Trying to figure out what kind of hive I have.

[BrianTurner]

I caught some wild/feral bees, made a hive and some frames, started with just bees no wax no comb not anything, my frames are rectangular that are open on the inside with a few lines of thread between them [==] <- is about what they look like. my bees filled them in with wax now, so they are a rectangle filled with comb, they live in their hive, and do their thing, I have never "fed" them, haven't ever added anything to the hive (chemical or else-wise) and about the only thing I've ever done that was not natural was killed a few wax moths I saw hanging out by my hive and crushed a few SHB when I checked on my bees. I also have a wax moth trap hanging in a tree about 40 feet from my hive. I am wondering what category of Bee keeping do I fall into? Thanks for the help.

[sqkcrk]

Can't say.

What is your wax moth trap like?

[BrianTurner]

a banana peel rotting in water, inside of a 2 liter bottle with a hole in the side of the bottle.

[odfrank]

> I am wondering what category of Bee keeping do I fall into?

The 'frugal' category.

[Roland]

If you fall into a category, you might just be clumsy.

Crazy Roland with a Crazy answer

[BrianTurner]

I wouldn't say I'm "Frugal" as my reason is not that I wish to save money, I have no problems spending, I think bees have gotten by just fine in nature without human intervention and since I am not commercially producing anything I think that they can continue on their natural life-cycle without my interference.

"fall into"

[Daddy'sBees]

You are just a naturalist, which is cool. I too run feral bees. I am into saving the feral bees in my area. They are really sweet and do well, when we are not in a major drought. Then I feed them, to help them after a cut-out, or etc. Check it out: http://www.daddysbees.com

[Gypsi]

I like this thread - my kinda beekeeping

[Daddy'sBees]

:-) Thank you Gypsi !!!! We just love saving our feral bees from certain death!!!

[Gypsi]

You just reminded me where I started from, and I believe I'm going back there. I don't want to be a commercial beek. I just like bees.

[Solomon Parker]

Brian, you remind me of the kind of person who keeps birdhouses. A nice little house here, a bird feeder there. It's refreshing.

Carry on.

Watch out though. There are those who would classify you as a bee-haver. It's alright though. I get called all kinds of things.

[BrianTurner]

Gypsi- Thank you, I'm flattered. I love bees, ever since I was a kid, and it really made me flip when the Florida utilities guy just wanted to blow torch the ones in my water meter, so I hastily threw together a hive, made some frames and the rest is history.

Solomon Parker- haha that's quaintly something I have done. you got me pegged. May I ask what is a "Bee-haver"

[Gypsi]

I think a bee-haver is where I started when I paid a local beek to set up a hive on my lot.

A beekeeper is what I became when the situation hit crisis.

[Fusion_power]

It's alright though. I get called all kinds of things.

I'd offer to call you a ton of things, but unfortunately, most of them are derogatory. I much prefer to stay out of that "category" since as Roland pointed out, I might be construed as clumsy.

DarJones

[David LaFerney]

A cool hive - that's what kind.

[BrianTurner]

I'd offer to call you a ton of things, but unfortunately, most of them are derogatory.

If you can't say something nice, don't say nothin' at all

A cool hive - that's what kind.

Thanks

Bee-haver is fine by me, I do have bees after all. I have only harvested honey once, and without proper equipment, it was a nightmare I care not to repeat.

[Gypsi]

If you can't say something nice, don't say nothin' at all
Thanks

Bee-haver is fine by me, I do have bees after all. I have only harvested honey once, and without proper equipment, it was a nightmare I care not to repeat.

I cannot imagine trying to harvest honey without proper equipment, at least a suit. That would be a nightmare!

[Fusion_power]

I have two bee suits in my closet. Neither has been used in so many years I've forgotten when last I had one on.

BT, I wasn't offering to call you names, just pointing out that calling someone a bee haver is pretty bad around here.

Harvesting honey is relatively easy if you have some clean 5 gallon buckets and some time. Make a strainer out of some nylon cloth, you can even use a clean nylon if you choose. Cut the honey from the colony and place it into a bucket. When finished harvesting, carry the bucket indoors and squeeze the honey out of the comb by hand. Pour the liquid honey into a second bucket with the nylon strainer tightly tied over the top. Let it settle for 2 days and skim any foam off the top and jar up the honey.

[Gypsi]

Well, with AHB buzzing around Texas, on unknown bees I'm wearing mine, although I'm dreaming of an ultrabreeze jacket and just blue jeans and boots some day.

[BrianTurner]

I cannot imagine trying to harvest honey without proper equipment, at least a suit. That would be a nightmare!

I work a cotton hoodie, some shorts, and saftey glasses (cause you gotta be safe) I got stung twice. not too bad, they were sure mad for day after that though.

I have two bee suits in my closet. Neither has been used in so many years I've forgotten when last I had one on.

BT, I wasn't offering to call you names, just pointing out that calling someone a bee haver is pretty bad around here.

Harvesting honey is relatively easy if you have some clean 5 gallon buckets and some time.

I thought you were talking about Solomon, So...Bee-haver is bad? Oh thanks for that tip, you can call me whatever, it's probably true.
well I had both of those(time and bucket), I used an unused suction device from when I was a Paramedic and went cell by cell to get honey out. quite tedious... why does honey foam if you filter it through nylons?