[Big-Nasty]

I was interested in bee keeping. Any info helps.

[Vikingdad]

OK. Where do you want to start? What have you read? I recommend Dadant's "First Lessons in Beekeeping" if you want a great book or "Beekeeping For Dummies" if you just want a good one. I would recommend both. There are dozens more.

Where are you located? How many hives are you thinking about? What is the reason you want to keep bees? How much area do you have to work with?

I have been keeping bees for several years, currently I have 15 or so hives.

[Big-Nasty]

Originally Posted by Vikingdad

OK. Where do you want to start? What have you read? I recommend Dadant's "First Lessons in Beekeeping" if you want a great book or "Beekeeping For Dummies" if you just want a good one. I would recommend both. There are dozens more.

Where are you located? How many hives are you thinking about? What is the reason you want to keep bees? How much area do you have to work with?

I have been keeping bees for several years, currently I have 15 or so hives.

Just really wanted another hobby and I would like to start selling honey. And I really haven't seen many bees this year. We need bees very badly!
Haven't really read anything.
Watched a couple shows on PBS.
It just seems interesting to me.
I'm located in Eastern Oklahoma.
I would like about 3 hives to start with.
I have 45 acres.

[Dearhunter]

I tried bee keeping but, ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch and I gave it up!

[Vikingdad]

3 Hives is a great place to start. I always recommend that people start with a minimum of 2 hives and 3 is better. Gives you a basis of comparison to have.

There are a few beekeeping supply outfits out there. The one I use the most is Mann Lake (mannlakeltd.com) or then Dadant (www.dadant,com). They both sell everything you might need to get started.

Stings are a part of it. If you suffer from arthritis though the stings will help to alleviate the pain from it if not eliminate the pain altogether. Over time I have become desensitized to the stings (no longer swell up from them or get itchiness) and rather welcome them to address the arthritic pain.

Read the books. You have plenty of time since it is way, way too late to get started this year. You need to put the stuff together and educate yourself for next spring.

[ScottA]

Check out the agricultural extension in OK. It's probably part of the university system. Most likely the land grant university. OSU maybe?

[Vikingdad]

Good point Scott. Check this out http://www.okbees.org/

Look up a local club or guild...

[Big-Nasty]

Originally Posted by Vikingdad

3 Hives is a great place to start. I always recommend that people start with a minimum of 2 hives and 3 is better. Gives you a basis of comparison to have.

There are a few beekeeping supply outfits out there. The one I use the most is Mann Lake (mannlakeltd.com) or then Dadant (www.dadant,com). They both sell everything you might need to get started.

Stings are a part of it. If you suffer from arthritis though the stings will help to alleviate the pain from it if not eliminate the pain altogether. Over time I have become desensitized to the stings (no longer swell up from them or get itchiness) and rather welcome them to address the arthritic pain.

Read the books. You have plenty of time since it is way, way too late to get started this year. You need to put the stuff together and educate yourself for next spring.

Thanks for the information. Will definitely check out the website and do more studying.

[mrm14]

My brother keeps bees He has 40 or so hives now and keeps them at a friends large ranch. I don't know much about it but at least here he treats all the wild hives he rescues/collects as if they were sick. Out here, at least, they get these mites which can transfer to the other hives and kills the bees. Kind of like HIV or AIDS for bees. They say it first showed up here in the states about 1987 and probably come form Eastern or Chinese bees.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/05/050517110843.htm

In the seven or so years my brother has been into bee's and bee hives he hasn't had a problem with these mites probably because he treats all his collected bees for them immediatly. His hives are healthy and our family uses a few of his hives during the bloom season to pollinate our fruit trees. We dont see many wild bees here the last several years except for the kept hives.

He purchases his supplies from here as some of us live in and near Sacramento.

http://www.sacramentobeekeeping.com/

On their web site I see they do have a starter kit to get into Bees under their supply section. Hopefully you can find a bee keepers supply in Oklahoma.

My brother also collects the natural bee pollen. I've been taking it for several years now. Good stuff!

http://www.nutritional-supplements-health-guide.com/bee-pollen-benefits.html

[linuxuser3890]

I read the title and immediately thought of Lilly's dad from How I Met Your Mother.