Honey bees

HawkinsHollow · Feb 16, 2023

But if I got my butt in gear and started buying stuff it would be fine huh? What is the latest you would start a hive to "ensure" success in Zone 7. Things are definitely starting to flower at this point.

In hindsight it doesn't seem like something to rush into. What can I do prepare for success? Classes, shadowing friends who keep bees, build my hives?

LittleBittyBigJohn · Feb 16, 2023

You would be fine to start now. My suggestion would be to find a local apiary supply and get an idea on prices and lead times from them. You likely have one within driving distance. If you do decide to buy bees that will be the deciding factor.

cqaigy2 · Feb 16, 2023

CloverKnollFarms said:
Consider trapping swarms, instead of buying nucs too. Our nucs have never been able to perform like our two nucs. We have seven colonies, 5 of which were swarms. After two years, we have had no loss of colonies. Not saying this winter is past us, but we have been very blessed with these hives and management style.

That's the only way i'd go if i decided to get back into beekeeping. I'm not too impressed with the genetics of the bees that are for sale. Plus if you get successful bees from your area, i'm thinking you'll be better off.

Hoot Owl · Feb 16, 2023

HH check your state bee club, they will have a list of all of the local clubs.
Also since you are starting out new it is best to find a local beekeeper that is selling LOCALnucs.
Feed, Feed & Feed them when starting new hives, it helps them draw new comp faster and the queen can start laying eggs faster.
If the workers have sugar water they won't have to gather nectar and concentrate on drawing comb.
I suggest starting with supply house bought equipment, when you start that way you see how they are made correctly.
I have helped newbees who thought, I can build this and non of the standard equipment fit there's.
I build all of my own equipment including frames. I just finished over 2000 frames last week and next week I will start going over hive bottoms and tops making sure they a ready for spring.

Beeenvenue · Feb 16, 2023

HawkinsHollow said:
I have never been interested in beekeeping, but this thread might be changing my mind. I guess we can never have too many beekeepers in this world, right? On a scale of 1-10 where 1 is "Eh, I spend a couple hours a month on this" to 10 which feels like a full time job is having enough hives to supply my family with honey all year and have plenty to give away. (does that question make sense?) Basically how much work is it to have a nice little supply of honey for me and my friends?

I do 6 for ag valuation (land tax reduction). Getting set up for 6 was quite a bit of time up front - perhaps 30-40 hours.

Now not a big deal. If you are ok potentially losing a couple of hives per year ($250/each to replace or catch a swarm if you want, or split one if your other hives are strong enough) then not much time at all. Hour a week during summer or so, nothing nov-Feb except doing a bit of equipment/hive body and frame maintenance.

I “bought in” so spent quite a bit up front. $300/nice suit, $100 in misc supplies (smoker, hive tools, frame rest). Each hive is $250 or so ($150 basic plus $100 for an extra deep). “Supers” for honey are around $50 -75. All that is per hive, store bought, and including the foundations. So x6 was a bit the first year but saved $3500 in taxes so all is good.

I get 4-6gallons (around 60 lbs total) per year harvesting from 3-5 hives. Don’t take any the first year of a new colony and I lose 1-2 per year. We also suffered from excess rain 2 years ago and extremely drought last year so I have no idea how much I might get. And I don’t try too hard plus in Texas we only get one harvest per year (July) due to drought/dearth and “snow on the prairie” polluting the fall harvest

cqaigy2 · Feb 17, 2023

Beeenvenue said:
I do 6 for ag valuation (land tax reduction). Getting set up for 6 was quite a bit of time up front - perhaps 30-40 hours.

Now not a big deal. If you are ok potentially losing a couple of hives per year ($250/each to replace or catch a swarm if you want, or split one if your other hives are strong enough) then not much time at all. Hour a week during summer or so, nothing nov-Feb except doing a bit of equipment/hive body and frame maintenance.

I “bought in” so spent quite a bit up front. $300/nice suit, $100 in misc supplies (smoker, hive tools, frame rest). Each hive is $250 or so ($150 basic plus $100 for an extra deep). “Supers” for honey are around $50 -75. All that is per hive, store bought, and including the foundations. So x6 was a bit the first year but saved $3500 in taxes so all is good.

I get 4-6gallons (around 60 lbs total) per year harvesting from 3-5 hives. Don’t take any the first year of a new colony and I lose 1-2 per year. We also suffered from excess rain 2 years ago and extremely drought last year so I have no idea how much I might get. And I don’t try too hard plus in Texas we only get one harvest per year (July) due to drought/dearth and “snow on the prairie” polluting the fall harvest

Is that penciling out for you? I'm not asking for specific amounts of money to be posted.

Thank you.

CloverKnollFarms · Feb 17, 2023

The land tax reduction is massive

HawkinsHollow · Feb 17, 2023

I like the idea of going all in and trapping a couple swarms. I am reading up on trapping swarms as we speak. It does not seem too hard. I have 14 acres with a water source and a nice hill top meadow with trees on the periphery, sounds about ideal for trapping. Might have to make a few traps over the next week or 2.

Beeenvenue · Feb 17, 2023

cqaigy2 said:
Is that penciling out for you? I'm not asking for specific amounts of money to be posted.

Thank you.

Not exactly sure what you are asking.

Year 1 with all new equipment and 6 nucs I spent around $3k. Years 2-4 is around $600-800/year (2 nucs, misc hive body and frame replacements, some sugar for feeding and mite treatments). I could probably spend less if I cared to.

Savings are around $3500/year in taxes.

I don’t sell honey; I buy around $60-80 in mason jars per year (not included above) and give whatever I get to friends and family except for about 2-3 quarts I keep for myself. If I wanted to sell I could probably offset the 600-800/year very easily and even have a small profit.