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Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

I am considering getting a hive. Rental of a hive is $75.00 which seems kind of steep to me..So how much work is a honey bee hive anyhow?

4/1/2006 9:23:15 PM

Michigan

I've been a bee keeper for 10 years. Cost- package of bees 60.00, Hives upward of $200, bee suit $140, smoker $50, extractor $300-1500, I could keep going on and on. Honey right now is about $.65 a pound wholesale. It's a good hobby, good for pollnation, but when Chinese honey is being dumped in this country at fire sale prices there's no money to be made. One hive or two are not that much work. Go to Danants for prices of equipment.

4/1/2006 9:39:56 PM

Whidbey Island

Invest in Orchard Mason bees. They are native, far more efficient pollinators than the European Honey Bee, cheaper, they just don't make honey.

I have had my orchard pollinated every year for about $50 initial investment and about 2 hours of work each winter.

Google 'em.

4/1/2006 10:50:35 PM

Ohio

Not much work at all after you get the hive and bees. One or two hives just need opened up two to three times a year to clean bottom boards etc. Pull off honey, around here one time a year. Give family and friends blocks of the comb honey no other equipment needed. I have had bees for at least sixteen years.

4/2/2006 3:11:22 AM

Kiel WI

Bees can be as much or as little work/money as you want, sort of like pumpkins.

Do you just want pollination? If that's the case you can slap together a top bar hive from scrap lumber, catch a swarm(probably) and just leave them alone.

All the bee talk you could ever want, and then some... http://www.beesource.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi

4/2/2006 5:48:52 PM

talk to nick hamilton... he's got some I think.

4/2/2006 8:19:59 PM