Bees!! You’re weapons are useless against them!!

[1COBearsfan]

Anybody here keep bees? I’ve wanted to put just one give in my yard for a really long time, I just never get around to it. But, now that my boys are getting a little older and don’t require attention 24/7 I’m entertaining the idea a little more seriously. I’ve been researching Warre hives and looking for plans to possibly build my own octagonal hive.

I’m interested in any and all thoughts from anyone with experience in this

 

[Scoot26]

@Crystallas

 

[Crystallas]

I have a flow hive. It works, easy, and if you are smart, you wont starve your colonies (which is the main complaint). No idea if it's the best or not, I started with a modified bar style, but suddenly we started getting skunks and raccoons would find some way to knock the horse/table over.

I had a good 1 year period where we were super motivated to do up some hives the right way. Then after 2 years of waiting for the damn permit to do it legally(yes, it's a federal permit, you technically will need one), I just rushed in. Bees are resilient, they will take to anything, so as long as you keep an eye out for their predators.

Buy/build the hive, research the permit, and find a reputable queen breeder. It's that simple. Get into your keepers gear too, I found a suit second hand, it has some tape on it, who cares, it works.

 

[1COBearsfan]

Is the permit for trying to sell honey or keeping hives on another property or just to have a hive in your backyard?

 

[Crystallas]

The permits are for tracking. The cost for the permit is for inspection. If you're lucky, you have a municipal permit instead of the federal one. Most city issued permits are granted immediately from what I know, but they might cost more.

I know someone IRL who went without a permit and just two box stacks that were out of sight, they torched the hives on site and issued her a fine. I also have talked to dozens of people who don't bother with a permit for decades. So it's really at your own discretion, but I would suggest checking the permits, see if you have one in town that streamlines it.

 

[Tater]

The permits are for tracking. The cost for the permit is for inspection. If you're lucky, you have a municipal permit instead of the federal one. Most city issued permits are granted immediately from what I know, but they might cost more.

I know someone IRL who went without a permit and just two box stacks that were out of sight, they torched the hives on site and issued her a fine. I also have talked to dozens of people who don't bother with a permit for decades. So it's really at your own discretion, but I would suggest checking the permits, see if you have one in town that streamlines it.

Why would they torch them? Seems like a waste.

 

[Crystallas]

Why would they torch them? Seems like a waste.

That's a rabbit hole. But I agree. I don't think anything in nature should require a permit, only penalties for damages.

 

[1COBearsfan]

That's a rabbit hole. But I agree. I don't think anything in nature should require a permit, only penalties for damages.

I’m sure this will derail my own thread, but...

I agree with this but also, nothing should require a permit. Only full disclosure before transactions and also penalties for any damages directly attributable to products or services rendered

 

[botfly10]

godspeed, my good man

 

[1COBearsfan]

I have a flow hive. It works, easy, and if you are smart, you wont starve your colonies (which is the main complaint). No idea if it's the best or not, I started with a modified bar style, but suddenly we started getting skunks and raccoons would find some way to knock the horse/table over.

I had a good 1 year period where we were super motivated to do up some hives the right way. Then after 2 years of waiting for the damn permit to do it legally(yes, it's a federal permit, you technically will need one), I just rushed in. Bees are resilient, they will take to anything, so as long as you keep an eye out for their predators.

Buy/build the hive, research the permit, and find a reputable queen breeder. It's that simple. Get into your keepers gear too, I found a suit second hand, it has some tape on it, who cares, it works.

How do you like the Flow hive? Do you have all flow frames or some regular frames too? I’ve read a ton about those too and think that would be pretty sweet too.

 

[Crystallas]

How do you like the Flow hive? Do you have all flow frames or some regular frames too? I’ve read a ton about those too and think that would be pretty sweet too.

It works as intended. Very easy. My colony migrated and I picked up another queen from a local keeper. It's pretty good now.

I pretty much stuck to the kit. They updated it after I got mine, so yeah. I added some boards and a fill layer to keep them warmer. That's another thing, you need to address your climate issues too, not too hot, not too cold... Goldilocks shit.