a question about feeding different foods to hens

[birdsa2]

OK, you decide to check out beekeeping. You read about it on the Internet, you buy a book, you see lots of glossy sales blurb where it is likely they are more than 50% interested in a sale (only business after all) and likely not being overly negative about the prospect of newbies taking on the task. You join a couple of internet forums (because that is the trend these days, good or bad!), and that is where the dilemma begins.

 

Conflicting advice, people who are armchair experts, people who like a bit of controversy, people who like a reaction and people who genuinely want to help. Emoticons and turn of phrase seldom if ever identify the well meaning, from the well knowing, from the spoilers.

 

So you join a beekeeping association and you get the same mix of people there. Really nice helpful sounding people, clique groups who have been in the game for years and don't always mix let alone admit people to the group or give advice that sounds unbiassed if at all, and of course the spoilers.

 

And after all of the above, six months of reading and research, beginners sessions, etc., you think beekeeping is definitely for you, the $64,000 dollar question:

 

Is is wise to have a beehive in your urban garden? What are the risks? Are the risks so highly probable that it is ill advised?

 

Sorry these are tough questions but no one wants to spend a big chunk of cash only to find that maybe the apparent spoilers were right, the apparent armchair experts were actually hands on, and the apparent well meaning types only armchair experts after all!

 

Regards

 

Stephen Bird

[beesontoast]

I sympathize with your plight, Stephen.

 

There are some who classify bees as 'dangerous' and therefore unsuitable for urban beekeeping, while others go to the other extreme and suggest that bees are completely safe and any suggestion that they may actually use their stings is tantamount to slander.

 

You have to make a judgement based on:

 

1. How close a hive would have to be to neighbours

2. How much use your neighbours make of their gardens

3. What their attitude is/is likely to be to having a large box of bees next door.

 

Most of the time, your bees will just go about their business and bother "Ooops, word censored!"ody. Many of your neighbours probably won't even notice they are there. But there may be times when your bees have an 'off' day and take umbrage at someone walking too close to their home, or hanging out washing, or playing on the swing... and then there is swarming, which is alarming to people not used to seeing tens of thousands of bees in the air at once...

 

If you (and your neighbours) can cope with all the above, you may want to look at low-cost options for starting in beekeeping. There is no need to shell out hundreds of your hard-earned pounds for shiny, new fashion-accessory hives and stainless steel - that's just what the dealers would like you to believe. Do some googling for 'natural beekeeping' and learn about starting beekeeping for next to nothing.

[troyca]

The barefoot beekeeper is right. You need to consider what you NEED to keep bees rather than what folk want to sell you.Shiney and new is nice but usually expensive. As far as those who want to contribute to your considerations ,a middle way has got to be the best. You won't hear much from those who just get on with it and are happily bee keeping as there isn't much drama in that . Maybe keep bees at your local association for the first season then decide if your own property could cope with what is required as you get some confidence. In the end it is you and the bees and if you are going to struggle with that maybe have a season of observation before you commit.

[Chicken Licken]

We have 2 hives at the end of a long garden, backing on to a copse in a village location. The 2 immediate neighbours both know they are there, but I don't think anyone else has any idea that they are resident. So far, they have been very well behaved and take little notice of anyone. We are lucky that they garden has some old fruit trees and bushes that effectively make a screen betweent he front and back of the garden.

We try and keep a light touch on the bees as much as possible - they have been doing it for thousands of years and I am definitely a newcomer.

[Kermit]

You quickly learn in beekeeping that - ask one beek a question and you get one answer, ask 2 and you get 3 answers and it goes up exponetially from there. There is no right answer with bees and THEY don't read the books anyway.

 

We have 2 hive in the garden and this is the end of our 3rd summer with bees. We are on the edge of a town, but are surrounded by houses, but we have a reasonable size garden. Garden beekeeping works for lots of people. If that is the only way you can get into the hobby then do it. If you have a choice then you need to weigh things up. I must say I never have a problem lighting a smoker, but then again using the kitchen gas hob may be cheating. We don't have a problem of leaving things behind. We do have the worry of swarms getting into neighbour's gardens. Then again, at least we see a swarm go.

 

So, your choice, but we have done it and are still here 3 years on. On the cost of stuff - try building your own if you are OK with DIY. Several brood boxes and supers can be made from one sheet of ply... but that's another story.