i started. My buddies are doing just as poorly or worse, some are getting the from steve victors some from Steve Peterson . I didnt run bees last year because of the high failures.
Wintering is only a small part of the issue. Are you getting your queen to lay early? If not the hive comes out weak, first flights another issue. Look at wintering two fram nucs (guy in manitoba). He has a setup for getting the queens going. Seems intetesting though i prefer to let them go at their own rate. There has to be some beeks in northern russia etc who are wintering
This year has been crazy mild too!!!!
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Re: Honey bees
[Re: wvuarmyeng]
#6154633
02/11/18 02:50 PM
02/11/18 02:50 PM
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 208 connellsville pa
wvuarmyeng
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Nucs here in PA are anywhere from 140-200
Red fox - 0/3 Gray fox - 0/3 Coyote - 0/1 Bobcat - 0/1 coon - 2/25 possum - 1/20 skunks - 0/5 beaver - 1/6
First in last out, firefighter for life!
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Re: Honey bees
[Re: warrior]
#6154641
02/11/18 02:56 PM
02/11/18 02:56 PM
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 208 connellsville pa
wvuarmyeng
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So what's best to paint or seal with? I was going to get paint but wondered if tung oil or a stain would be better... also on colors I know red looks black tu bees so would blue yellows and orange be good colors to help them differentiate between their hives Any good exterior house paint. Treat exactly as you would wood siding. Stains, oils, sealers work as well but same as house siding paints give the best protection. Oil or latex your choice. I prefer oil as latex remains "sticky" and the boxes stick to each other and the paint can peel when unstacking. But that's just my preference. Do not paint the interior, though some do paint the bottom boards, just the exterior. Any color is fine, white is traditional, the bees don't care. Studies do show that geometric designs in contrasting color does help in orientation and may lesson drifting. Thanks ill see if my local stores have any "wrong" mixes discounted. Hopefully the weather dries out this weekend so I can get them painted and aired out. Supposed to rain here all week
Last edited by wvuarmyeng; 02/11/18 02:57 PM.
Red fox - 0/3 Gray fox - 0/3 Coyote - 0/1 Bobcat - 0/1 coon - 2/25 possum - 1/20 skunks - 0/5 beaver - 1/6
First in last out, firefighter for life!
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Re: Honey bees
[Re: warrior]
#6154692
02/11/18 03:57 PM
02/11/18 03:57 PM
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 208 connellsville pa
wvuarmyeng
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Have you tried getting bees from the north? I know they shop a lot from south to north. You would think that bees in the north moving south might be a tad hardier but would the warmer temps affect them? I'm just starting so I just know whay I've read and learned from my cousins
Red fox - 0/3 Gray fox - 0/3 Coyote - 0/1 Bobcat - 0/1 coon - 2/25 possum - 1/20 skunks - 0/5 beaver - 1/6
First in last out, firefighter for life!
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Re: Honey bees
[Re: wvuarmyeng]
#6154840
02/11/18 06:48 PM
02/11/18 06:48 PM
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Joined: Jan 2015
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wvuarmyeng
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Haha all good yukonjeff I love reading and learning all I can. Weather here in pennsyvania has been cold and damp. It's actually almost 60 today but been raining since Friday
Red fox - 0/3 Gray fox - 0/3 Coyote - 0/1 Bobcat - 0/1 coon - 2/25 possum - 1/20 skunks - 0/5 beaver - 1/6
First in last out, firefighter for life!
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Re: Honey bees
[Re: wvuarmyeng]
#6155549
02/12/18 11:46 AM
02/12/18 11:46 AM
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Joined: Jan 2014
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l1ranger
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wvu - we just started classes with the local organization. it runs through the end of march for 2 hours each saturday. you could check and see if your local organizations has somethign similar.
Josh
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Re: Honey bees
[Re: wvuarmyeng]
#6155911
02/12/18 07:21 PM
02/12/18 07:21 PM
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Joined: Jan 2015
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wvuarmyeng
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Headed to the western pa conference in Monroeville on saturday
Red fox - 0/3 Gray fox - 0/3 Coyote - 0/1 Bobcat - 0/1 coon - 2/25 possum - 1/20 skunks - 0/5 beaver - 1/6
First in last out, firefighter for life!
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Re: Honey bees
[Re: wvuarmyeng]
#6158217
02/14/18 09:42 PM
02/14/18 09:42 PM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 25 Heyburn Idaho
oldude
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I have pretty much given up on packages as they seem to lose/kill the Queen, I have mapped my local area and have a pretty good idea where the swarms show up every year and am going to try to rebuild with swarms.
Freedom ain't Free
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