Thumper, why splain it in secret?

I think most see them as a novelty, easy enough to Google reviews. IMO, you can get 2 hives and most of the equipment you need to start out for what 1 FH cost, not the Chinese knock offs, but the true Australian brand, if you get American foul brood, it will suck watching a grande burn in a fire pit!.I will digress to Thumper since they have some actual dealings with them tho.

In the end, it's whatever you feel up to, as Thumper said, it is still beekeeping and can be a fun hobby.

Well, my bees are bringing in a white pollen, way early and not sure what it is, possibly Juniper is all I can figure. Anyone else seeing pollen?

This is about 3-4 weeks early for here I believe, which means they will open the nursery early, so a need to really keep an eye on stores to avoid a starvation event. I guess I need to get out and look over the cedars and see if that is the source, usually its ash and juniper early around late Feb when weather is moderate.

Wasn't really expecting it, but bees look good thus far and ready to work.

I appreciate the feedback, I was looking at the genuine one. Seems pretty slick and would be easy to maintain for the backyard. Of course I am a first timer and it seems I have a bunch of research to do, thanks everyone again.

Westerns been stung in the head to many times so take that for what it’s worth He was texting me today giving me a hard time so I’m returning the favor lol He’s a solid source of information and has helped me on several occasions.

Honestly you just have to learn how to take care of the bee’s and the hive type really doesn’t but the Flow Hive types are pretty cool being able to taste the actual honey from different types of flowers and it’s not all blended together. We’ve got them as well as standard hives but if kids are involved the Flowhives are pretty educational being able to actually see the progress of bee’s filling the frames. It’s simply a learning process like anything else filled with ups and downs but well worth it in my opinion.

Don't tell thumper, but working on a plan to turn his wife exterior office walls into observation hives, will put his signature on it of course

Todd, you're doing the right thing, those are expensive and have a few more details to deal with, Thumper can give you advise, along with what you find online from other beeks. I would strongly advise going with no less than 2 hives though. Sharing resource (healthy hives only) will happen and having another to use may keep one from dying out, or getting way behind.

If "its "cute" for the yard is what you're after, there are quite a few fancy hives online, exterior isn't as important as the interior.

Good luck with what ever you do, it can be frustrating at times, but it is a fascinating thing working and watching bee's.

Ask thumper for his bee supplier info from one source

Any of you still in the bee bidness? Spring is around the corner!!

Well, Just what I thought. Went thru 8 hives and all but one going gang busters. 1 hive in particular already has drone brood, will likely have to knock that one back soon. 3 I found short of food. Next 6-8 weeks is when most hives die of starvation and I will have to get on it.

Several colors of pollen being stored, white, orange and red. Probably juniper elms and henbit

Most hives easy to work, great weather today.

In case one of you are interested.

Wont get my Cordovan queens until May 9-10th, so if any of y'all are interested in a nuc in late Spring, I will be putting 5 together.

So far this early Spring is looking good, actually getting some rain, so hopefully the nectar flows good for everyone.

Anybody have any bee updates? I had to euthanize my first hive recently but other than those evil bastids the rest are doing really well. The first harvest should be pretty early this year as well

Guess it's you and me Thumper lol

Bees have been busy

I kind of got sidetracked with some chickens, lol. Bees are still def on the radar though

Been planting an acre in wildflowers and fruit trees…..

Bees seem to be doing ok. Did loose a couple of hives over the winter.

Jess, find out why you lost those hives? You didn't have them very long

I think I got them started too late and they weren’t strong enough to make it through the winter.

A couple were weak going into fall even with feeding.

They should have been fine, could have been lack of food, or likely mite related. You can do a mite wash when that happens, good to rule mites in, or out, so you know if checking other hives is warranted.

I'm' in the middle of doing the same thing. Bought a late summer queen last fall from the only place that still had stock, I knew it could be a gamble. Over the last month of a few minor inspections, this hive got hotter each visit, culled all the drone brood about a month ago hoping to buy time and see if the attitude got better and not letting the drones spread a mean gene around.

Went out to check openings since it is getting warmer and those bishes lite me up, dealt with them all the rest of the day anywhere within 300', they tagged me about 20 times, stung Bella when she was on the porch, then the last straw was the wife getting tagged when she got home. Today, dry ice is on the menu...