View Full Version : Bee question
Hoover67
03-28-2008, 09:27 AM
I am still in the planning/ordering stage of my new "hobby". I am trying to figure out what I need to order as far as bees. I was thinking about this at 2am this morning....yes I am so excited and eager to begin this new journey! I was wondering if there was any advantages to ordering bees that were reared "chemical free" or would it be best to attempt to capture a swarm and continue to manage them "chemical free". Or does it not matter if the bees have been raised using the chemicals. Does this make sense? I really do not know what I am doing! LOL!
Kieck
03-28-2008, 09:33 AM
At this stage in your planning, don't get hung up on "chemical free" or not. Especially starting out, learn to look for and monitor problems (such as Varroa mites, which are why most of the pesticides are used in bee hives right now). Learn management techniques to avoid using chemical treatments, but don't rule out "rescue treatments" if necessary, unless you completely object to the use of pesticides (but be prepared to lose bees along the way).
Buy local if at all possible. You can certainly try to maintain them chemical free. Worst case you buy more bees next year. Call Don, the Fat Bee Man (search this site for contact info). He's in your state and has hygenic chemical free bees.
indypartridge
03-28-2008, 01:17 PM
Hello and welcome!
If you're interested in keeping bees naturally, one of the best places to start is Michael Bush's website:
http://www.bushfarms.com/bees.htm
You may also want to consider reading Natural Beekeeping: Organic Approaches to Modern Apiculture by Ross Conrad.
Michael Bush
03-28-2008, 07:25 PM
>I was wondering if there was any advantages to ordering bees that were reared "chemical free"
Of course. But if that's difficult, bees are short lived. If you keep them without chemicals, they will be chemical free pretty quickly.
> or would it be best to attempt to capture a swarm and continue to manage them "chemical free".
Capturing swarms is a noble and useful pursuit, but it is not a reliable way to get bees. I would buy some AND try to get some swarms.
>Or does it not matter if the bees have been raised using the chemicals.
Of course it matters. But it won't matter for long as they don't live very long. :)