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Offline LindsayBrower1

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My update on becoming a beekeeper
« on: May 27, 2014, 09:47:36 pm »
Hey everyone I wanted to give an update on becoming a beekeeper! I received my nucs at the end of April and Im so glad I took the advice of getting 2... Im in the process of re-queening a hive that is struggling to make much progress with building wax. Making comparisons against each other has been so helpful! And of course having an experienced beekeeper Im able to pester with questions and advice makes life a lot less stressful too! Thanks Rob Overton  :)  ;D  C:-)  I absolutely love having the bees! They are so fascinating, I thoroughly enjoy them even after a few stings    :-[
Here are a few pics I happen to have so far










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Offline riverbee

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Re: My update on becoming a beekeeper
« Reply #1 on: May 27, 2014, 09:51:28 pm »
hey lindsay!!!

where have you been?!  AWESOME PHOTOS!!! love the first one and the expression on your face! love the bear fence, the chickens, the pool party, and the bees, very cool!
about rob?......absolutely!
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Offline rcannon

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Re: My update on becoming a beekeeper
« Reply #2 on: May 27, 2014, 09:57:00 pm »
That is a nice looking bee yard. Good job.
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Offline LindsayBrower1

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Re: My update on becoming a beekeeper
« Reply #3 on: May 27, 2014, 09:59:00 pm »
Riverbee!! I know I felt like I had to give an update! Spring has been a busy one for me... And thank you! All these additions to my life have made my days a little brighter  ;D  Glad you enjoyed my pics! And yes Rob.. He deserves a huge shout out. He's GREAT! He even came to my house to help me install my nucs and mark my queens. I worked in his bee yard sunday, Im just very thankful!
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Offline LindsayBrower1

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Re: My update on becoming a beekeeper
« Reply #4 on: May 27, 2014, 10:00:23 pm »
rcannon- Thank you!  ;D
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Offline tbonekel

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Re: My update on becoming a beekeeper
« Reply #5 on: May 28, 2014, 06:24:30 am »
I can see how it would be a busy spring with those new chicks and ducks and bees! Not only that, but it appears you have young children. Congratulations!
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Offline blueblood

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Re: My update on becoming a beekeeper
« Reply #6 on: May 28, 2014, 06:43:28 am »
Excellent! Especially like the bee icon on the front of the hives!
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Offline Perry

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Re: My update on becoming a beekeeper
« Reply #7 on: May 28, 2014, 07:28:58 am »
Awesome pics!
(I hope it's not too late, but, one of your chicks is outside the fence).  :laugh:
Thanks for the update.
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Offline DMLinton

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Re: My update on becoming a beekeeper
« Reply #8 on: May 28, 2014, 07:44:04 am »
Very nice Lindsay!  The chickens will intercept a lot of the little critters that might like to get into your hives and they will keep the dead bees and anything else the housekeeper bees toss out tidied up.  One thing to be careful about, though, is that bees have been known to attack livestock, including chickens, that were perceived as threatening.
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Regards, Dennis
First bees installed July 1, 2014..

Offline LindsayBrower1

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Re: My update on becoming a beekeeper
« Reply #9 on: May 28, 2014, 07:48:47 am »
tbonekel- That sums it up! I rarely have "down time" with my two children who are 4 and 2. The 2 year old really gives me a run for my money!! Thank you  :D
blueblood- Thank you! I made the stencil and then painted it with spray paint, it was easy.
Perry- haha  :laugh: That little bantom silkie could still squeeze through the fence... They are rarely in their run though, they free range all over the place. I've only lost 2 of 16 so far, one to a hawk ( so I think) while I was out hanging swarm traps, and another to bumble foot. I've got guinea hens coming soon as well!
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Offline LindsayBrower1

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Re: My update on becoming a beekeeper
« Reply #10 on: May 28, 2014, 07:53:12 am »
DMLinton- I have heard that! So far no issues at all.. The chickens don't pay much mind to them at all. I put fencing in between them to keep the chickens and bees separate but I haven't needed to close it yet. Worse comes to worse we will have chciken dinner and I didn;t have to do any of the dirty work  :D
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Offline DMLinton

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Re: My update on becoming a beekeeper
« Reply #11 on: May 28, 2014, 07:56:56 am »
I like your outlook and perspective, Linsay!
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Regards, Dennis
First bees installed July 1, 2014..

Offline efmesch

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Re: My update on becoming a beekeeper
« Reply #12 on: May 28, 2014, 03:05:52 pm »
Getting your queens marked was a good move.  Looking at the whole frames covered with bees, they seem to jump out at you.  No searching needed.  you'll appreciate that more and more as the populations grow.  When in the future you  have some hives with unmarked queens you'll know just what I mean.
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Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: My update on becoming a beekeeper
« Reply #13 on: May 29, 2014, 01:02:52 am »
Marking that tiger striped queen will help find her. They can be a bear to find when they have stripes like that.
    Great pictures, and dont feel bad when Life yanks you away.   I am pretty swamped right now, not much time to get on the forum. Happens to us all once in a while.   Looks like a great place you have going. Keep the pics and updates coming.
 
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Offline barry42001

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Re: My update on becoming a beekeeper
« Reply #14 on: May 29, 2014, 02:10:13 am »
In strong colonies even marked queens are difficult to find, with all the workers climbing all over everything. while its nice to find her, as long as you can find all stages of brood, I'm happy.

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Offline blueblood

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Re: My update on becoming a beekeeper
« Reply #15 on: May 29, 2014, 06:39:10 am »
I may just have to create a unique icon for my and stencil it on my hives.  Serves two purposes, it's cool for one and the other, unique identifier. 

I remember reading somewhere here on the web that chickens, are believe it or not, smart enough to avoid the forager and eat the drones.  Not sure on the authenticity of that statement but like I said, read over it somewhere. 
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Offline LindsayBrower1

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Re: My update on becoming a beekeeper
« Reply #16 on: May 29, 2014, 07:13:33 am »
Quote from: LazyBkpr on May 29, 2014, 01:02:52 am
Marking that tiger striped queen will help find her. They can be a bear to find when they have stripes like that.
    Great pictures, and dont feel bad when Life yanks you away.   I am pretty swamped right now, not much time to get on the forum. Happens to us all once in a while.   Looks like a great place you have going. Keep the pics and updates coming.
 

Yes she was a hard one for my eyes to spot... we are replacing her though. I wasn't very impressed with that colony drawing out comb, they were way behind my other hive. And thank you!
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Offline LindsayBrower1

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Re: My update on becoming a beekeeper
« Reply #17 on: May 29, 2014, 07:15:44 am »
Quote from: LazyBkpr on May 29, 2014, 01:02:52 am
Marking that tiger striped queen will help find her. They can be a bear to find when they have stripes like that.
    Great pictures, and dont feel bad when Life yanks you away.   I am pretty swamped right now, not much time to get on the forum. Happens to us all once in a while.   Looks like a great place you have going. Keep the pics and updates coming.
 

Exactly! Now I just look for eggs if I don't spot her.  :yes:
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Offline LindsayBrower1

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Re: My update on becoming a beekeeper
« Reply #18 on: May 29, 2014, 07:24:43 am »
Quote from: blueblood on May 29, 2014, 06:39:10 am
I may just have to create a unique icon for my and stencil it on my hives.  Serves two purposes, it's cool for one and the other, unique identifier. 

I remember reading somewhere here on the web that chickens, are believe it or not, smart enough to avoid the forager and eat the drones.  Not sure on the authenticity of that statement but like I said, read over it somewhere. 
Thats very interesting information about the chickens! Ill have to look it up. My chickens tend to avoid them all together but occasionally pick around the ground in there.
The way I did it was trace an image I liked by taping a piece of paper to my laptop, and turning the brightness as high as it would go. Trace the image on the paper and then you can take it off the computer. After that I placed a very thin piece of plastic over the paper and repeated the tracing process. When thats finished just carefully cut it out with a razor blade.  This image is better for seeing the icon.


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Offline Zweefer

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Re: My update on becoming a beekeeper
« Reply #19 on: May 29, 2014, 07:42:47 am »
That looks great!
I have been toying with the idea of branding my boxes... I have a friend who creates them, just need to decide on design...
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