Good Book?

[Bubba]

I have saw several books on beekeeping and have a question. I waunt a book that has a good over view of beekeeping in general. One with great info and details. I know that there are many out there on the market but I also know that there has to be a few that outshine the rest. Could anyone please give me any info an a great beekeeping book please. Thank You

[kenr]

Bubba I'm just starting out I found that Bee keeping for dummys was easy to understand. Also you can't go wrong with this forum. smile.gif

[MeadMan]

I have to agree with kenr. That is the book I got started with. I then bought a begginers kit from Kelly and a book was included.
I am entering my third year now, and I was lucky enough to work for a commercial beekeeper last year. I learned a whole lot from him. One thing I learned from him is that everything in the books doesn;'t really work out that way in real life. The bees have a mind of their own. The books are a great way to get started but experince will be your greatest teacher. My mentor also sugggested that I should read more bee publications, like bee culture.
My advice is this: Don't get caught up in all the bad news the books dictate. Don't salvage any used equipment! It killed my first colony.
Invest in Tylan! After getting some tylan your worst enemy will be varroa mites, and harsh winters. This forum is a great resource, but I have found that many here don't like newbie questions. Not to degrade this forum and the valuable information it provides but I have personally, been treated in a rather unfriendly manner and ridiculed, even when offering advice about things I know a lot about.
So just relax, the bees will take care of themselves for the most part.

[Sundance]

Beekeeping for Dummies is OK but it didn't ring my bell. Just too much left out. Kinda bathroom reading.

I like Hive and the Honeybee and ABC/XYZ myself.

As to anti-biotics in general. I'm in the camp of not using them unless you need them. As MB has said many times "You don't take meds when your not sick, do you?" Good advise...

[MichaelW]

For the basics, I liked
Beekeeping : A Practical Guide
by Richard E. Bonney

I don't really like books that start off by calling you a Dummy.

Don't use antibiotics when you don't need them so that they work when you do need them.

[kenpkr]

>Don't use antibiotics when you don't need them so that they work when you do need them.

Couldn't agree more.
Try The Beekeeper's Handbook by Sammataro. It is very good overall and not too long and detailed for your first book. Then get a copy of The Hive and the Honeybee. You can probably buy a used copy of both from Half.com or Amazon.

[Drugstore]

Bubba,
All the books mentioned have merit, But I have to say that I agree totally with Bruce's post. The books he mentioned and the advice about medication he gave is very good.
You will find that beeks have many different opinions about how things should be done and this can be confusing to a new beekeeper.
Your bees will teach you a lot and you will have to choose the style and method you will use as a beekeeper. smile.gif

[Bubba]

Thanks for the info guys! smile.gif I recently found out that my great uncle has around 10 hives so on my off days from work I am going to go and work with him to get some experience. I just need to buy my bee suit in the next few days an possibly a smoker.

Anyone have any info on the european beesuits? I kinda like them because it is just one piece suit and veil.But there are so many that sell them each look very simmilar are they the same thing except for different sellers logo on them? I waunt a good suit but dont waunt do go deep in debt to do it. The wife is already fussin! ;)

[Michael Bush]

>I like Hive and the Honeybee and ABC/XYZ myself.

Me too.

>I don't really like books that start off by calling you a Dummy.

Me neither.

[kenpkr]

>I waunt a good suit but dont waunt do go deep in debt to do it. The wife is already fussin<

Then go cheap and buy a bug baffler!
bug baffler gear (http://www.bugbaffler.com/products.htm)

[Dave W]

I recommend the following:

THE NEW COMPLETE GUIDE TO BEEKEEPING, Roger A. Morse, 1994

BEEKEEPING: A PRACTICAL GUIDE, Richard E. Bonney, 1993

THE HIVE AND THE HONEY BEE, Roy A Grout, 1963
I like the 1963 edition better than the 1992 edition by Joe M. Graham.

HIVE MANAGEMENT, Richard Bonney, 1990

HONEY IN THE COMB, Eugene E. Killion, 1981

THE ABC AND XYZ OF BEE CULTURE, Morse & Flottum, 1990

HOW TO KEEP BEES AND SELL HONEY, Walter T. Kelley, 1983

BEEKEEPING, Eckert & Shaw, 1960

PRACTICAL BEEKEEPING, Tompkins & Griffith, 1983

THE BEEKEEPER'S HANDBOOK, Sammataro & Avitabile, 1998

MITES OF THE HONEY BEE, Webster & Delaplane, 2001

QUEEN REARING & BEE BREEDING, Harry H. Laidlaw & Robert E. Page, 1997

[Bubba]

I already have a bug out suit. Use it for pig hunting during the summer. The skeeders get pretty big around the swaumps! I waunt more sting protection than the bug out suit gives.

[FordGuy]

you know, this website (and maybe one other) is some of the best reading available, and it's free. Some of the nicest people on the web.