HawkinsHollow
Veteran Member
60-80 lbs.?!?!?!?! WOW! That seems like enough. Hmmm, interesting. What about initial cost if I have access to free wood and the skills to make hives?
Honey bees
- Thread starter m1garand762
- Start date
- Views: 29847
CloverKnollFarms
Super Member
I can build a hive for $250 in materials. Much of that 2x4, plywood, and aluminum flashing for the lid
Attachments
LittleBittyBigJohn
Veteran Member
KloverKnoll and I use different methods and equipment. I use the Langstroth equipment and am a little more hands on than him, but less hands on than some others I know. I would say I average about an hour a week. More in the spring and almost none in the late fall and winter.
My suggestion would be 2 hives minimum. In the class I took the teacher sited right around 50% failure rate. Between my sister and I, that statistic has held true. But last year was my first year. I'm hoping, now that my colonies are established, the losses will be much less. The only 1 I lost last year I think I interfered with the colony's attempt to raise a new queen. By the time I figured it out, it was too late in the season to get them a new one. So I combined that hive with a stronger one.
If I'm remembering correctly I spent around $1,300 on 2 hives, 2 sets of gear, all the tools required, and 2 Nuc colonies. A good, strong, established colony can produce up to 100lbs of harvestable honey. Don't plan on any honey the first year.
It's a really fun hobby. But, I'm already tired of getting stung.
My suggestion would be 2 hives minimum. In the class I took the teacher sited right around 50% failure rate. Between my sister and I, that statistic has held true. But last year was my first year. I'm hoping, now that my colonies are established, the losses will be much less. The only 1 I lost last year I think I interfered with the colony's attempt to raise a new queen. By the time I figured it out, it was too late in the season to get them a new one. So I combined that hive with a stronger one.
If I'm remembering correctly I spent around $1,300 on 2 hives, 2 sets of gear, all the tools required, and 2 Nuc colonies. A good, strong, established colony can produce up to 100lbs of harvestable honey. Don't plan on any honey the first year.
It's a really fun hobby. But, I'm already tired of getting stung.
CloverKnollFarms
Super Member
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.
HawkinsHollow
Veteran Member
Beautiful hives! Excuse my ignorance but $250 seems like a lot for a couple wooden boxes with Al lids. Is that box more complex than I am seeing? Again, I have little to no knowledge in this realm so that might be a really dumb question.
How much is that same set-up store bought?
HawkinsHollow
Veteran Member
I am watching a video now, learning a lot and see why they are $250, lots of wood in there!
CloverKnollFarms
Super Member
You can buy these only one place, for $600 shipped. It is a double walled hive, so it has a framework inside it. Insulated with natural, unwashed sheeps wool. If you can get the wool for free, that drops the cost to about $150. That cost also includes frames, of which it contains 20. Each frame is about $2 with European wax foundation (us wax foundation is not as pure due to pesticides and herbicides in the environment).
The build of this hive is much more complex and involved than a simple four sided box used for a Langstroth hive. But it’s use is so much less labor intensive… and it is arguably a better home for a bee who is used to being in a tree hollow which itself has insulating properties
Last edited:
CloverKnollFarms
Super Member
They are hefty. For sure. I love them… though you don’t just throw one together like a conventional hive, which is why I have a full fledged shop now
HawkinsHollow
Veteran Member
Yeah I see that. Pretty cool!!
I am seeing Langstroth hives online for $150-$176, thats not bad. I am sure I could make them for less, but my time is pretty precious right now.
Might be a little late to start this spring though huh? I am in SE TN so spring is right around the corner. Can you start late if you expect little to no honey the first year?
CloverKnollFarms
Super Member
Issue is this… the bees need to build up enough stores for winter… so if you start late, they start late. Not insurmountable, but you may need to feed them, (which I don’t do unless it’s this sort of situation) so that they have the glucose to survive the winter. Not sure when swarm season begins in your area. In zone 6 here, it’s May. You could just build or buy a couple swarm traps and the bees can live there, build up there, until you had a proper hive. I’ve done this when my swarm catching outpaced my hive building.
HawkinsHollow
Veteran Member
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?
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?
Last edited:
LittleBittyBigJohn
Veteran Member
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
Super Member
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
Bronze Member
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.
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
Gold Member
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
Last edited:
cqaigy2
Super Member
Is that penciling out for you? I'm not asking for specific amounts of money to be posted.
Thank you.
CloverKnollFarms
Super Member
The land tax reduction is massive
HawkinsHollow
Veteran Member
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
Gold Member
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.
buckeyefarmer
Epic Contributor
Dad kept honey bees, made his own boxes, etc. for years he was also the county bee inspector.
He got calls all the time for swarms.
Short clip
He got calls all the time for swarms.
Short clip
Here are some similar links:
- Locked
