Beekeeping on a shoestring budget

[pargyle]

Thank you for so many of your ideas and suggestions. So much to read and learn everyday. I'll research the hive types a bit more and probably buy first one to start with and possibly build others when I know what I'm doing.

Speaking as someone who did it the other way round .... this is a good plan. Get a couple of poly hives (and there's a few designs and each has their own fans ... they are much the same generally but minor details find personal preferences) and use the time you will save to read-read-read ... the more idea that you have BEFORE you get the bees will save you an awful lot of confusion, frustration and general grief and pain after you get them. It won't eliminate all this lot - just reduce it !!!

Good luck, let us know how you get on.

 

[Poly Hive]

cinamon? You have a PM.

PH

 

[Little John]

Oh so many ideas! Little John - agreed on old fridge being used as a hive is "ugly as sin"!

Yes, indeed - your reply gave me a much better idea of what 'shoestring' means for you. For some (strange) reason I was thinking of maybe somebody on Social Security, struggling to feed a family and/or pay the rent - that kind of scenario ... The 'fridge idea' clearly being for someone in that sort of desperate financial situation.

BTW, if you should ever get around to reading accounts of beekeeping by some of the early American beekeepers, you'll discover that many of them used existing wooden crates, and just modified them as necessary for bee-use. Indeed, the history of beekeeping is one of ingenuity, adaptation and invention.

I hope you realise that you are about to embark upon the most frustrating, disappointing, puzzling, enjoyable and most addictive hobby ever. Welcome aboard.
LJ

 

[madasafish]

A few personal comments on bees and hive types.
Silly question first.

Are you happy being stung by bees? You will be.
Have you ever been stung by bees? If yes and no major issues, ignore this. But if no, you WILL get stung. Sometimes often. Mistooks happen. So get some stings if you have never had any.

Another question.
Are you strong ? Can you lift weights? If yes, then fine, If no, then :
Do you have a weak back? If yes, then consider your choice of hive VERY carefully A brood box full of bees and honey is 30kg plus. And not easy to move around
If you have sciatica, you will know that lifting and turning is Bad news. That is what beekeepers do!##

Will your husband help with the heavy lifting? If no, then you will be limited in what you can do if you are not strong and without help. If yes, he will need a suit...

Choice of hives? As above.
Having had TBHs I cannot recommend them if you want honey and no swarming. They are difficult to inspect.

I could go on but going down mainstream beekeeping routes is far easier.

Personally I agree with poly hives. Light, better for bees and easy to look after if you are careful.

Hope that helps.

## Yoga exercise for backs are very helpful. (I have sciatica which now rarely bothers me)

 

[cinnamon]

Yes, indeed - your reply gave me a much better idea of what 'shoestring' means for you. For some (strange) reason I was thinking of maybe somebody on Social Security, struggling to feed a family and/or pay the rent - that kind of scenario ... The 'fridge idea' clearly being for someone in that sort of desperate financial situation.

No I am not but I am trying to cut down waste in general and reuse what can be reused, if possible. So although I'm not in dire straights, I want to experiment what I can do with little money and a bit of effort.

BTW, if you should ever get around to reading accounts of beekeeping by some of the early American beekeepers, you'll discover that many of them used existing wooden crates, and just modified them as necessary for bee-use. Indeed, the history of beekeeping is one of ingenuity, adaptation and invention.

I hope you realise that you are about to embark upon the most frustrating, disappointing, puzzling, enjoyable and most addictive hobby ever. Welcome aboard.
LJ

I'm known to take the road less travelled. I'm looking forward to it! I just need a good mentor so I don't make a total mess of it!

Are you happy being stung by bees? You will be.
Have you ever been stung by bees? If yes and no major issues, ignore this. But if no, you WILL get stung. Sometimes often. Mistooks happen. So get some stings if you have never had any.

Another question.
Are you strong ? Can you lift weights? If yes, then fine, If no, then :
Do you have a weak back? If yes, then consider your choice of hive VERY carefully A brood box full of bees and honey is 30kg plus. And not easy to move around
If you have sciatica, you will know that lifting and turning is Bad news. That is what beekeepers do!##

Will your husband help with the heavy lifting? If no, then you will be limited in what you can do if you are not strong and without help. If yes, he will need a suit...

I'm not very fit due to office type of job but I'm healthy otherwise. Not overweight or anything. I can lift with no aches or pains. I have already roped in husband, at least in the idea of it. He said he's interested in making me hives, he's not done any woodworking since school years and he's in his 50s - but just as with any other house chore, if a man says he'll do it, he'll do it after I pester him long enough

As far as I remember I've never been stung by a bee. So I can only hope I'm not allergic. I don't relish the idea of being stung, I'm sure it'll become part of the experience... Just like how nobody likes being scratched by cats but as owners we'll get a swipe or two if they are too playful.

cinamon? You have a PM.

PH

I've PM'ed you back. Highly appreciate your help!

 

[linoleum bonypart]

There are plans available somewhere on the net someone will place a link

 

[madasafish]

:

As far as I remember I've never been stung by a bee. So I can only hope I'm not allergic. I don't relish the idea of being stung

Before you spend ANY money or time, I do recommend you find a local beekeeper and get stung. If you suffer from anaphylactic ## shock because you are sensitive to bee stings, it can become worse - and possibly fatal. The treatment takes 2 or so years...

Saves a lot of hassle..

##
https://www.allergyuk.org/severe-al.../anaphylaxis?gclid=CLOT7Yz3nNMCFYEV0wodsfIFEA

 

[Swarm]

Well that will require being stung on two separate occasions at least. Anaphylaxis is very rare, less than 3 in 10,000, so I wouldn't start worrying about that.

 

[drex]

Cinnamon - you say the course was held in a room, so I suspect theory only. I suggest you first get some exposure to real bees. You will be stung. That is not a particular worry as already stated anaphylaxis is rare. However you need to experience being surrounded by a crowd of flying bees and to handle them. When I did my assoc beginners course several years ago, two people quit straight away at that stage as they found it too intimidating.
I suggest you start with conventional framed hives. It is easier to build your basic skills with these. I run mainly wooden nationals, but after two years built a top bar hive ( complete with observation window ( which I rarely use). I was glad I had that couple of years of experience as TBHs are more difficult to manipulate. I also have a couple of poly nationals, but do not like them. Thrones flat pack hives are a bargain at the price, and you can always use one as a pattern for building more. Many bits of kit are easily made yourself and you get bargains in the winter sales. Beekeeping is not cheap, but need not cost a fortune. Build up slowly and take time to learn all you can. Enjoy

 

[cinnamon]

We did go to the apiary and opened a few hives and looked at the bees but the weather was dreadful - too windy and drizzly at times. So the instructors didn't want to spend too much time leaving hives open and cooling down the hives. I didn't get to handle the frames or anything but there were plenty of bees about, probably not as much if the weather was warm and calm. It was early last September. Like they say, one swallow does not a summer make. I'll need to be be around bees a lot more times to become comfortable - and observe how things are handled before I get in there myself This forum is such a great resource - I'm reading various posts and I know I haven't even scratched the surface yet! It's fascinating. Hoping to wedge myself into this year's beginner's course at my local BKA. Until then read, read and read more

 

[Poly Hive]

Hmm yes.

I have taken my three ladies through some of my hives and we have had this very discussion about being intimidated.

Two are not bothered so am planning taking them to see a much stronger colony, and one is needing a bit more reassurance.

Now I have seen the same thing times, theory is wonderful but the reality is intimidating, and yes it can be. I am sitting tonight nursing a sore neck as I had a total zip failure I was unaware of. I thought it was doing what it should but as I took it round it was undoing... ouchies.. anyway.

I read this weekend that the start up cost is circa £700. No idea where they got that figure from and yes to me it seems high but that is what was said.

PH

 

[pargyle]

I read this weekend that the start up cost is circa £700. No idea where they got that figure from and yes to me it seems high but that is what was said.

PH

Two hives with supers, frames and foundation ... (New) £400
Bees (bought in Nuc) £150
Suit, gloves etc. - £60
Hive tool/smoker etc. £50
Bee book £18
BBKA & Insurance £20

Doesn't take much to see where it came from ... you can buy cheaper, you can buy used stuff, you can make things yourself but as Joe Average wanting a budget to start I reckon £700 is about right ... and you need a contingency for treatment, feeding, OMG they are swarming I need another box, attending bee conventions, transport to out apiaries ... the list goes on...and on ...

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Two hives with supers, frames and foundation ... (New) £400
Bees (bought in Nuc) £150
Suit, gloves etc. - £60
Hive tool/smoker etc. £50
Bee book £18
BBKA & Insurance £20

Doesn't take much to see where it came from ... you can buy cheaper, you can buy used stuff, you can make things yourself but as Joe Average wanting a budget to start I reckon £700 is about right ... and you need a contingency for treatment, feeding, OMG they are swarming I need another box, attending bee conventions, transport to out apiaries ... the list goes on...and on ...

I'd suggest your ideas of prices could all be shaved a bit. Try a couple of Abelo poly hives and frames plus buy foundation via a bulk club purchase, should save £100 there. A nuc of bees from our association about £100 (return the box). Suit could be as low as £30 ish, smoker and hive tool £25 ish and try your local library for bee books. Dave Cushman site for another reference source.
Your club membership is too low though nearer £35 these days but you gain the social interaction as a benefit.
If you can butcher wood your hive can be cheaper still

 

[pargyle]

I'd suggest your ideas of prices could all be shaved a bit.

Yes .. I acknowledged that you could do it a lot cheaper and I certainly did... but these 'start up costs' are inevitably formulated on the basis of someone who is truly 'new' to the hobby and to be honest - unless you know a bit about beekeeping before you start then you would not know how to make some of the savings available ... if you didn't know and didn't research it's very easy to look in the main beekeeping suppliers catalogues and accept list prices.

Let's face it .. a lot of new beekeepers do .. all the gear and no idea .. just look at how many bought flow hive !! That almost blows the budget in one ..

I see it in my other hobby - woodturning - people turn up to the association having spent thousands on lathes and tools - when they could start with a lot less and achieve more .... indeed, some of them will never make a woodturner as long as they have an orifice in their rear ... just feeds the 'nearly new' second hand market.

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Yes .. I acknowledged that you could do it a lot cheaper and I certainly did... but these 'start up costs' are inevitably formulated on the basis of someone who is truly 'new' to the hobby and to be honest - unless you know a bit about beekeeping before you start then you would not know how to make some of the savings available ... if you didn't know and didn't research it's very easy to look in the main beekeeping suppliers catalogues and accept list prices.

Let's face it .. a lot of new beekeepers do .. all the gear and no idea .. just look at how many bought flow hive !! That almost blows the budget in one ..

I see it in my other hobby - woodturning - people turn up to the association having spent thousands on lathes and tools - when they could start with a lot less and achieve more .... indeed, some of them will never make a woodturner as long as they have an orifice in their rear ... just feeds the 'nearly new' second hand market.

I'm told our ancestors set out with two centres, a rope, a treadle and a bendy overhead branch plus a tool rest and a bit of sharpened iron . Crude but effective

 

[Teebeeaitch]

Actually the shoestring method is easily achievable. Build a serviceable hive for £20. Smock and a pair of marigolds for £25. Water spray for £1.00 and a swarm of bees are free if you collect them yourself. That's it, you don't actually need frames, foundation, extractors, treatments etc and most definitely do not need tosh like BBKA membership. Too many people feel the need to have their hand held all the way. It's really not difficult to keep bees on a back yard basis.

 

[bingevader]

It's really not difficult to keep bees on a back yard basis.

It's not difficult to keep a dog either, but tell that to the Dogs Trust!

2 years ago we made a TBH out of native red cedar for £70 it has required no further purchases and houses the strongest colony this year.

I'm building a Warre at the moment. Also native red cedar @£65, complete; four boxes, quilt box, roof and floor, but will need to buy the top bars.

Both required some skills at working with wood, but I wouldn't describe myself as either a woodworker or a carpenter!

if your local association is good, their introductory course with practical, hands on sessions is a very good place to start.

BBKA membership does offer 3rd part insurance.

Best of luck with what you decide.

 

[Little John]

... you don't actually need [...] treatments etc

That's what Typhoid Mary used to say ....
LJ

 

[Beagle23]

I have to agree, that's a thing of beauty.

 

[Beagle23]

Yes. Many of us use high-density poly hives. I wouldn't recommend that you try to make hives (dimensions are critical and the material needs to be quite dense or the bees will destroy it) but commercial hives are reasonably priced and, on the whole, do what they're intended to do quite well.
Unfortunately, things can go wrong very quickly if you don't know what you are doing with bees. The colony can go from a single brood box in March to a tower that you can hardly reach the top of (e.g. http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/album.php?albumid=751&pictureid=3744) by July. I really do recommend that you join an association, do a course and get a good beekeeping mentor who will guide you through the first year or two. The forum is a good place to ask questions, but, we can't be with you in the apiary looking over your shoulder seeing what you see.

I have to agree, that's a thing of beauty