Beekeeping

Discussion in 'Other Investments' started by Fykus, Feb 19, 2013.

  1. malachii

    malachii Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2010
    Messages:
    1,927
    Likes Received:
    176
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Victoria
    That sounds like a pretty typical reaction - most people get localised swelling and pain for a few days.


    malachii
     
  2. AngloSaxon

    AngloSaxon Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2012
    Messages:
    1,779
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Sydney
    I didn't know that happened. I hate how corn syrup is put in everything.
     
  3. Naphthalene Man

    Naphthalene Man Active Member Silver Stacker

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2010
    Messages:
    5,150
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Hunter Valley, NSW

    http://www.nativebees.com.au/en-au/home.aspx

    http://www.aussiebee.com.au/
     
  4. perthsilver

    perthsilver Member Silver Stacker

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2010
    Messages:
    605
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Location:
    Adelaide
  5. Hizees

    Hizees Member

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2009
    Messages:
    35
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    6
    Location:
    Southern Highlands NSW
    They wouldnt sell them to me here in the Southern Highlands as they said they would die in our cold winters. Fair enough as I dont really want to pay a heap of money for bees that will die within 12 months anyway.
     
  6. Jon Snow

    Jon Snow New Member

    Joined:
    May 8, 2013
    Messages:
    16
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Australia
    Native bees are something else. They are truly a cornerstone of the Australian landscape. A YouTube clip of an indigenous project up north showed how the regular grass burnings were part of a honey production cycle whereby fresh flowers would increase bee activity and then known hives could be sustainably raided for their honey. It's quite something really. They also seem to be quite resistent to the problems facing European bees and may eventuate as a fail safe in any demise of Europeans, if only for pollination.
    My job is in arboriculture and after rescuing a couple of hives I am always keen eyed to safeguard them if we are removing their tree. Keeping them is very simple and if in boxes there are means of harvesting honey but as mentioned it is produced in very small quantities. And besides kids love them as they are incredibly fasincinating creatures flying in and out, off for the hunt and then back with the loot.
     
  7. mmm....shiney!

    mmm....shiney! Administrator Staff Member Silver Stacker

    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2010
    Messages:
    18,607
    Likes Received:
    4,392
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Took delivery of a hive of Tetragonula hockingsi today. Peter Butler in Rockhampton is the supplier, his father-in-law designed the box for them, based upon old Wimmers soft drink cases. Peter was telling me his father-in-law had them stacked outside his house over 30 years ago and the native bees colonised them. They are called Tom Carter boxes.

    Up here I can expect to rob the hive twice a year

    [​IMG]
     
  8. boston

    boston Well-Known Member Silver Stacker

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2009
    Messages:
    3,857
    Likes Received:
    24
    Trophy Points:
    48
    Location:
    Australia
    Interesting. I was under the impression that Tetragonia could only be robbed sporadically, and even then with very small amounts. Let us know how you get on.
     
  9. Naphthalene Man

    Naphthalene Man Active Member Silver Stacker

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2010
    Messages:
    5,150
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Hunter Valley, NSW

    Perthsilver - did you end up getting the native bees? If so can you post a photo?
     
  10. Naphthalene Man

    Naphthalene Man Active Member Silver Stacker

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2010
    Messages:
    5,150
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Hunter Valley, NSW
    We just added a third box to our hives, with the ironbark going off at the moment i'm expecting a good harvest soon.
     
  11. malachii

    malachii Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2010
    Messages:
    1,927
    Likes Received:
    176
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Victoria
    That looks fantastic mmm...shiney! Keep us updated on how you go.

    malachii
     
  12. adrenalin

    adrenalin New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2009
    Messages:
    2,530
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Melbourne

    I buy fresh pure honey from a local bee keeper and it was hard to get last year.

    They just didn't have any available.

    I also read that the bees are getting effected by cell phone towers.

    http://www.naturalnews.com/032417_honeybees_population_collapse.html

    ....."signals from mobile phones and masts could be contributing to the decline of honeybees around the world".

    Layer that with the recent grid smart of meters implemented all over the country.

    This could be reason why it's one the worst years for honey production in 40 years?




    .
     
  13. House

    House Well-Known Member Silver Stacker

    Joined:
    May 1, 2012
    Messages:
    9,527
    Likes Received:
    287
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Location:
    Stack City
    [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbMV9qYIXqM[/youtube]
     
  14. Naphthalene Man

    Naphthalene Man Active Member Silver Stacker

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2010
    Messages:
    5,150
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Hunter Valley, NSW
    I haven't seen you youtube video yet but from what i understand, the issue with that beekeeping strategy is that it strips the honey from the inside. The bees see the capped cells but don't know that it is empty. There are unknowns with this technology at present in my view.
    I'll stick to the standard harvest thanks.
     
  15. bron suchecki

    bron suchecki Active Member Silver Stacker

    Joined:
    Jul 10, 2009
    Messages:
    1,239
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    36
    Location:
    Perth, Western Australia
    On the crowdfunding site it says the bees can tell and reopen and refill the cells.
     
  16. LovingtheSilver

    LovingtheSilver Active Member Silver Stacker

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2010
    Messages:
    1,372
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Perth
    By the looks of the demo, it looks like the caps will crack quite a bit. They have been doing for a decade or so but now perfected. I guess some maintenance would need to be done here and there, but the steps of capping and manually extracting have been removed.
     
  17. Naphthalene Man

    Naphthalene Man Active Member Silver Stacker

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2010
    Messages:
    5,150
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Hunter Valley, NSW
    My wife and father in law harvested our honey today. Lost one Queen from the two hives so that colony will die unless we intervene. Just tried to buy another queen from some suppliers and they have all run out. Not sure where all the queens are going.
     
  18. boston

    boston Well-Known Member Silver Stacker

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2009
    Messages:
    3,857
    Likes Received:
    24
    Trophy Points:
    48
    Location:
    Australia
    If the brood is young, and the hive healthy, the girls will raise their own queen.
     
  19. House

    House Well-Known Member Silver Stacker

    Joined:
    May 1, 2012
    Messages:
    9,527
    Likes Received:
    287
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Location:
    Stack City
    Well it was Mardi Gras on the weekend...
     

Share This Page