Brand new to bee's

[beefan]

Hello, Im brand new to bee's. How safe are bee's? Can I keep them in my backyard? A roommate of mine dosnt like the idea of having bee's .

[Troutsqueezer]

>How safe are bee's?

The more you know, the safer they are. To the pulbic at large, they are pretty safe.

>Can I keep them in my backyard?

98% of the time, yes. Check your local codes.

>A roommate of mine dosnt like the idea of having bee's .

Educate your roomate and yourself at the same time. Start searching and reading this forum. After a while, you'll both be hooked.

Good luck and welcome.

[beefan]

wow thanks for quick reply and info.. Where do I start? is there a FAQ? Maby a good web page or book? Oh and what kind of upkeep do they need? LOL and I think im allergic to bee's. I was stung by a wasp/yellow jacket.. and I think I went into allergic shock! Bee venom the same?

[Hillside]

There's a lot of beginner information at this site.

http://www.ento.psu.edu/extension/fact_sheets.html

It should give you a pretty good idea what is involved.

[riverrat]

welcome aboard I would sugest finding a local bee keep to help you out. most are willing to help. if you spend enough time around the beekeep you will sooner or later find out if you are allergic. its better to find out that way instead of investing money and finding out later

[betrbekepn]

First make sure you are not allergic. Local swelling\tenderness is normal after being stung. If your having trouble breathing after being stung, you defiantly have a problem. After learning the basics read this website http://www.bushfarms.com/bees.htm over and over, very informative. Also take advantage of the search option here at the Beesource Forums. Almost every question has been asked before, search for what you have a question about before posting a question. As far as having bees in you back yard, it depends. Some bees are very nice, some can be mean little shits. I had a hive set up around ten feet behind my house once. My luck, they were mean little devils, needless to say I had to wear my bee suit to even mow the lawn\walk out to the vegetable garden. I moved them around 100 feet away, behind a row a evergreens, haven't bothered me since. If I were you I'd buy a nuc from Dixie Bee Supply http://www.geocities.com/fatbeeman/?200524 They are allready regressed, you'll learn what that means after reading Michael Bushs website, and they're saposidly very gentle, perfect for the back yard beekeeper.

[indypartridge]

You might check and see if any of these beekeeping clubs are near you. I always recommend getting involved with a local group. Also, check with you county extension agent, ask for info about local beekeepers.

http://entomology.ucdavis.edu/facult...ping-clubs.doc

You might send a PM to SantaCruzBee, he's an active member here. He might be able to able to suggest some local resources.

[Troy]

I will address the allergy issue. I am allergic to quite a few things, so I have some experience to talk about this.

If I get stung by a wasp or yellow jacket my response is not systemic, but pretty bad. It will hurt like crazy and swell for about 6-9 inches around it. It will get hot and red and rise about an inch tall.

When I first started beekeeping, and I got stung by a honey bee it was about half as bad. I would get somewhat red and swell a half inch high and only about 2-3 inches in diameter. After my first season and about a dozen stings I get almost no swelling and it itches like a deer fly sting for a day or so. (still hurts though)

My point is two fold. One is that a lot of people think that because a sting hurts like crazy and swells up that they are allergic, and this is not true. If it hurts like crazy and swells up, it is because you got stung and it is supposed to hurt. The stinger wouldn’t be much of a defensive weapon if it didn’t hurt. Only if you have a reaction in a part of your body that you did not get stung on, or have difficulty breathing – only then is it truly a systemic allergic response.

My second point is that even if you are allergic to a wasp sting, you may not be allergic to a honey bee sting. They are probably similar venoms, but not exactly the same.

Now having said all that about how I am not really allergic to a bee stings….. I am allergic to the common cockroach and apparently the SHB too. After cleaning up a SHB dead out (on two different occasions) I have become pretty ill. All over swelling, red and itchy eyes, wheezing while breathing and some minor tightness in the chest. Now that I know this, I try to minimize my contact with SHB and if forced to clean out a SHB dead out I go home and take a Benadryl and feel better in the morning.

Go ahead and take up beekeeping. It is safe and you will enjoy it.

[Ardilla]

As said above, seek out a local beekeeper or two, they often congregate at beekeeping club meetings. Talk to them and someone may give you some hands-on experience. Shaddowing a beekeeper during an inspection is a good way to learn and to see if it is the hobby for you.

In the mean time, read a basic book or two. I read "The Beekeeper's Manual, 3rd Ed" by Avitabile & Sammataro before starting. A lot of people around this site recommend Beekeeping for Dummies (I haven't read it). Once you decide to jump in there are many more in depth books out there.

Do investigate the allergy issue if you are concerned about it. Pain and swelling are normal - anaphylaxis is not. That being said, some decent protective gear will prevent most stings.

[kenpkr]

Here's some SF area beekeeper association info. Call someone and go to a beekeeper meeting. Spend this Fall and Winter gaining knowledge and equipment then you'll be ready in the Spring.

http://www.sanmateobee.org/about.html
www.sfbee.org

[beefan]

Great! thanks again for the info. BTW when I got stung by that wasp I did have trouble breathing and what not.