[mgburton]

So I have a couple of hives rented out on a vegetable farm down the road. The farmers told me that they had purchased a hive two years ago for $200, but it died out. It was a 10 frame deep. At its peak, the customer said it was a boomer and had bees bearding below. I told them that the bees probably ran out of space and swarmed down to nothing. I asked them if the beekeeper they purchased them from knew that they were buying it for pollination only and advised them that ideally more space needs to be given to the bees as their population grows. They said that he was aware, but didn't advise them of that. Ok, not too big of a deal. People have single deep colonies and it's not his responsibility to hold their hand, although I would have told them that. Maybe he did. I wasn't there.

This year they purchased a 10 frame medium hive from him. Not much activity at the entrance, which is why they called me asking to rent mine. I offered to look at the hive when I came back this weekend to inspect mine. I told them that it probably swarmed like the first one, but that we could put some frames in the deep that they have and add it to the medium and possibly build it back up. When I checked the hive, I found about 50 bees, 3 frames of brood comb with bullets, and 7 frames of foundation. The price they paid? $250 + $30 delivery.

 

[mattheritage]

I guess it goes to show that not every beekeeper is a pillar of society and moral anchor. Just most of them. =)

 

[mathesonequip]

I wonder if the farmer bought the bees off craigslist?

 

[Santa Caras]

would hope that the farmer puts more thought into his crop growing. He should at least make an attempt to understand the workings of various aspects of his business and if he's going to take on a Honeybee Hive then he should at least try and learn something. To start, the going rate for a hive vs a nuc!!

 

[mgburton]

I wonder if the farmer bought the bees off craigslist?

They bought them from a beekeeper who has a stand locally where he sells his honey. That's how they met him. I don't know him, or his name, or where his stand is. They said he won't call them back so they're going to go down there. Really surprising actually.

The Craigslist thing crossed my mind. Not that they're necessarily stolen, but it's along the same unethical lines that you don't expect from a beekeeper. Actually, it is theft. The only difference is it's from a customer as opposed to another beekeeper.

 

[mgburton]

would hope that the farmer puts more thought into his crop growing. He should at least make an attempt to understand the workings of various aspects of his business and if he's going to take on a Honeybee Hive then he should at least try and learn something. To start, the going rate for a hive vs a nuc!!

I'm not going to touch that one because I STINK at gardening!

In all seriousness, I agree. The responsibility is always on the buyer. With the first hive, it wasn't the sellers
responsibility to make sure they had bee suits, etc. and that they knew what they were doing. With any animal or any big purchase, you should research it heavily upfront.

My issue is with the second hive, the guy knew they were looking for something to pollinate their plants, and he basically sold them a decoy. Something with bees flying in and out. I wouldn't even call it a nuc. Nucs around here are 5 deep or 8 medium frames, and they go for less than half the price they paid.

 

[mathesonequip]

I did not occur to me that the bees could be stolen. the craigslist problem here is deposit up front then no bees, and a seller not to be found. also the crazy prices asked and weak poor nucs. some of the nucs are shaken in a hive on weds. maybe an unproven queen added on thurs. and the customer is expected to pay cash on sat. 2 deeps or 3 1/2 medium frames of bees with a little brood, not much honey. the queen may start laying ok, but maybe after mateing first.

 

[mgburton]

That's ridiculous. Haven't had that around here yet. Makes me appreciate what we have.

I've grown out colonies from three deep frames, but it takes forever and I'm not too worried if it doesn't work, although to date it always has.

If I'm paying, I want five frames of capped brood and a mated queen. I bought two like that this year. Absolutely beautiful wall to wall brood. They built up fast and produced a lot of honey for me. I wouldn't pay for anything less than that.

 

[Pinchecharlie]

Our friends bought two hives with two packages installed on their land they also paid a fee for the beekeeper to manage the hive while they got their ducks in a row. They paid 300 for the bees and 300 hundred for the hives, two deep eight frames and the like. The beekeeper never came back , the bees obscoundef my friends have to empty hives and are bummed. I went over and checked them out, they had dead queens in the cages and empty frames no foundation no effort to feed just kinda sad .Just have to be carefull I guess and like dad always said " never pet a burning dog" my dad was a dick sorry