Budding Cottage

There is an option to buy 3 hives from a beekeeper who has developed an allergic reaction to bee stings.  Currently I have said yes, on the basis that we can put them in my neighbour’s orchard.  Is this a good idea??? Maybe, maybe not.  We shall see.

Pros – additional hives, isolated from my initial hives that may produce honey and start supporting themselves.  Also available to pollenate the orchard.  Reasonable price, though the bees may need lots of TLC to bring them back to peak, or they may have already given up on people and swarmed.

Cons – 1st year of beekeeping and you are seriously considering managing potentially 6 hives??? Are you mad?? They could be ill.  They could be swarming.  You could be allergic?

Mitigation – the guy just wants rid of the bees for a reasonable price. They need a home. You currently have some time and space….

Hmmm….

Currently I am going to go for it…

Now how to transport 3 hives late at night. Oh what fun. A car full of angry bees and tired humans.  Great combination for marital bliss.

This entry was posted on Sunday, June 5th, 2011 at 9:44 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.