Rassah Posted March 6, 2016 Share Posted March 6, 2016 This came in the mail today! Can't wait to get a Nuc(leus) with a queen. I'm supposed to pick up the Nuc in April. Then, once I get this going, I'll be literally surrounded by literally thousands of girls in colorful fuzzy/furry outfits! It'll be like a miniature furcon with with everyone in tiny fursuits eating tons of sugary foods. Except weapons will not be checked at the door. Will try to remember to take lots of pictures. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willow Posted March 6, 2016 Share Posted March 6, 2016 I once thought about doing beekeeping but I'm way too busy for it. where exactly do you get something like that though? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Endless/Nameless Posted March 6, 2016 Share Posted March 6, 2016 (sorry, couldn't resist. best of luck to you) 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vallium Posted March 6, 2016 Share Posted March 6, 2016 That is seriously awesome Rassah! I seriously considered beekeeping though havent looked into it at all so cant say I know if Id be able to. Have fun, wish I could try that out sometime! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rassah Posted March 6, 2016 Author Share Posted March 6, 2016 (edited) 23 minutes ago, willow said: I once thought about doing beekeeping but I'm way too busy for it. where exactly do you get something like that though? Amazon. That whole setup cost me $400, but the hive and frames came assembled, waxed, and kind of high quality (I may have overpaid). Unassembled can be much less (probably half that if bought separately in pieces and without frame centers). The bees have to come from a local seller though, which is another $100 to $150 or so, or if you're lucky you can find a swarm (fire departments sometimes have announcements for local beekeepers for where a swarm has been found), and then just sweep that in a bag and dump it into a hive. As for time, they are pretty self sustaining. Just takes an hour at most to check on them once every two weeks, and I was told that in all bees take maybe 30 hours of work a year. Less if you don't care about collecting honey. My main problem was finding a place to put them. They'll be going on my parents' roof. Edited March 6, 2016 by Rassah 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ieono Posted March 6, 2016 Share Posted March 6, 2016 29 minutes ago, Rassah said: Amazon. That whole setup cost me $400, but the hive and frames came assembled, waxed, and kind of high quality (I may have overpaid). Unassembled can be much less (probably half that if bought separately in pieces and without frame centers). The bees have to come from a local seller though, which is another $100 to $150 or so, or if you're lucky you can find a swarm (fire departments sometimes have announcements for local beekeepers for where a swarm has been found), and then just sweep that in a bag and dump it into a hive. As for time, they are pretty self sustaining. Just takes an hour at most to check on them once every two weeks, and I was told that in all bees take maybe 30 hours of work a year. Less if you don't care about collecting honey. My main problem was finding a place to put them. They'll be going on my parents' roof. Wow! I wish I was in one place long enough to dedicate the time to this. I'd love to do the same someday! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#00Buck Posted March 6, 2016 Share Posted March 6, 2016 I can't wait to see pics of a house full of bees. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machine Posted March 6, 2016 Share Posted March 6, 2016 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Head Posted March 6, 2016 Share Posted March 6, 2016 Time to commit the obvious joke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#00Buck Posted March 6, 2016 Share Posted March 6, 2016 Okay who is going to post up Dr. Bees? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kinharia Posted March 6, 2016 Share Posted March 6, 2016 You need to collect the honey, make a furry name for said honey and then have a yiffy looking pic of a bee surronded in honey for said bottle. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 6, 2016 Share Posted March 6, 2016 6 hours ago, Rhíulchabán said: Bee jokes aside, that's pretty cool, I think folks who do bee-keeping are pretty awesome! Bullshit aside, that's pretty cool Rassah! Bees are awesome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Doggo Posted March 6, 2016 Share Posted March 6, 2016 Hey, I'm taking a beekeeping class right now. We have a couple hives already, we used to dabble in it some years back. It's surprisingly fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 6, 2016 Share Posted March 6, 2016 1 hour ago, Sir Gibby said: Hey, I'm taking a beekeeping class right now. We have a couple hives already, we used to dabble in it some years back. It's surprisingly fun! Funny, I thought of you when seeing this thread. I'm glad to hear you're following your (now-not-so)dream hobby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Doggo Posted March 6, 2016 Share Posted March 6, 2016 Just now, Amiir said: Funny, I thought of you when seeing this thread. I'm glad to hear you're following your (now-not-so)dream hobby If you mean me and not OP, it's not something I wanted to do at all, I've been dragged into it against my wiill and learned to find it interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fantasma Posted March 6, 2016 Share Posted March 6, 2016 That actually sounds quite lovely, I have been dreaming of building a house in the country with a greenhouse for quite awhile and I do love honey bees so. I had not thought of keeping a hive, which of course would be so helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snagged Posted March 6, 2016 Share Posted March 6, 2016 3 hours ago, Amiir said: Bullshit aside, that's pretty cool Rassah! Bees are awesome I can't believe I just gave a like to this post. Like holy shit, this is some nightmare material right here. Very, VERY, VERY disturbing brrrrh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rassah Posted March 6, 2016 Author Share Posted March 6, 2016 17 hours ago, #00Buck said: I can't wait to see pics of a house full of bees. I can't wait to be able to mail boxes full of bees to people's houses >;) 15 hours ago, Kinharia said: You need to collect the honey, make a furry name for said honey and then have a yiffy looking pic of a bee surronded in honey for said bottle. Good idea! Maybe I can capture the lucrative furry market by selling sexy honey 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeke Posted March 6, 2016 Share Posted March 6, 2016 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrishaCat Posted March 6, 2016 Share Posted March 6, 2016 (edited) Bees are my greatest fear. I'd even go so far as to say I have a genuine phobia of them I do not understand your enthusiasm. Not one bit. Lots of tiny little creepy crawlies flying around at high speeds with tiny pointy things on their butts that don't mind sticking their pointy butts as close to any living creature that passes them, making homes anywhere someone else has a home....It sounds horrifying and dreadful. I hate bees. I absolutely hate them. I'm glad you're happy but what you describe as fun sounds like the exact opposite on my end. Edited March 6, 2016 by Battlechili 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rassah Posted March 7, 2016 Author Share Posted March 7, 2016 @Battlechili I think you're describing wasps more than bees. Bees usually don't make a home in someone else's home, and they die if they sting, so they only sting as a last resort. Honey bees are generally docile, and don't sting unless you're trying to kill/squish them, or if you're attacking their home. But either way, I'll be wearing a steel mesh helmet and thick leather gloves, so even if some do get stingy, they won't hurt me. I used to hate bees too, actually, since I have been stung by a few of them, once even while stepping on one barefooted. But after learning about them, how they live and how they work, and how to take care of them, I started to be fascinated by them instead. Maybe it's the we fear what we don't understand thing? Used to be I was a bit nervous flying too, especially during landings, but now that I know everything about that, I just know what's going on and what the scary noises are (flaps, gear, airbrakes), and it doesn't bother me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeke Posted March 7, 2016 Share Posted March 7, 2016 Beekeeping became legal in my state about a year ago. I would do some beekeeping to sell honey, but I am allergic to them. That, and I don't have a big enough yard . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conker Posted March 7, 2016 Share Posted March 7, 2016 On 3/6/2016 at 10:08 PM, Rassah said: This came in the mail today! Can't wait to get a Nuc(leus) with a queen. I'm supposed to pick up the Nuc in April. Then, once I get this going, I'll be literally surrounded by literally thousands of girls in colorful fuzzy/furry outfits! It'll be like a miniature furcon with with everyone in tiny fursuits eating tons of sugary foods. Except weapons will not be checked at the door. Will try to remember to take lots of pictures. Why you gotta make it weird? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FenrirDarkWolf Posted March 7, 2016 Share Posted March 7, 2016 I always thought beekeeping was fascinating... It's not really something I'd do myself, because, even though I know bees are generally harmless compared to other stinging beasts, I'd still rather not get close. Also this (even though they're not bumblebees you're getting) 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rassah Posted March 26, 2016 Author Share Posted March 26, 2016 All set up and ready to go. Leaving it up here to check how it survives the wind and the heat. Bees will arrive in two weeks. It's facing the forest. Plenty of blooming trees that way. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WileyWarWeasel Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 @Rassah I don't like being near bees myself but they're great cross-pollinators and fresh honey sounds nice ;> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fantasma Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 Some planters with flowers such as chamomile nearby would be nice, making both delicious herbs for tea and feeding your bees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rassah Posted March 26, 2016 Author Share Posted March 26, 2016 There's plenty of food for the bees nearby. Cherry trees, apricot trees, fig trees, crabapple trees, blackberry bushes, and meadows full of wildflowers. I think it'll be too much work putting extra flowers up there. I plan on coming up to check on them once every two weeks or so, since this is at my parents' 45 minutes away and on the roof, and flower pots I'd have to water daily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZorroValdez Posted March 27, 2016 Share Posted March 27, 2016 Did you say bees? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rassah Posted April 16, 2016 Author Share Posted April 16, 2016 Got my bees!!! Sorry the pic is sideways. That's a Nuc, our a nucleus colony. It has five frames, a queen, the frames are full of honey and baby bees, and it has about 2,000 adult bees buzzing and being frustrated. I have set up a Wi-Fi cam to keep an eye on it. To view it, get an app called Sricam. Create a login and password, then add a new device #663698, and use 12345 for the password. I will be putting the bees into the hive at 6pm EST (in about 30 minutes). Hope the camera works. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rassah Posted April 16, 2016 Author Share Posted April 16, 2016 The bees are in da house! Was really intimidating having to grab then at first, cause they were PISSED! Bunch came out buzzing all over, and I kept having to smoke the tops of the frames to get them out of the way so I could grab them. But they're in, and all settled. Neither of us got stung. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saxon Posted April 17, 2016 Share Posted April 17, 2016 Interesting little critters. Not many people can claim to own swarms of things, Rassah. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Käpt'n Posted April 17, 2016 Share Posted April 17, 2016 Just remember: I will come to collect your bee syrup. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrecker Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 On 2016-04-16 at 4:59 PM, Rassah said: ...did you give your bees a marshmallow? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rassah Posted April 18, 2016 Author Share Posted April 18, 2016 On 4/17/2016 at 8:20 PM, Saxon said: Interesting little critters. Not many people can claim to own swarms of things, Rassah. It's no different from being a cat lady. I just have a few more pets. 36 minutes ago, Wrecker said: ...did you give your bees a marshmallow? It's a rolled up ball of fondant (the icing they use on fancy cakes). It's what you feed bees during the winter or cold periods, since sugar syrup would freeze. I bought a package of fondant last week, expecting to get them last weekend when it was freezing, but got them on this warm weekend instead, so just gave them a small treat instead. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nova Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 BEE ready to BEE raped by BEES BEE ready to BEE raped by BEES BEE ready to BEE raped by BEES 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosha Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rassah Posted May 12, 2016 Author Share Posted May 12, 2016 Bees are really busy despite it being an overcast day. Can see the whole roof in this video And a closeup of the action They already filled the bottom box 4/3th of the way, so the next box will go on this week. Hopefully I'll remember to bring my tripod and record a video of checking them then, so you can see what the inside of one of these looks like. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#00Buck Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 They are exhibiting the hive mentality. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rassah Posted May 19, 2016 Author Share Posted May 19, 2016 Had quite a bit of an issue at the beehive today. Checked up on them at noon, and thought, "Wow, they're being really active today. Must be trying to fill up all the extra space in the new box." Then I realized that oh crap! something isn't right here, my hive is being robbed by some other bees! (The ones with pollen pellets on their legs are mine, the others are not) So I went home, grabbed my entrance reducer, and plugged the entrance to where it had just a small hole. The robbing bees started bunching up at the entrance, fighting to get in Eventually I plugged the entrance completely with some grass when most of my bees came back home. There are still some stragglers you can see with pollen pellets on their legs. Later that night, found some stragglers underneath who didn't make it back in in time. Will have to try to catch them, probably with a plastic bag, and stick them into the top of the hive tomorrow morning. I'll have to keep the hive closed and plugged up for a few days, until the robbers give up and leave. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaizy Posted May 19, 2016 Share Posted May 19, 2016 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#00Buck Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 Yo beez best up they street game. Other beez be straight up Wu-Tang Killa Beez on tha swarm! Shaolin soldiers reprezent. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rassah Posted June 18, 2016 Author Share Posted June 18, 2016 Bees survived the attacks. I ended up plugging the hive for the weekend, but it seems I was too late and they managed to kill my queen. When I checked on the hive the following weekend, it looked dreadfully empty. Very few bees and almost no capped cells with baby bees. A week later, though, the situation seems to have changed, and I had way more bees. Still very few capped larvae sells. Then the robbers came back the following week, but this time were pushed back. I checked the hive again last week, and Woot! My bees grew a new queen! So my hive survived that massive onslaught after all, even if it was really close that time. The frames are getting filled up with honey too. Top box is getting really heavy from it. I suspect I'll be able to start collecting some time in August after all. Update on bee cams setup info: Install an app called Sricam. Unfortunately you'll need to register an email and password to use it. Once opened, the two cameras are: Overall Hive Device ID: 663698 Password: 1234 Hive Entrance Device ID: 670143 Password: 1234 Unfortunately the WiFi signal is a bit weak still, so it may time out or lag a bit, especially if viewing in HD quality. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rassah Posted September 7, 2016 Author Share Posted September 7, 2016 Unfortunate update. It took them 1.5 months to get a new queen, who never really started laying all that much. In the mean time the old bees kept dying out. Then another massive robbing attack basically cleaned out my entire hive and killed off 95% of my bees. No honey for them left to eat or to feed their young, or to survive the winter. I hoped maybe they could build up a little bit, and I could feed them syrup through the winter, but they kept getting weaker, and during today's inspection I found the hive was invested with wax moths. Cobwebs everywhere, and cocoons and little worm larva crawling around in places. What bees were left were taking up just two of the five remaining frames. So, since they can't even protect their hive any more, I took the thing apart and down. All the frames are in the freezer overnight to kill anything that may be left in there (specifically mites and moths). I'll leave the comb for the bees next year. Luckily, moving the hive to our new house will be easier with no bees in it, and at the new house it will be right in my back yard, instead of 45+ minutes away, so I'll be able to stop any robbing issues right away. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#00Buck Posted September 8, 2016 Share Posted September 8, 2016 Your beez got jacked homie. You need insects that know tha streetz. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GemWolf Posted September 8, 2016 Share Posted September 8, 2016 Sorry to hear about your hive. However *shudder* my bee phobia is kicking into overdrive right now. This is the first time I have seen this thread. *shudders* I'm breaking into a sweat already. Um, g-good luck *flees the scene* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WileyWarWeasel Posted September 8, 2016 Share Posted September 8, 2016 7 hours ago, Rassah said: Unfortunate update. It took them 1.5 months to get a new queen, who never really started laying all that much. In the mean time the old bees kept dying out. Then another massive robbing attack basically cleaned out my entire hive and killed off 95% of my bees. No honey for them left to eat or to feed their young, or to survive the winter. I hoped maybe they could build up a little bit, and I could feed them syrup through the winter, but they kept getting weaker, and during today's inspection I found the hive was invested with wax moths. Cobwebs everywhere, and cocoons and little worm larva crawling around in places. What bees were left were taking up just two of the five remaining frames. So, since they can't even protect their hive any more, I took the thing apart and down. All the frames are in the freezer overnight to kill anything that may be left in there (specifically mites and moths). I'll leave the comb for the bees next year. Luckily, moving the hive to our new house will be easier with no bees in it, and at the new house it will be right in my back yard, instead of 45+ minutes away, so I'll be able to stop any robbing issues right away. Wait a minute, you just gave up the opportunity for free lifetime wax ;( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rassah Posted September 9, 2016 Author Share Posted September 9, 2016 Oh, I'm not giving up. Will just try to get wax next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WileyWarWeasel Posted September 10, 2016 Share Posted September 10, 2016 On 09/09/2016 at 0:42 PM, Rassah said: Oh, I'm not giving up. Will just try to get wax next year. So you'll setup a new wax moth nest? ^___^ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rassah Posted September 11, 2016 Author Share Posted September 11, 2016 Wax moths eat the wax. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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