[beestill]

Hello,
I'm new to beekeeping, but not new to insect rearing. I took apiculture in college many years ago, but I've forgotten many things already, so I'm reading Abbe Warre's book, Beekeeping for All, to refresh my memory and since I have the Warre hive. I'm so happy to have a yard, but it's rather small. As I said, I have a Warre hive, but I'm not ready (not the right time anyway with this drought we're having) to have bees yet. I also just joined the local bee club. Looking forward to learning more.

 

[GaryG74]

Welcome to BeeSource! The drought in California sounds really rough for people and wildlife. Hope everything goes well for you. Good luck!

 

[AmericasBeekeeper]

Welcome BS!

 

[beestill]

thank you! Yes, the drought is severe out here. We're hoping for the best too.

 

[Charlie B]

Welcome!

 

[KQ6AR]

Welcome from Concord. We have a club that meets monthly if you're interested. www.diablobees.org

 

[Honey-4-All]

Hello,
I'm new to beekeeping, but not new to insect rearing. I took apiculture in college many years ago, but I've forgotten many things already, so I'm reading Abbe Warre's book, Beekeeping for All, to refresh my memory and since I have the Warre hive. I'm so happy to have a yard, but it's rather small. As I said, I have a Warre hive, but I'm not ready (not the right time anyway with this drought we're having) to have bees yet. I also just joined the local bee club. Looking forward to learning more.

Welcome! One word of caution. If you think use of a Warre Hive will exempt you from all the ills and spills in Beekeeping please reconsider that train of thought. I spend countless hours a year on the phone with those who had previously drunk that Koolaid and now lament the fact that the "Warre miracle" is as specious as Dr Flim-Flam's miracle pills. Due diligence is indeed a course one needs to take in this case as is all others.

 

[odfrank]

As I assembled Warre hives last year for clients, several women came into my yard and declared them as "so cute!" That right away clued me in that there would be difficulties with them ahead, although I didn't yet know what those would be. They sure are cute though!

 

[Honey-4-All]

They sure are cute though!

Hate to ask but really need to? Are you referring to the boxes or the women?

 

[odfrank]

All the pro Warre women were cute, my wife, two daughters and two beginners I was helping with hives. As you can see the hives are cute also.

 

[odfrank]

On of the big Warre problems I had this year: A hive I was helping with swarmed again about six weeks after we had stocked it with a big swarm. The owner only supplied them with three boxes. After we caught the swarm we found a dead queen/virgin outside the Warre. Upon opening the lid we found two virgins hiding in voids under the quilt box at the top of the hive. Clearly there was some kind of matricide going on downstairs and the princesses were hiding. We wanted to inspect but knew that if we took a wire between the boxes to separate them, we might slice through queen cells on the bottom of the combs. So we didn't dare inspect. I found another dead virgin in the bottom of the vacuum I had vac'ed the swarm with, the owner found four more dead princesses out side the hive over the next few days, and both the swarm and the original hive ended up queenright. A total of at least eight queens and virgins.

The comb area of a eight frame medium box is 89 square inches, and a Warre box 91 square inches. So with a foundationless eight frame medium hive you get the same size box as a Warre and you have the benefit of inspect-able frames.

 

[Charlie B]

All the pro Warre women were cute, my wife, two daughters and two beginners I was helping with hives. As you can see the hives are cute also.

Please post pics of your two daughters.

 

[Honey-4-All]

Please post pics of your two daughters.

Charlie B. AKA....... The B stalker?

 

[Charlie B]

As I assembled Warre hives last year for clients, several women came into my yard and declared them as "so cute!" That right away clued me in that there would be difficulties with them ahead, although I didn't yet know what those would be. They sure are cute though!

What's up with the bee emblems? Is that ceramic tile pieces you used? It's all going to look like crap in 6 months after your bees poop all over it anyway. You're just making those to get women to come around.