Too bad so few know...how much fun this really is!
- Thread starter apidaeman
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- May 7, 2006
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Awesome stuff, though I am more of a wasp keeper myself, though I would love to have a Bombus sp colony in the future.
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- Jun 13, 2007
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Sweet pics. Can you offer some tips/steps to starting a colony? Where does the queen come from - an already established colony?
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- Jun 6, 2007
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Wait, what just happened here?
I collected a swarm of honeybees.
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- Jun 6, 2007
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How'd you do it without them swarming everywhere?
The hive you see in the photos is exactly what they seeking, a new home. I simply shook them off in front of the box and they go in on their own. I caught the queen just to get a picture of her but it wasn't required. She too would go in the box on her own. I also like to be certain of where she is too.
I have been doing this for years, it is so easy. The only time they ever give me problems is when they are 30-40ft+ up a tree.
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- Aug 18, 2004
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How bad are the regs involving the keeping of bees? I hear tell now many places require you to medicate/spray your bees for mites etc. I'm also going to assume they are not legal in city limits.
They do sound fun though! Well...except for the occasional stings.
They do sound fun though! Well...except for the occasional stings.
Here in Oklahoma a new law was written for bees in 2005. The primary concern was the africanized honeybee(AHB), many of the beekeepers and myself included were very involved in getting the the law written in the way we wanted it. The state wanted some control over the spread of the AHB. The beekeepers and European honeybees(EHB) which we keep are the only line of defense against them.
So the state was willing to work with us. So our regulations are light on most areas except for AHB control and American/European foulbrood.
One thing we did do was get the "Georgia Law" included in this law.
Which basicly says that no government below the state level can ban the keeping of bees anywhere in Oklahoma.
The suburb I live in tried to do this to me last year. Then the Dept. of Agriculture, contacted the state's attorney general who smacked the city pretty hard over their flagrant disgregard for a state law. That had been told for a fact was on the books and would be strictly enforced.
So my state recognizes how important the bees and beekeepers are to the state. So far they have gone to great lengths to ensure that we do not have any more problems. To further compound our already difficult situation maintaining our bees.
So the state was willing to work with us. So our regulations are light on most areas except for AHB control and American/European foulbrood.
One thing we did do was get the "Georgia Law" included in this law.
Which basicly says that no government below the state level can ban the keeping of bees anywhere in Oklahoma.
The suburb I live in tried to do this to me last year. Then the Dept. of Agriculture, contacted the state's attorney general who smacked the city pretty hard over their flagrant disgregard for a state law. That had been told for a fact was on the books and would be strictly enforced.
So my state recognizes how important the bees and beekeepers are to the state. So far they have gone to great lengths to ensure that we do not have any more problems. To further compound our already difficult situation maintaining our bees.