I do not have an answer for you but I will maybe see you there LOL I am picking one up also that day. On another note my coffee comes from spicewood LOL Cuvee Coffee.
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Cool, Roboto! I'll be there as soon as they open; in a big, tan, GMC double-cab one-ton with Spicewood stickers on it and a mismatched (Chevy) tailgate with a homemade hole in it (couldn't get it open, so went at it with a chisel and hammer to get to the latch arm - works great now 
). And I know Cuvee - haven't tried it, but pass by their cutoff every day on my way to work. It's good, huh? I need to try it. LOVE my coffee.
I'd love to do a split or two in fall, into nucs to overwinter like Mike Palmer, if all goes right and they're healthy enough. *crosses fingers* Otherwise, I'll just leave them alone 'til spring. Just watch them.
). And I know Cuvee - haven't tried it, but pass by their cutoff every day on my way to work. It's good, huh? I need to try it. LOVE my coffee.I'd love to do a split or two in fall, into nucs to overwinter like Mike Palmer, if all goes right and they're healthy enough. *crosses fingers* Otherwise, I'll just leave them alone 'til spring. Just watch them.
I'm still going to keep your advice in mind, Mike, and watch that video you told me about. But even if it convinces me that I should sell deep-frame nucs, I think I have to try the mediums as nucs, too. I read that an entire 8-frame medium is the same volume as a 5-frame deep nuc, so after doing the math to double-check that, I might play around with trying to sell those, making sure I give a very good description of what they're getting. I did read on Michael's site that mediums are more expensive than deeps, but being able to do it all myself until I'm 70 or 80 while avoiding back surgery makes it worth it for me (I doubt I'll ever have more than twenty hives, and that's a generous estimate, so not that much extra cost relatively speaking). I can't help but think others think the same, especially backyard beekeepers where the cost isn't so drastic either, and want to start out with mediums from the get-go.
But thank you for the warnings. Seriously. I appreciate you making sure I've thought of all angles.
Of course this is all in the future, and providing I find out that I'm good at raising bees in the first place. I think I will be - I've been good at breeding/increasing my numbers of Longhorns, horses, chickens, and pigs over the years (though can't take much credit for the pigs - man, let me tell you, they're like rabbits if they're healthy and happy). But this is still all conjecture at the moment. I just like to research, research, make a plan, research, discuss, research some more, then do it. It's kept my butt out of a sling more than once. Ask me how I learned THAT lesson. (It was the pigs. Good thing they're tasty, quite barbecue-able, and go well with beer.)
But thank you for the warnings. Seriously. I appreciate you making sure I've thought of all angles.
Of course this is all in the future, and providing I find out that I'm good at raising bees in the first place. I think I will be - I've been good at breeding/increasing my numbers of Longhorns, horses, chickens, and pigs over the years (though can't take much credit for the pigs - man, let me tell you, they're like rabbits if they're healthy and happy). But this is still all conjecture at the moment. I just like to research, research, make a plan, research, discuss, research some more, then do it. It's kept my butt out of a sling more than once. Ask me how I learned THAT lesson.
(It was the pigs. Good thing they're tasty, quite barbecue-able, and go well with beer.)
I didn't think either of those things, Mike. Not at all.
I asked for advice and you're giving it to me. I greatly appreciate it. Really. Me, too. In all my experience of livestock husbandry, the thing that stands out the most is leave them the heck alone. Quit monkeying around with things. They know best usually. I never kept a horse in a stall, a pig in a tiny little sty with farrowing crates, or chickens indoors all the time. In my experience, there are more problems when you do that.
Seriously not a problem. Made me think on it a bit and that's why I'm here asking questions - so I'll think about all these things. It's good to know you think the 8-frame may be better for the bees production. Another check on the Plus side.
I've be keeping that in mind, too. That's part of my difficulty in deciding on ordering equipment - I want to have enough on hand, but would rather buy ten 8-frame boxes than twice that if I have to buy both 10-frame and 8-frame. They'll all be here at home (I have fifty acres, so plenty of room for those aforementioned max-of-twenty hives), so I can keep a close eye on them and add boxes often if need be.
Sweet! I like lawyer money! I hope I end up being good at raising bees. And I definitely know to price them accordingly. If it costs me extra to make medium nucs, then I'll have to sell them for a bit more. I don't think that will be a problem. I would have gladly paid more for one since I would have been able to avoid the trouble that started this thread.
Thanks! That blog started as a personal garden record and has grown into a learning site with some how-tos to help in my job, to show the visual learners (I'm a horticulturist at a local garden center, solving customers' problems and teaching others how to get started gardening). I know there will be lots of beekeeping posts eventually.
Well, THAT'S sure good to know! VERY good to know.
That's something I was thinking about just today aamof, Sterling! Get off my wavelength, man.
Thanks for the info. I'm still leaning towards just all medium euipment, probably 8-frame, from the get go. But haven't ruled out keeping one hive in a deep or two.So many options. Better than having none though.
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