What's the deal with Cedar?

[swanson475]

I was planning on using it for building NUC's. The first batch is free and I can get a truck load for 50 bucks.

[VolunteerK9]

I think the concern has always been with red cedar-not the western variety. I've got some bottom boards and telescoping covers made out of the red and the bees do just fine with it. For $50 you better believe I would start sawing away

[dnichols]

What is the deal? I just made some nucs from some cedar my dad cut on his mill. Are my bees doomed?

[swanson475]

I am using red cedar myself we will see how it goes.

[scrapiron]

I read about this, but its been a while back. IF I remember correctly it was old info saying not to use it, and today it is used sucessfully. "old wives tale" type thing. Dont quote me on this!

[bluegrass]

Here is the deal:
Cedars contain chemicals that are toxic to the Respiratory tract of animals and humans. It is only a problem with breathing the dust though so you are fine in the hive. Where the line gets grey is in that fact that most plants we call "Cedars" are actually Junipers. Junipers have the same toxins, but not in the high levels as true Cedars... So people over react when they hear Eastern Red Cedar because of the Cedar in the name.

[Myron Denny]

I have bottom boards and tops that have been in service for 20 years. The bees cover the cedar smell in a very short time, It was my intent to solve moth problems. Cedar wood makes excellant bottoms, the knots do not cause problems. I am using cedar for my screened bottom boards.

[scrapiron]

Thanks Bluegrass. Getting old stinks!

[dixiebooks]

IIRC, the first feral colony I ever saw was in a cedar tree in Alabama. -js

[seyc]

So, I hear Eastern Red Cedar mentioned. What about Western Red Cedar? Around here, that seems to be the cheapest source of 1x8s, about 1/3 to 1/5 the price of a pine 1x8.

[bluegrass]

So, I hear Eastern Red Cedar mentioned. What about Western Red Cedar? Around here, that seems to be the cheapest source of 1x8s, about 1/3 to 1/5 the price of a pine 1x8.

Western red cedar is also not a Cedar. it is in the Cypress family. Cypress make great hives.

[Nantom670]

I have a deep and medium I made from cedar and the bees have been in there for the past 5 months and they are doing good.

[lazy shooter]

For the past 100 or so years, folks in my area have been using cedar to line closets. It is believed that the cedar will deter moths. What if it repels wax moths. Just a thought. In West Texas we have juniper in the form of bushes, and there are some cedar trees that have been planted around home sites. One of our junipers that was large enough to be made into lumber would be about one million years old.