My early journey in beekeeping - continued.....

Finally after much wait, the hive came in one day.
Here is the picture of all the parts.

Hive Parts

After looking at all the parts and assembling them, here is how it looked.

Hive assembled.

Now I have the assembled hive, I don't have anything to put in. I tried to train my bees to come to my hive by putting in the sugar water syrup I made and put that inside and closed the top.

It was wonderful to see the bees coming in through the entrance and going out, it gave me a feeling that I have a live hive, even though they were foraging bees. Who knows, maybe one day they will bring their queen to live in my hive. I am really looking to see if I can avoid buying queens or nucs, so that I can save $75.

But now, I was tired of waiting for Daniel to 'drop ship' me the feeder and the frames, I went ahead and ordered the black frames from Pierco. The initial shipment was lost by the UPS, I was told it would arrive just after Thanksgiving, but it was lost, they send me another package, and it came in just today. All 52 frames, which I don't need. I am intending to sell more than what I need to others who could use them. I am going to set a price of $3 per frame which would cover me the cost and shipping of the frames. These frames are durable, plastic, black brood frames which are pre coated with beeswax so that, hopefully the bees would just come and start building their hexagonal hives.

Here are the pictures of the frames in the box and outside.

The UPS guy came in too late in the day, I can't wait to put that in. I wish I have also ordered the 2 gallon feeder tray from Mann Lake - (I find those folks the best place to get all the parts -it is the most inexpensive place to buy beekeeping related tools, and other materials, I fully endorse them for their prices and their perfection in mailing everything.).

Interestingly, the same day the Pierco foundations came in, I got a letter from Daniel Korn of Korn's holy hives, in US Mail. This is how it read:
"Hem,
Don't give up the ship! I 'm still running a couple of months behind and did not realize the shipping is going to be $46 per box. However, I have the second box packaged and ready to ship. Hopefully soon! As I may have told you, the frames and feeder trays, I 'll drop ship directly from the supplier as I don't make those components. Please! Hang in there with me. Any questions about beekeeping please write and I 'll try to anser them.
Sincerely,
(Signed)
Daniel Korn
Korn's Holy Hives
800 Wisconsin St. Unit #18
Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54703.

From Mann Lake, I have ordered the preliminary tools and other material to get myself ready.
I bought a hive tool for $3, the smoker for $34 or so, (the most expensive item ) the head gear, two honey super frames (I know, too early, but was itiching to get my hands on them), and also 20 wood frames for the super without the plastic foundation (I wish I have ordered that as well). I also bought two swarm traps and swarm lures, pretty expensive, bee brush, comb scratcher(I know, too early on that as well). Only thing I think is lacking now would probably be the uncapper I was planning to buy an electric one, but that would be for later.  All the items are waiting to be used. I think I am now ready to start working with the bees, I am fairly comfortable with handling bees, one day I got stung, so I know how painful it can be as well.
I fed the bee which stung me some honey before it goes on to it's next life, I felt sorry about the bee, even though I was paining from the sting.

Newbie wanna-bee-beekeeper

I got interested in bees recently. Recently we put out some hummingbird feeders during 2009 summer season to watch hummingbirds. It had been great, it is so heart warming to see them hover in the air and drink the sweetness from the bottle. Along with that came a few honey bees and started to partake the nectar from the hanging food source. That got me thinking. A few years ago, a swarm had appeared in the front of my house, on an low branch of an oak tree and I was very excited. Never seen such a thing before and went closer to see what it is, didn't know what it was. Then searched the web to see what it is and figured that it was a bee swarm. I tried to call a few phone numbers I found but nothing materialized, I suddenly got an urge to keep the bees from the tree, but I had no clue about what to do. In the process of finding out, in the next couple of days, they all flew away and disappeared. That ends my quest for beekeeping, and never pursued beyond that.

Few years passed by, maybe 3 years, and I see bees again. So decided to ignite my desire on keeping bees. First I need to find out if I am allowed to keep bees in Austin.  Researched the Austin city information , somewhere I read that Austin City allows bees to be kept within the city limits! Yey! Read more, and found that if the land size is less than quarter acre, two hives are onl allowed. And the hive need to be 10 feet away from the boundaries. So Found a website, www.agriseek.com and found someone who sells beehives assembled, so posted there to buy a hive.

"Looking for two assembled hives, could you please email me the cost?
A gentle man named Daniel Korn of Korn's Holy hives replied:

Send $90 and I send you two assembled, Pierco frame and feeder trays installed, complete hives. Include your shipping address.

Send Money order, no checks, to:
Korn's Holy HIves
C/o Daniel Korn
800 Wisconsin Street,Unit # 18
Eau Claire, WI.54703

I didn't know what a Pierco frame was nor feeding trays where, again, Google to the rescue, found out more about them. I went to the bank and took a $90 money order and send it to him immediately and emailed him back about the mailing.

I started to be more interested in beekeeping, reading up and watching videos in youtube and combing through the catalog sites of Mann Lake Ltd, and others (I like Mann Lake, and ordered their color catalog).
I was waiting like a little boy for Christmas to arrive, but nothing came, I got very impatient and decided to get closer to bees.

I decided to attract bees closer. Read about sugar syrup, and made some sugar syrup - my wife wasn't very happy me 'robbing' her sugar, but I enticed her with the promise of free honey when I get set up and produced them. She didnt' have much problem after that. So I made the syrup and put ot a bottle of  upside down in the yard with a metal cap with holes made on them with a knife,  to see if I can attract bees, and lo and behold, here they come - a lot of them. I took my cheap Canon Powershot A400 and video taped them:
Here is the video.

 

Beekeeping in Austin, Texas for Fun & Profit

This blog is started due to the need of (and lack of) information available on the web about beekeeping in the Greater Austin Area. There do exist an exciting and vibrant group, named Williamson County Beekeepers Association and it is very active with over 75 members attending the monthly meeting. Here is the link to the group. http://www.wcaba.org/. This is a good thing. This public blog hopes to enhance the ability of interested citizens of greater Austin (Round Rock, Plugerville, Cedar Park, Leander, Georgetown, Bastrop, Hutto, Taylor, Buda, Kyle, West lake Hills, Rollingwood, Spicewood) to connect and share their experiences, pictures and insights on line to benefit and motivate others to start their own hives. Please feel free to post your experiences and wishes in this forum, you have equal right to have the postings as much as I do. Consider me as a facilitator to bring the online forum together and bring publicity to our noble hobby.