Beekeepers?

[NMVaquero]

Anyone keep bees?
I am considering starting and would love some input.

 

[cow pollinater]

I'm back down to two hives as a hobby. I was a small commercial producer for a few years but it didn't suit me. What would you like to know?
Keep in mind that bees are like cows... local...

 

[hillsdown]

Anyone keep bees?
I am considering starting and would love some input.

Rockridgecattle has a really nice bee operation . If you do a search here about bee farming etc she wrote up an extensive post about pros cons and all the inputs to strive in the bee sector.

 

[Fly-guy]

Anyone keep bees?
I am considering starting and would love some input.

You can have my meager amount of bees, them there little suckers can sure sting.

 

[NMVaquero]

Anyone keep bees?
I am considering starting and would love some input.

You can have my meager amount of bees, them there little suckers can sure sting.

Thanks Fly-guy.
I will consider your offer after more research.

 

[cow pollinater]

Zia Queen Bee is right there in your back yard. Those are GREAT queens. Gentle, productive, hardy...You could pretty much get a few packages/swarms and replace the queens with Zia stock and not worry to much about anything beyond just basic adding supers and pulling honey. And they're local so they'll work in your environment. You might lose a hive or two but for the most part they're self sufficient.
Bweaver in Texas can give you bees that will survive the apocalypse and you're close enough that they would probably sell you packages BUT THEY AREN'T FOR THE FEINT OF HEART!
cf khoenen and sons sells the most gentle bees you'll ever be around that are a real pleasure to work around but you'll have to treat them for just about everything that can infect a honeybee and in your environment you'd have to leave them a bunch of honey to get through on. They are fantastic beginner bees though.

Let me know before you spend a bunch of money on equipment. I still have some hanging around that I can send your way pretty reasonably.

 

[cow pollinater]

Also, I'm assuming you're thinking in advance on thinking about bees? Established hives are fine to buy any time of the year but for starting packages or swarms you're pretty late for 2013. Get set up for early spring 2014 and you'll wind up with more live bees at this time next year than you will if you try to start them now.

 

[Anonymous]

Zia Queen Bee is right there in your back yard. Those are GREAT queens. Gentle, productive, hardy...You could pretty much get a few packages/swarms and replace the queens with Zia stock and not worry to much about anything beyond just basic adding supers and pulling honey. And they're local so they'll work in your environment. You might lose a hive or two but for the most part they're self sufficient.
Bweaver in Texas can give you bees that will survive the apocalypse and you're close enough that they would probably sell you packages BUT THEY AREN'T FOR THE FEINT OF HEART!
cf khoenen and sons sells the most gentle bees you'll ever be around that are a real pleasure to work around but you'll have to treat them for just about everything that can infect a honeybee and in your environment you'd have to leave them a bunch of honey to get through on. They are fantastic beginner bees though.

Let me know before you spend a bunch of money on equipment. I still have some hanging around that I can send your way pretty reasonably.

Ill only add one thing to this: beware of anything kevin jester sells.

 

[rockridgecattle]

CP is right, start thinking now, but go for it next spring.

Bees and cows go well together with a bit of planning. Swarm season if the hives are not managed well can be just as busy as calving season.
Bees are addicting

Start with two hives the first year, preferably either nucs or packages on brand new equipment to minimize the disease risk. Then you can concentrate on bees and learning about them for the first bit, then work into disease management.

First year keeper stay away Fromm treatment free bees. There is so much to learn about diseases and how to manage them before going treatment free.

If you can find a good beekeeper near you, pick their brains and look for a mentor, and maybe even put some time in this summer helping them out.

Good luck.
It is an amazing endeavour!

 

[Anonymous]

There's also hobby bee clubs all over the country. YOur county ext agent will know if there's one close to you

 

[NMVaquero]

Thanks guys.

I am only doing research at this point.
A local bee wrangler was supposed to have bees on a couple places for us but has been a giant flake.
I am considering the bees as a fun project for myself and the kids.
Certainly not this year though....

 

[Alan]

Anyone keep bees?
I am considering starting and would love some input.

Rockridgecattle has a really nice bee operation . If you do a search here about bee farming etc she wrote up an extensive post about pros cons and all the inputs to strive in the bee sector.

I second that, do a search of her bee keeping and honey processing posts. Very informative and lots of help. No bees for me at this time but enjoyed all of her pics and videos.