There's an ad in our paper that reads: "Bees and hive $75.00" I know very little about bees although I've been interested in getting some for years. I went with a friend to talk to a local beekeeper a year ago, and based on the phone number, this may well be the same guy. My question is, what questions do I need to ask of the seller about these bees and this hive to know whether it's a good deal? Aside from hive and bees, what equipment do I *need* to start out and where on the internet can I get bee info, check prices and possibly even buy used equipment? Is this even a good time of year to buy a hive full of bees? It's very hot and humid hear in East Texas. Thanks in advance:o)

-- Elizabeth in E TX (kimprice@peoplescom.net), July 15, 2001

Answers

The people at Mann Lake are very helpful. Thier website is http://www.mannlakeltd.com We just started hives this year and they have answered many of our questions.

-- (theespe@aol.com), July 15, 2001.

In my area (Tampa) $70-75 is the going price for a beehive consisting of a hive body and one medium super with some honey in it and all the wax drawn out. This is for an active, healthy hive which has wood and wax in good condition and usually would have been requeened in the fall. If you are seriously interested in bees I recommend that you pursue it- I waited till I was 35 y.o. and wish I had started 20 years sooner. You have no idea how trult fascinating beekeeping can be until you start learning about it- there is so much more to it than just harvesting the honey, such as- pollination, candlemaking, botany and wildflowers, cooking with honey, queen rearing, etc, etc. The sooner you start the better! Now, if I have convinced you- about that hive. The very first thing you should do is find out if there is a beekeeper's association in your area- if there is, join it, attend the meetings, and make friends with other beekeepers. You will find that, although there is a wealth of info available in books, online, and from suppliers, conditions vary dramatically and the best advice you can get is from experienced beekeepers in your own area. They will know about bloom times, local honey and pollen sources, weather conditions, local suppliers if there are any, which will save you money when buying new supplies, and they will also know who has good, disease-free, used equipment. Ok, then you need to find out if Texas requires inspection of beehives. Florida has a great bee inspection program and our inspector has been one of my best mentors. He will know the person who is selling the hives and will have some idea of how good a beekeeper that person is. The hive will need to be inspected before being sold, IF this program exists there. If not, you should get one of your new buddies from the assoc to go with you and help with your own inspection. You will want to know that the hive has a strong population of healthy bees; the queen should be a prolific layer and have a good brood pattern; the brood nest should include fresh eggs and sealed larvae and there should be plenty of capped honey and pollen in the brood nest as well. The hive should be free of mites, small hive beetle, africanized bees, wax moths, and disease. When you get a hive you will want to have a smoker; a veil; maybe a beesuit, or at least a coverall- probably a good idea until you are comfortable working around the bees; a hive tool; a bee brush; and a frame grip. If this hive is one which was recently made from a split, or if it seems weak or does not have some honey in the super you may need a feeder and some sugar syrup. I recommend that you do not use gloves, or, if you have to, plan on using them only temporarily until you are confident when working the bees. It is really easy to smash bees when wearing gloves, which stirs up the rest of the bees. Gloves are also a really good way to spread disease. I think this would be an ok time to buy a hive, but- your local beekeepers would know for sure! They can be your best resource, so take advantage of their willingness to help. For internet sites use your search engine and enter "beekeeping"; or bee supplies- you will find many suppliers that way. I recommend Dadant (www.dadant.com). Walter Kelly in Kentucky is another really good supplier. I was not pleased with my experiences with Brushy Mountain so I never recommend them, and I find that places like Glory Bee, Mann Lake, and a few others are very high priced. Be wary of buying any used equipment unless you KNOW it to be disease-free. Many disease spores, including American Foul Brood, can survive for many decades in unused equipment. Finally, one last tip about beehive economics- a lot of beginners are put off by the seemingly high cost of getting inti beekeeping. What they don't realize is that a good hive will produce enough surplus honey to meet your own needs with plenty left over to sell or give as gifts. I recouped the cost of my first hive and all equipment the first time I extracted. Consider it an investment, even if you give away all the extra honey. Good luck. Hope this helps. su

-- elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), July 15, 2001.

I have done a bit more reading in the older messages and at the Mann Lake website (thanks theespe) and have decided I need to do more research, join a beekeeping club, talk to local beekeepers, get a hive without bees this fall, set it up, and get bees in the spring! Doesn't seem like something to rush into.

-- Elizabeth in E TX (kimprice@peoplescom.net), July 15, 2001.

Thanks Elizabeth; you must have posted at the same time as my own reply to myself as I didn't see yours. I am fascinated by bees and won't put it off much longer. I'll be 40 in October--maybe a good birthday present to myself!!!

-- Elizabeth in E TX (kimprice@peoplescom.net), July 15, 2001.

Elizabeth, do you have the Africanized bees in your region yet? Some counties in Texas have quaranteens on bees because of them(can't move them across county lines). You might check in with your extension agent on this just in case.

-- mary (marylgarcia@aol.com), July 15, 2001.

We have apistan resistant varroa mites in our area of WV. Beekeeping is MUCH different than it was 20 years ago. You must attend to them almost as often as other livestock to check for disease and parasites. Take a class and get in touch with your state apiarist. Good luck.

-- Anne (HealthyTouch101@wildmail.com), July 15, 2001.

I am a beekeeper and I don't check on my bees that often. In fact, I will go 4-5 months and not check them, depending on the time of year. Apistan is not the only medication/means for treating Varroa mite.

-- Laura (LauraLeekis@home.com), July 16, 2001.

Laura, I am glad you don't have to check so often. Bees die here if you wait that long. Here in WV most of us need to check once a week. More if there are problems. I lost hives trying methods other than the medication. I wish you continued success.

-- Anne (HealthyTouch101@wildmail.com), July 16, 2001.

Wow- I'm with Laura. I go months at a time without checking mine. If I opened my hives every week they'd never get any honey made! What problems do you have other than mited that require so much attentio

-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), July 16, 2001.