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ugh, another swarm.

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J

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Discussion Starter · #1 ·
To some this may sound like a good thing, but to me i'm ready for swarm season to be over with. I started out the year with two full sized overwintered colonies. They both swarmed, lost one to the woods the other I captured and re-hived. I made up some splits with the extra queen cells and then there was 4. Captured a swarm that was not one of mine now hive 5. made up some more preventive splits in April and let them make their own queens, that worked great so now i'm up to 8. Had another swarm take off in June, and of course I made some splits with the extra queen cells now colonies 9,10,11 The colony that swarmed cast out an after swarm caught them now colony 12. Rolled out of bed this morning just in time to see another swarm taking to the air, what gives:eek: Im out of deeps and out of room. I've checker boarded, harvested, increased ventilation and added entrance shims. Starting to think I just have swarmy bees. There is no flow on right now and thought I could relax on the inspections for a while, wrong...:no: So Ill be looking for some queen cells this afternoon and making up some more splits. Yep its true bees make honey and more bees. im going to need an out yard asap.
 
J

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#8 ·
How can y'all afford all the additions? I want more bees, but it's around $200 for all boxes, frames, top and bottom for each hive I start. I have caught 2 swarms this week and used newspaper to combine with other hives because I'm out of bottoms and tops to start new hives. It's my first year and I have 6 hives. I'm at least $1500 or more into this, but loving it!
 
jwcarlson

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#9 ·
jryan said:
How can y'all afford all the additions? I want more bees, but it's around $200 for all boxes, frames, top and bottom for each hive I start. I have caught 2 swarms this week and used newspaper to combine with other hives because I'm out of bottoms and tops to start new hives. It's my first year and I have 6 hives. I'm at least $1500 or more into this, but loving it!
Click to expand...
A top bar hive can be built for about $40 out of "virgin" lumber.

And I just bought three box hives (three deeps and three medium 10 framers - including tops and bottoms) with extra frames for $250 shipped. Where in the world are you spending $200 per?
 
J

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#14 · (Edited)
I think we bought in bulk cypress mediums $9, migratory top $10; then frames are $2.4/each Mann Lake. I did pay shipping and ordered cypress bottoms with screen and bettle tray for ~$35. Guess my complete all medium (6 high) hive cost ~$214. Not sure it's worth the time and effort (even thought we do have table saw) to make these boxes for $3-5 cheaper/box.
 
T

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#15 ·
The cost of woodworking equipment and the space required to set up and efficiently build hives isn't insignificant. I'd say, that if a person didn't already have the tools, it wouldn't be worth buying them in an attempt at saving money. It seems that keeping bees and woodworking go hand in hand. Fine by me, I like them both
 
jwcarlson

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#16 ·
I have what I'd need to build boxes, but at the prices you can get them for from most places, I probably couldn't buy the lumber for around here. And by the time I'd put the time into doing it, I wouldn't be money ahead at the quantities I'd need them at...

I do spend the time to shave endbars down to 1.25" and glue/air staple frames together, but that seems economical vs. buying assembled frames. Again.. this is at the quantities I need.
 
Harley Craig

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#17 ·
I build all my boxes with an $80 table saw and a regular blade. Sure dado set-ups and router's and everything else would be nice, but it's simply not needed. I build medium boxes for $3-4 a box depending on the price of lumber. I buy and run foundationless frames in bulk to get free shipping. Beekeeping can definitely be done on a budget. Top and bottom boards are simply plywood that most times I get out of scrap that I find that is just going in a dumpster or burn pile otherwise.
 
S

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#18 ·
Harley Craig said:
I build all my boxes with an $80 table saw and a regular blade. Sure dado set-ups and router's and everything else would be nice, but it's simply not needed. I build medium boxes for $3-4 a box depending on the price of lumber. I buy and run foundationless frames in bulk to get free shipping. Beekeeping can definitely be done on a budget. Top and bottom boards are simply plywood that most times I get out of scrap that I find that is just going in a dumpster or burn pile otherwise.
Click to expand...
Ha! Got you beat. Mine was $50 used.. :applause: Don't have the other stuff either, but I am getting by. Still, for the first year investment in 4 hives, if was a lot more than I expected.
 
J

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#20 ·
I love the screened bottom boards with the trays for hive beetles. First year so I want to ward off any pests the best I can. Do you all have problems with hive beetles with regular bottoms? Because the bottoms I bought are around $35 (which I think is $$$$$$)!
 
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