Natural Beekeeping International Forum

[appshed]

I am confused about what type of bee to get. I thought Russians were a better bet for the TBH, but heard that they are generally aggressive and not well suited for beginners(me). Someone recommended Minnesota Hygienic, but I read a beginner should never start with a Hybrid. Good grief.

What have y'all started with? I live in a temperate climate. I will not be using chemicals for mites.

Feedback much needed as I know I need to order SOME KIND of bee soon.
Thanks!

[Bush_84]

I plan on getting carniolans due to them wintering better in the harsh Minnesota climate. If your weather is good I would probably just go with Italians.

[mmiller]

I am going with Carnies this year. Quite a few beeks in my area are happier with their overwintering capabilities.

Mike

[Bush_84]

Ya the guy in my particular area who seemed to be the best/most experienced keeps carnies. So that's definitely what I'm doing.

[bigbearomaha]

i say locally raised mutts.

1 they are adapted to your geography and

2 they are hopefully bred with "survivor" stock that has not been too thinned out

[DavesBees]

I second the Mutt Emotion.

[Tavascarow]

[mmiller]

Mutts are great and I would agree that they can be the best way to go. That doesn't really help a new beekeeper. I had a hard time in the beginning finding local queens (mutts or otherwise) because I didn't know enough other beeks. Therefore I did like most new beeks do and started with packages and Italian queens.
I don't think telling a new beekeeper to use "mutts" is really helping them out all that much.

Mike

[Garret]

Go with the ones that have the best mite tolerence. After a few generations they won't be the same mite tolerant bees but they will give you a good jump start at developing your own mutts.

[colobeekeep]

If you can get a swarm of local wild bees, or if they move into the wall of your house as mine did, that is a great option. You could sign up with a local bee club to be a swarm collector, so that you can try to get a local mutt swarm.
I believe the swarm that moved into the wall of my house might have carnis somewhere in their family line because of how docile they are and that they haven't used any propolis so far, but I can't be 100% sure. They were still a fairly small nuc when they went into overwintering mode, but they have done very well so far. (Another reason I believe them to be carnis.)
I'm new to beekeeping, so I'm definitely not an expert, but from what I've read in books and online I would order carnis because of how calm they are. It's a lot easier to work around bees that aren't agressive when you're new to the game. I can work around my bees without a bee suit and veil and not get stung. My wife has helped me on several occasions and she has never been stung. (She's even helped push bees back inside the hive when I've had the top off so that when I set the top back on none will get crushed.)

[recon]

can't give advice but i started with local swarms.. in baithives... DD

[bigbearomaha]

I have helped many 'newbees" get their start with local mutts, because I as somewhat (debatably) more experienced and having the opportunity, obtain numerous swarms and cutouts over the season.

A newbee getting in touch with their local club or association can very often make contact with someone who does the same, swarms captures and cutouts, or sign up for a list the club has, etc..

There is nothing wrong at all to suggest local mutts for new folks.

it can lower their initial start up cost by at least the cost of a pkg of bees, it can help them possibly be more successful with local survivors and it helps to keeps bees that might otherwise have been killed by exterminators alive and doing their thing.

[DavesBees]

This is my recommendation to any new beekeeper. I am going to assume 1 thing…you built your hive.
If you can build hive…
You can build a bait hive.
If you can build a bait hive ….
You can put one up.
If you put up a bait hive…
You might catch some bees.
What a great start for a new beekeeper!
Start running your mouth to anyone who will listen about your new hobby. If you are willing to do cutouts, tell folks that. If you would like to called for swarms, tell folks that. Hand out cards, go in the phone book, and notify your local fire department that you are a beekeeper. You may get a call and a free swarm….
What a great start for a new beekeeper!
Don’t believe for 1 minute that farm bees are the way to go unless you just want bees in that hive and you can’t wait. The best bees for a new beekeeper to start with are the local survivor bees especially if you want to be a natural beekeeper.
Otherwise I would recommend the man made Minhygaitaliacarnirussianbuckfas bees because …………………..etc, etc, was bread in or out of them.

[appshed]

Well, can I just use the TBH as a bait hive? I have lemon grass oil, wax, and 2 new hives. One hive is going to be placed near the house with the forest just a short distance away. We have seen fewer and fewer feral bees each year. That is one reason for jumping into Beekeeping.

It would be nice to save money and exciting to capture some feral bees, but I don't want to bite off more than I can chew. I am already concerned about my soon to be purchased package bees absconding.

[DavesBees]

Any hive without bees can be a bait hive but you will increase your chances with a piece of old brood comb in them.

[appshed]

Thanks everyone for your input! After much consideration, and still being quite confused, I have settled on Italians. That seems to be the most kept bee in my region and is what the local Bee-Keep Guy suggested.

I do want to try and "capture" a swarm someday. We are pretty far out (80% surrounding land is National Forest) so I guess my chances of seeing a swarm are not too good.

Thanks again y'all!

[RodneyWT1180B]

I went with Italians because the people I bought my package from told me that they were less likely to be aggressive than the Carniolians they also sell. I'm new I didn't know what to expect and I have a small back yard and neighbors on all sides so that was a major factor. I would love to catch my own, but I don't think I've ever seen a swarm in my area.
Like anything else, best depends on your specific needs.
Rodney

[Sir David]

Appleshed
Have you had honey bees in your garden last year ?
Is the National forest is a place they are likely to be living wild .
Get those bait hives out too

[appshed]

We see fewer and fewer bees each year, but they are there. I will put a small flower pot hive near the forest edge and see what happens.

Packages around here aren't until May. Very exciting prospect!