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Thank you all very much for you input. I hadn't thought of the possibility of jeopardizing my successful colony in trying to save the other. Thats definitely food for thought. I'll sit tight for...

I have a situation in my apiary, and I think I have it under control. But I'd appreciate it if some of you who are more experienced than me could tell me if I missed anything.

I have two hives,...

This. If he agrees to owner finance you, you'll get to keep your job and the payments you make to him will provide a nice retirement annuity for him.

Brian

In Florida, bees are considered livestock just like cattle, swine, or horses. I know that theft of livestock is a felony here, and I would imagine that there are laws regarding destruction of...

This is pretty much exactly what I did. I read everything I could find for about 9 months, and then started two hives from nucs in May of last year. Because of my chosen path, I had foundationless...

I think she's talking about catching a swarm to populate her first hive. If that's the case, then I'd want to put out as many swarm traps as I could in order to increase my odds of getting...

Welcome Tim!

Brian

Welcome Bobby!

Brian

After reading this thread, and the threads linkined in post 3, I'm beginning to rethink the finish on my hive. I have cypress woodenware, and the only finish I put on is boiled linseed oil (no wax...

My understanding is that if the bill was introduced back in 2007, and it wasn't put forward for the President to sign into law during that legislative session, it's now dead. So it would have to be...

I did my first inspection last year, when I started my hives. Do I need to schedule my inspection for this year, or will the Inspector come back on his own?

Brian

Welcome Kel! If honeybees are where you interests truly lie, then there sno reason not to jump right in. Go for it!

Brian

That is really cool! I deal with the design and installation of automation like that at work. It's really neat to see it applied to something like this. Nicely done!

Brian

This...exactly.

On the issue of e-mails and their "request" that you come early to the next meeting, I say give them the benefit of the doubt...for now. The written word is often a clumsy form...

As someone else who recently walked the path you're on, I would recommend that you get a pair of gloves. Like you, I find them to be something of a pain-but I keep a pair around anyway. The vast...

I bought two five-frame, medium nucs last year and moved them into my two eight-frame medium hives. All my frames were foundationless. So I did pretty much what you suggest. I kept the brood...

Brilliant! The next time I make creamed honey, I'm going to try that!

Brian

I don't claim to be an expert on it, but I have used the traps you describe. I didn't measure the amount of boric acid powder that I put inside, I just spooned it in until I was sure I had some in...

Agreed. Both of my local gas suppliers (Airgas & Wesco) have liquid oxygen. I haven't asked about liquid nitrogen, but if I were looking for it they would be the first people I'd call.

Brian

This is exactly my plan. I've got an additional 8-frame box ready to go for each hive. It's a bit cold to open the hives today, but it's supposed to be nearly 70 on Friday so I'll add them then. ...

You think? This is my first go-round and I have no idea how fast things will take off when the flow hits.

Brian

So I got into the hives and didn't find nearly as much honey as I expected. There are a couple frames in each hive and that's it. But both are raising brood like crazy, which seems to make sense in...

This is exactly how I started my two hives last year. Keep in mind that if you get nucs, you'll get frames of comb with them. So when you transfer them to your boxes, the bees will have a guide...

Thanks for the advice guys. I haven't been in the hives since early December, but they had a lot of capped honey at that time and both had laying queens. I'll get in this weekend and see what I can...

All,

I'm coming through my first winter as a beekeeper and, based on the activity I see at the entrances, both of my hives have made it so far. I'm in Pensacola, FL so our winters are fairly mild...