Suburban apiary, beehives and beekeeping

AchmatK

AchmatK

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I've always had in interest in beekeeping but never ever got around to getting the hive and equipment needed. I have a large plot so enough space to keep one in a secluded area where it will not be disturbed.

Eventually read up on flow hives that makes beekeeping so much easier. Decided on buying one to see how it goes.

Hive arrived all setup already and just a matter of stacking them. It comes baited already to attract a passing swarm. If that does not work they will sell some bees to get the hive started. There are 3 viewing windows to check on progress. It should take 9 to 12 months before I'll be able to harvest the honey.

It comes in 3 boxes. Cat is ready to help unbox everything.

Placed it at a disused braai area in the back of the garden.

Hive was supplied by Easy Beesy Autohives

20210202_171149.jpg20210202_171635.jpg20210202_172023.jpg20210202_172357.jpg20210202_173250.jpg20210202_173330.jpg

UPDATE

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signates said:
I've always had in interest in beekeeping but never ever got around to getting the jobs and equipment needed. I have a large plot so enough space to keep one in a secluded area where it will not be disturbed.

Eventually read up on flow hives that makes beekeeping so much easier. Decided on buying one to see how it goes.

Give arrived all setup already and just a matter of attacking them. It comes baited akkuraat to attract a passing swarm. If that does not work they will sell some need to get the hive started. There are 3 viewing windows to check on progress. It should take 9 to 12 months before I'll be able to harvest the honey.

It comes in 3 boxes. Cat is ready to help unbox everything.

Placed it at a disused braai area in the back of the garden.

Hive was supplied by Easy Beesy Autohives

View attachment 1007750View attachment 1007752View attachment 1007754View attachment 1007756View attachment 1007758View attachment 1007760
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Been keen on doing this when I eventually move out of complex life.
Please keep the thread updated :)
 
Pho3nix said:
Been keen on doing this when I eventually move out of complex life.
Please keep the thread updated :)
Click to expand...
Will do. Going to be a long wait until the first bees start to settle in and start making honey.

When it's finally ready it will produce more than I'll need so will probably be giving some away to family and neighbours.
 
Had to also register as a hobbyist beekeeper. Filled in the form and just email it to the address provided. Have not yet received a reply yet.
 
Had to make some changes as I did not set it up correctly.

The collection panel needs to be at the back so as not to disturb the bees coming and going through the entrance.

Final placement is done and now just waiting for a passing swarm to find it and settle in.

Placed it on some bricks so it's easy to tilt to the back when it's time to harvest. I will use a bottle jack to raise the front so it tilts between 3 and 5°. I could probably keep two hives but will first see how the first one goes. Currently have a few wasps in the area so just concerned that the wasps find the hive before the bees does.

Some cool videos on YouTube where they are getting between 12l and 15l of honey from a flow super with 7 trays. 20210203_071729.jpg20210203_075635.jpg
 
saor said:
What encourages bees to find it & settle there?
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It's baited with honey inside. You can also drizzle some honey on the landing strip at the entrance of the hive. Bees will not let any honey go to waste. If they have a choice between honey and pollen or nectar from close flowers they will first go for the honey.
 
signates said:
It's baited with honey inside. You can also drizzle some honey on the landing strip at the entrance of the hive. Bees will not let any honey go to waste. If they have a choice between honey and pollen or nectar from close flowers they will first go for the honey.
Click to expand...
Interesting. So they don't care who's honey it is, ie. they don't have a strong preference for honey from their own hive? Almost expected them to be averse to foreign honey.
 
SlinkyMike said:
You got a Flowhive! I know someone who has a set of these, the honey is spectacular!

Local honey is the only thing taht reduces my hayfever so I am obviously a massive fan.

You are doing the lord's work wrt to the bee population too.

Please keep this thread updated.
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My wife gets hay-fever bad so good to know that this might help with that.
 
Very cool. We had several hives on our property growing up on small holdings. The only downside is that somehow I’ve developed an allergy to bee stings over the years and many stings.
 
In my reading up on flow hives i picked up that there's a difference in the quality of honey. The old school centrifugal way of spinning the honey out of the frames, mixing honey from multiple frames and the aeration that happens in sifting the honey to get all the gunk out changes the flavour and quality.

With the flow system it's basically honey on tap dripping from one frame into your container. No aeration and oxidisation occurring. This can have a significant difference in quality and taste from one frame to another, even from the same hive. Also very little mess and waste. Saw one video where every frame had a different colour honey as the bees would work on one frame at a time and if the flowers change for the next frame, so too would the honey produced.
 
Interesting.
But what if those okes decide they don't like you poking in their hive ?
 
HunterNW said:
Interesting.
But what if those okes decide they don't like you poking in their hive ?
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Smoke 'em
Bee-Smoker.jpg


This is actually a great article
www.backwoodshome.com

How to become a backyard beekeeper - Backwoods Home Magazine

By Sheri Jones If you’ve been intrigued by the idea of becoming a beekeeper but think you don’t have the space, resources, or knowledge, you’re about to be pleasantly surprised. Backyard beekeeping is a lot more accessible than most people realize. It’s also a great way to support the...
www.backwoodshome.com
 
signates said:
It's baited with honey inside. You can also drizzle some honey on the landing strip at the entrance of the hive. Bees will not let any honey go to waste. If they have a choice between honey and pollen or nectar from close flowers they will first go for the honey.
Click to expand...

You will have better luck with melting some old wax/propolis inside the hive.
 
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