new forest

[newforestbees]

Been hankering for a while to get into beekeeping, eventually want to build it up as a secondary source of income, but realise that this won't happen overnight

This year's plan to obtain 3 or 4 nucs and gradually build up to managing a full strength colony year 2 and following. First site already agreed on

read Dr Croft's book several times need to spend some time with an experienced beekeeper

 

[pargyle]

Been hankering for a while to get into beekeeping, eventually want to build it up as a secondary source of income, but realise that this won't happen overnight

This year's plan to obtain 3 or 4 nucs and gradually build up to managing a full strength colony year 2 and following. First site already agreed on

read Dr Croft's book several times need to spend some time with an experienced beekeeper

Hmmm ... might need to rethink that plan ... a Nuc in April could be 40,000 bees by July and you will need 4 full size hives to house them. Four colonies is ambitious for a new beekeeper - think 2 colonies might be more manageable until you get your feet under the hive ... you can grow your hive numbers quite rapidly when you know what you are doing.

As for secondary income ... start thinking how you are going to manage to break even ... have you looked in a beekeeping supplies catalogue yet ?

Good luck, always nice to see another lamb coming to slaughter !!


PS: Are you talking about Laurie Croft ' Profitable Beekeeping' as your bible ? If so .. you probably need a more recent book - a lot has changed since 1986 - not least of which VARROA !

 

[Bosleeu]

Hmmm ... might need to rethink that plan ... a Nuc in April could be 40,000 bees by July and you will need 4 full size hives to house them. Four colonies is ambitious for a new beekeeper - think 2 colonies might be more manageable until you get your feet under the hive ... you can grow your hive numbers quite rapidly when you know what you are doing.

As for secondary income ... start thinking how you are going to manage to break even ... have you looked in a beekeeping supplies catalogue yet ?

Good luck, always nice to see another lamb coming to slaughter !!


PS: Are you talking about Laurie Croft ' Profitable Beekeeping' as your bible ? If so .. you probably need a more recent book - a lot has changed since 1986 - not least of which VARROA !

Totally right, each Nuc could potentially fill a hive and produce a swarm, or some honey (normally not both) this year, particularly if you start with an overwintered one.

Like Pargyle says most of us break even if we are lucky, and what we make we often buy new bee stuff with. Very few make decent money from it.

 

[newforestbees]

I'm beginning to think that forums rather like one which is for another of my interests - photography - is not the best way forward This site is slower than Eurotunnel.

My first sentance would indicate that I have put ore study than being "converted" by a single book. Several books in fact as well as time spent in conversation withmembers of the local beekeeper's association. As a member of the New Forest show I am there for the full 3 days and there is the beekeeping tent

Varroa - yes aware of it

costs - again done it. As a competant woodworker - as well as a lifetime being involved with animals I don't see that at least buying flat pack & doing assembly myself can help to defray costs

apart from 4 nucs being over ambitious - I would not want overwintered ones, but rather one in late spring - then I will be joining the local beekeeper's association and follow their advice

 

[mbc]

The point remains, managing nucs this year and building up to managing full sized colonies next year isn't what happens, colonies can grow big very quickly and if your buying nucs you'd be well advised to buy enough equipment to house them too, including supers and a plan for harvesting honey if things should go well.

 

[user 6228]

The point remains, managing nucs this year and building up to managing full sized colonies next year isn't what happens, colonies can grow big very quickly and if your buying nucs you'd be well advised to buy enough equipment to house them too, including supers and a plan for harvesting honey if things should go well.

I think it may be a way its worded as i 'm sure if he has done his research he will already know that nucs can need full size hives inside a month

 

[pargyle]

I'm beginning to think that forums rather like one which is for another of my interests - photography - is not the best way forward This site is slower than Eurotunnel.

My first sentance would indicate that I have put ore study than being "converted" by a single book. Several books in fact as well as time spent in conversation withmembers of the local beekeeper's association. As a member of the New Forest show I am there for the full 3 days and there is the beekeeping tent

- then I will be joining the local beekeeper's association and follow their advice

Good ... you've got it all in hand then ? .. you won't be needing the other 11500 members of this forum for comment and advice ... Personally, I've found more assistance on this forum in my first years of beekeeping than I did in the prior years of study, talking to other beekeepers and doing the association's beekeeping course ... but, there again, I didn't have the benefit of three days at the New Forest Show.

As for this site being slow .. perhaps you need to look at your IT - it's instantaneous on mine.

 

[wessexmario]

 

[Nige.Coll]

Good luck on your beekeeping roller coaster ride.
4 nucs late spring can grow very quickly.
Don't be surprised if this year costs you £1500 + whatever the nucs cost.

ps
I too have found this forum a valuable resource to have.

 

[midnight sun]

Good ... you've got it all in hand then ? .. you won't be needing the other 11500 members of this forum for comment and advice ... Personally, I've found more assistance on this forumAs for this site .

Probably learn more from this forum than the books. Info on here is vast, pertinent to this country or region and is up to date. (and keeps being updated.)
PS you'll get more arguments on here as well

 

[Erichalfbee]

4 nucs late spring can grow very quickly.

I have to agree.
A nuc I bought from a local supplier in mid June last year gave me nearly two supers.
The first nuc I ever bought......swarmed!
And yes yes yes....this forum is a site par excellence!!!

 

[newforestbees]

Good ... you've got it all in hand then ? .. you won't be needing the other 11500 members of this forum for comment and advice ... Personally, I've found more assistance on this forum in my first years of beekeeping than I did in the prior years of study, talking to other beekeepers and doing the association's beekeeping course ... but, there again, I didn't have the benefit of three days at the New Forest Show.

As for this site being slow .. perhaps you need to look at your IT - it's instantaneous on mine.

so are you saying that all my research, study, seeking advice from other beekeepers and asscociation members a complete waste of time?

I've been involved with computers since the days when DOS and Word Perfect was cutting technology and the Internet only permitted text messages, thank you, most other sites work fine

 

[Thymallus]

so are you saying that all my research, study, seeking advice from other beekeepers and asscociation members a complete waste of time?

Non of it will be wasted, but beekeeping is very much hands on experience. You can only gain this by keeping and working with bees.
To quote a much hackneyed phrase, "Bees don't read books".
The advise you have already received about the growth potential of 4 Nucs in one year is one well worth heeding.
A question you might wish to ask of yourself is how much money are you willing to invest this year? Get pencil and paper out (or excel spreadsheet or whatever) Start off with equipment costs associated with each NUC increasing up to a full hive plus supers...Cost for hives, supers, frames, foundation, suits, tools etc etc Plus extraction equipment, filters, bottling equipment, labels etc etc.

This at least will give you a rough figure of what you will need to spend initially in addition to the cost of each Nuc you buy.
The reality is that even when you have it all worked out it will probably near double from the original figure.

 

[Davelin]

so are you saying that all my research, study, seeking advice from other beekeepers and asscociation members a complete waste of time?

I've been involved with computers since the days when DOS and Word Perfect was cutting technology and the Internet only permitted text messages, thank you, most other sites work fine

Yes if you think that it will take a nuc 2 years to mature to a full size hive.

Yes if you think you will do better than break even after 5 years.

Well done, you seem to have upset some of the more moderate members of this forum with your very first post!

Stay clear of the main section for a while.

By the way, most of us are a bit long in the tooth so remember life before IT, I've never had a problem with this site.

 

[newforestbees]

Good luck on your beekeeping roller coaster ride.
4 nucs late spring can grow very quickly.
Don't be surprised if this year costs you £1500 + whatever the nucs cost.

ps
I too have found this forum a valuable resource to have.

thanks, this makes me consider that this forum is indeed a resource of value.

I'm well aware that start up costs for beekeeping can run into several hundreds of pounds even at a modest level. Which is why for some time I have "hankered" after keeping bees, more so reserve funds for disasters such as failure of honey crop, AFB or theft of hives would not wipe me out

 

[Nige.Coll]

Best advice i can give you.
Do a beginners course that isn't just in a classroom.
Make sure you have a mentor that won't mind helping you.
Don't ask too many people the same question, I guarantee everyone will have a different answer and confuse you.
Spend as much time with the bees as you can even if your just sat watching them with a cuppa.
And above all DON'T PANIC lol

good luck

 

[madasafish]

I started out with the intent of building all my own hives - which is what I have done in the past four years - except for a polyhive which I (largely) won in a competition..
I used pallet wood to save money..and still reckonned on spending c £150-£200 a year (gross) before any income - which basically has netted my annual spend to c £50. But you are dependent on weather.. and fortune..


Most of my hives are TBHs which cost very little about £30 each.... my 3 wooden Langstroths cost about £75 each to make...(figures include glue, fixings bars etc..)

As you are an experienced woodworker I am sure you will do well on the costs side..(and build better hives than a bumbler like me - not really difficult!).

Let us know how you get on..

(I recommend as much varied experience as possible..)

 

[Chrisfnvs]

Hi newforestbees, i would advise joining the New Forest Beekeepers Association and do their starters course to start with, then go to some of their apiary meetings or find a member who would let you go out with them and see how you are with their Bees, have you ever been stung ? you might react badly to a sting some do, if all goes well then buy two nuc`s and build them up to full sized colonies for a year or two and go from there, i would be thinking of thousands of pounds rather than hundreds for set up costs with no guarantee of a Honey crop to sell each season, that is another thing to consider who would you sell too and for how much, there is a lot of competition around this area, some sell for as little as £2.50 per jar !! there is a lot more to keeping bees than most think and making money from bees is even harder.

 

[theeggman]

Have we been here before??

It must be January!

 

[newforestbees]

Yes if you think that it will take a nuc 2 years to mature to a full size hive.

Yes if you think you will do better than break even after 5 years.

Well done, you seem to have upset some of the more moderate members of this forum with your very first post!

Stay clear of the main section for a while.

By the way, most of us are a bit long in the tooth so remember life before IT, I've never had a problem with this site.

so where did I say that a nuc takes two years to mature?

or that beekeeping produces instant profits. In fact other posts claim beekeeping is never profitable

..oh and I should steer clear of the main section "for a while".

Sounds like a threat

what a welcome.

what a waste of time spending time on this site