General bee keeping advice

[OBLIGATED]

Originally Posted by Tyson Brown

Yeah but there's a lot less streaking up the hill....

It was a painful mistake.If I would have followed procedure and not been in a rush they wouldnt have been pissed and I wouldnt have had a head swollen like the elephant man and bites almost to my manhood.
They normally let me handle the hive with no hood or gloves needed.I took a few racks the day before and they evidently remembered me taking the honey.I was in dress slacks and tie since we were going out and had cologne on which can set them off too.Wife and kids got a laugh.I couldnt work for a few days since one ear swelled shut and both eyes looked like Mike Tyson beat me.
I have also learned my John Deere mower cant outrun yellow jackets up here.Bees are sweethearts compared to the bee from hell.

[Tyson Brown]

Originally Posted by OBLIGATED

....Bees are sweethearts compared to the bee from hell.

Yellow jackets are the spawn of Satan.

[Marcus]

Originally Posted by Tyson Brown

Yellow jackets are the spawn of Satan.

I can attest to that haven been stung by well over 150 of them at once...feel lucky to have survived.

[OBLIGATED]

We have a bee up here called a Japanese Hornet.I havent been bit yet but my son and grandson got nailed and he said it was worse than a scorpion bite.
Problem with the yellow jacket is they come by the hundreds and chase you for long distances.
My wifes horse started bucking her in a meadow so she rode over to me pissed because I told her the horse was gentle as a lamb.I jumped on and forced the mare through the same spot and she started bucking again.
I was pulling hard on the reigns and cussing her when the yellow jackets lit me up.I let off the reigns and we were gone!Whiskey Girl(the mare)was giving me dirty looks all the way home but a few drinks later we were both relaxed.

[Marcus]

Apparently they didn't like the front tire of my dirt bike crushing their nest after I hit their hole from a stump removal in an overgrown field.

[OBLIGATED]

I ordered my bees the other day.They were $89 and the hive or super will cost another $150.
We eat a lot of honey so I am going to give it another try.
Right now honey has been the only thing to sooth my throat from a nasty cold.

[OBLIGATED]

I got a 1/2 rack of bees this spring since my other bees absconded.Much better results since the racks have honey,queen and larvae.
Just pulled the first box saturday and got about #18 of wildflower/clover honey.Next box will be sourwood which is a lot darker and stronger tasting.
Probably going to get more hives next spring since a #2 bottle is $12
Nice hobby that pays for itself.

[raldog]

Right on man! Nothing better than honey from your own hives. You have to be really, really careful with bees.....they are addicting. Grew to about 50 hives as a hobby in Key West chasing black mangrove honey for 7 years. Started breeding queens then my addiction got so bad I sold all my trucks, boats, and equipment and just moved to southern Chile to start raising queens and chasing ulmo honey! We'll see how it works out but at a minimum it will be fun.

[OBLIGATED]

I poured some wildflower honey into little preserve mason jars for gifts today.There is some comb wax in the honey since Im not set up to do large amounts of honey.
All the wax and honey that was in the pan has been taken back into the hive by the bees.
For now its just a hobby that pays for itself.Same with the laying hens.They dont produce and into the crock pot they go!

[popgun pete]

Any interest? https://www.gearbest.com/measurement...1563375372_t20

[OBLIGATED]

I was going to put some honey in some local shine.Probably around 110-130 proof would do the trick

Jamaican overproof rum will work for mixing in the honey.Everclear will still taste like shit but with honey in it.

[popgun pete]

Something else instead of firewater.

https://www.liquor.com/articles/10-f...ead/#gs.qmv8t2

[OBLIGATED]

We have a craft beer shop in the town square.Going to see if they have some.If its good I may consider making some.Liquor is still quicker!

[mepps1]

Originally Posted by popgun pete

Something else instead of firewater.

https://www.liquor.com/articles/10-f...ead/#gs.qmv8t2

Made two batches from our harvest last fall. But I've done drunk it all. Goes really nice on the rocks on a hot day. I prefer medium or dry over sweet meads

We had sweet clover sky to sky four feet high this year. My supers are stacked up tall.

I'll be sure to make more this year.

[OBLIGATED]

Bought another box yesterday and all the racks,etc. then painted the boxes.
Probably have to empty the two boxes on the other hive tomorrow or this weekend.Already full!
This batch should be sourwood honey.Im thinking close to 30# of honey since the last one was 18# and I did not take a couple racks.Got some more jelly jars for gifts and the rest will be stored for personal use for family.
Have to check with the guy I got the bees from on splitting the hive and getting more bees this spring.Everyone wants honey.