A BEE thread....for those interested in beekeeping.

[Eden83_haaretz]

I just borrowed a book from a friend called "The backyard beekeeper".... I'm trying to learn! Can anyone tell me how time consuming this is? I would LOVE some bees, but I kinda have a full plate right now. I'm sure I can fit them in though....

I'd say it is time consuming, but then it all depends on how young your hive is, if they are healthy or not, if it's harvesting time or not.
When it's a new small hive every 3 days at first till they have filled the brood chamber. They do require a lot of work, many people I guess could try to replace observing them with smart hives, but I thing putting measuring instruments should only be used to help monitor them. Read up on the subject extensively.

 

[Eden83_haaretz]

Hi egghead_jr, years ago I researched online where the varoa mite hit most in the world. Found that France and Australia don't really have that problem. Then I started looking into eucalyptus and lavander and the effect of the oils these plants have on mites (which will always carry a bit into the nectar) and found that the oils help kill mites (of course they do nothing to the bees). So we started smoking them with some Eucaliptus leaves or lavander flowers and leaves and boy does it work beautifully (plus the honey does somewhat acquire the flavor and it's delicious ). Try it out, you will not regret it

That depends on if I treat for mites or not. Tried past three years treatment free. Started this spring with no hives left....treating again and will use Oxalic.

No difference with mediums to deeps. Basically people use two deeps for brood and that is same size as three mediums, after that it's all mediums for supers anyway. This far North folks use a medium on top of the two deeps, call that the complete hive. I do the same, Italians will brood up to middle three or four frames of my 4th box. I can still collect honey of outside frames in 4th box then put them back wet to be filled for winter. Put the rest of suppers in stacks wet for bees to clean up before I store them.

You'll still need foundation on the frames you use for honey surplus unless you don't plan to spin them.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

No, I'll not be scenting my honey with oils. It's unlawful to use thymol with supers on. Basically the same thing, natural oil that kills mites but adulterates flavor.

Oxalic acid is used extensively in Europe. Not so much in the states and again not allowed with supers on. For me, fogging with Oxalic is the way to go if you've got any number of hives. A pain those types of treatment need multiple applications for one treatment session but with the fogger it's 30 seconds per hive once the gun is heated up. Really easy to fog 30 hive yards.