I just got my beehive up and running a couple of weeks ago.
Do any FReepers also maintain a beehive? I am a novice and I am looking to avoid common mistakes. My first Beehive community meeting is next week.
Congratulations. I’ve kept bees for over 40 years including several as a full time commercial beekeeper.
DO NOT wear any dark colors around them, and DO NOT use any type of weed wacker around there-lawn mowers included.
They will get to know you, believe it or not.
And expect to get nailed once in a while.
My first Beehive community meeting is next week.
Is there much buzz about the meeting.
I would bee on a bee ping list if anyone wants to start one.
Im into my second year. Backyard beek.
Had a bunch of hives years ago, but they slowly died out. Last year I found that a swarm had taken up residence in my old hives in a shed. Moved them outside a month ago. Smoke and getting a feel for your hive’s mood. They have good days and bad days like us. On a good day, you can do pretty much anything you want to. But if they’re in a bad mood (you can kind of tell by the sound the hive makes when you open it up), it’s just better to close it up and work them another day.
They don’t like dark colors, fast movements, and animal smells. If you get stung, and you will, use your hive tool to scape off the stinger rather than pulling the stinger out—that just squeezes more venom in.
Kept bees from when I was 12. Read a book called “ the ABC xyz of beekeeping” fascinating book.