Return to the Bees and Beekeeping Forum
| Post a Follow-Up
I'm going to build a mini bee hive, even though it's summer
| | |
Posted by herboil Georgia (My Page) on Wed, May 30, 07 at 22:39
If I build a hanging box, around a square foot, and hang it near my garde with small openings and honey drops and water nearby, will it work?
I will hang flowers all around the box, annise hyysop ( blue fortune) and bee balm, which are just blooming now to attract more bees..
Will this work, or should I have done this in the spring?
I have plenty of material and the plants and all I need is the bees, can anyone tell me how to attract them NOW? or am I all out of bees until next year? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: I'm going to build a mini bee hive, even though it's summer
| | |
| Are you looking to get bees to move into the box or just attract them to watch them feed. If you just want them to come and eat, you might try granulated table sugar mixed with water. We generally feed ratio of 1:1 sugar/water in spring for building up an existing hive, but if you just want to attract bees try 2:1 ratio of sugar to water. It may attract more than just honey bees. If you're looking to get a swarm to move in you should bait the box with a swarm attractant which contains a pheremone to attract swarms looking for a potential home. A strip of beeswax foundation inside would also be helpful. The thing is, if you do get lucky and catch a swarm, they will have to be hived shortly afterward. You should do some research, reading, and be prepared with at least a 5 frame nuc box to put a swarm in and eventually a 10 frame hive body. You might also want to check out top bar style hives which you can build yourself, and are much less expensive to get started with. Look for a local supply house and a local beekeeping club for help. A word of caution. If you live in an area that has africanized bees (check with locals) you won't want to risk catching a swarm and it might not even be allowed. |
RE: I'm going to build a mini bee hive, even though it's summer
| | |
| I wouldn't encourage bees to occupy anything that doesn't have standard removeable frames, except maybe a topbar hive. It's illegal most places to keep bees that can't be inspected, and that means moveable frames. Swarm season is winding down in the south, so getting bees naturally maynot happen this year, or any year unless there are other beehives in the area. In the area means a 2 mile radius. You can sign up with your county extension agent and police dispatch to be called when a swarm is available. You need to be prepared with a veil at a minimum. Buying a nuc is another way to get started. |
|
|
|
|
