Good point, but I want to chime in a bit
too.
My experience with packages is NOT good. It's
not a lot of bees, sometimes you get a good queen and sometimes not, and
sometimes they just don't thrive.
In my opinion, a rather inexperienced one, you are
FAR better off to find someone selling operational hives or making splits they
are willing to sell. It may cost more, but you have more chance of getting
honey. Failed packages add up rapidly!
Subscribe to NC Agreview and watch for hives for
sale. Of course they can fail too, but at least you can do an inspection
and see what you are getting.
Here are current bee related ads
There's one person selling hives, but they may not
be established yet.
Also get someone experienced to discuss the merit
of nucs vs packages. I think it's a lot more bees, with some comb
started...
Packages have gotten way more expensive in the last
few years, because of high demand, so learning to catch swarms and do removals
can be quite valuable! Some of my best hives have started from
swarms!
Who knows, you may be able to work with a mentor
and get your own hive going in their yard, thus avoiding some
mistakes.
Wilson
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2011 11:38
AM
Subject: Re: [ocba] Aspiring Beekeeper
Looking for Advice on StarterEquipment
Don't forget what goes in the equipment --- bees! Most
beginners start with package bees which come in the mail. You won't actually
get them until mid/late April (if lucky) or May, but package bee suppliers are
already taking orders. They usually ship first-come-first-served so ordering
at Christmas means you should be near the top of the list for an earlier
(versus later) delivery. Just as a reference, Rossman's (www.gabees.com) is taking 2012 orders now at
$73 per package, which includes an Italian queen. Shipping is extra. There are
a lot of suppliers to choose from (see NC Approved Sellers list: http://www.ncagr.gov/plantindustry/plant/apiary/documents/2011PermitToSell.pdf).
But PLEASE don't buy any from areas where African Honey Bees are entrenched,
such as Texas (see the map here: http://www.ars.usda.gov/Research/docs.htm?docid=11059&page=6).
Most folks end up with Georgia package bees, either ordering directly or
through Jack Tapp, who brings them up by the truckload. Jack's contact info is
under "Busy Bee Apiaries" on the NC Approved Sellers list.
There have
been years recently when suppliers sell out quickly. So the smart move is to
get your order in early. You can cancel if your circumstances change between
now and next spring (sometimes with a nominal cancellation fee --- check with
the seller).
FYI, the bee school will wisely recommend that you start
with two hives, if possible.
Randall
On Tue, Dec 6, 2011 at 10:36 AM, Todd Walker <mtwalker AT imageray.net>
wrote:
John,
I
have purchase equipment from both Dadant ( http://www.dadant.com ) and Brushy Mountain ( http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com/ ), which is a
NC company. Their prices are comparable; however, there are a few benefits
with Brushy Mountain. Their hive kits include screen bottom boards and both
the bottom boards and hive tops come preassembled. Dadant kits have solid
bottom boards and both the bottom boards and hive tops come unassembled. For
buying larger quantities (e.g. cartons of five hives, supers, etc), Dadant
can be cheaper.
Dadant
offers several kits that make ordering easy. The two that I have ordered in
the past are:
Brushy
Mountain has a hive kit but not a honey super kit. In my experience the only
real benefit to the kit is convenience. I later ended up buying a better
veil, gloves, and smoker than what are included in the
kit. In the long run it might have been cheaper if I had bought the
components individually but at least now I have spare gear and stuff that my
wife, etc could use.
My
advice would be to wait until after the Equipment lecture to purchase any
hive equipment. You may learn things that could influence your decision. If
you still want somethings for your Christmas list, some recommendations
would be:
A
gift certificate to Brushy Mountain and/or Dadant
A
larger smoker (the beginner kits only come with the small smoker)
Two of the classic bee reference
books:
I
hope this helps. We look forward to seeing you at the bee school.
~Todd
Greetings Beekeepers: I am planning to begin bee
school in January and was hoping to get some advice on what supplies I
should plan to purchase to get started. I am sure we will be going over some
of this during the bee school in January but I though some items may make
good Christmas gifts. Specifically, I was looking for advice on whether to
buy a starter kit as opposed to individual items? Any recommendations for
online or local merchants? Any advice you could provide would be
greatly appreciated.I look forward to joining your community in the coming
months. Many Thanks, John Nicholson Chapel Hill,
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