Any beekeepers here

[fried1765]

The OP had me really interested until this
That really sucks. Is it a common occurance?

Unfortunately it is!
But other than the cost....it is a worthwhile endeavor to try.
I believe that if I had been available to monitor the condition of both of my colonies several times over the Winter, my end result MIGHT have been different.
Both colonies (each two deep supers high) had adequate honey/sugar supplement remaining, but they either froze to death, or suffered disease.
I had them wrapped in black paper, and properly vented to prevent condensation.

 

[fried1765]

The OP had me really interested until this
That really sucks. Is it a common occurance?

We are in the same latitude, and latitude is often the problem with bees!

 

[1930]

I didn't know you needed a license to keep bees, so I just learned something.

Im not sure what happened, I thought I had posted this link ENY-134/AA264: Keeping Bees in Florida

 

[fried1765]

Im not sure what happened, I thought I had posted this link ENY-134/AA264: Keeping Bees in Florida

I do not conclude that because there are "registered" bee keepers in Florida that it means a "permit" is required.

 

[newbury]

I do not conclude that because there are "registered" bee keepers in Florida that it means a "permit" is required.

Reading links can be useful.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Plant Industry (FDACS-DPI) is the governing body that oversees the rules and regulations of keeping honey bees in Florida. Florida has a mandatory registration law, thus each beekeeper having honey bee colonies within the state must register with the Department. Registered beekeepers will be issued a unique firm number; this number must be permanently marked on each of their hive bodies for identification purposes. Beekeepers registrations must be renewed annually, and all registered beekeepers will undergo routine inspection for symptoms of American Foulbrood by an FDACS apiary inspector. New honey bee colonies moved into Florida are also subject to inspection by the Florida Department of Agricultural Law Enforcement. Any bees or equipment found to be infested with specific pests, including American Foulbrood or African honey bees, will need to be treated or destroyed if treatment is not possible. Adulterated honey product will be confiscated. Visit the FDACS Beekeeper Registration page for more information.

I don't know what you call a "permit".

 

[fried1765]

Reading links can be useful.

I don't know what you call a "permit".

"permit" is a misquote on my part.
The OP used the term "license", ......but I am not aware that any "license" is required.

 

[TimberHole]

I have lost hives and it’s very frustrating. Sometimes I feel like we should stop calling them beehives and start calling them mite hives. I did get about 11 gallons of honey this year so better success than previous. Also tried a little candle making from the wax.

 

[1930]

Those look great

 

[fried1765]

I have lost hives and itç—´ very frustrating. Sometimes I feel like we should stop calling them beehives and start calling them mite hives. I did get about 11 gallons of honey this year so better success than previous. Also tried a little candle making from the wax.
View attachment 674875View attachment 674876

If I start up again next Spring, I will probably use 6 frame Nuc's (expensive), take off any honey in October, kill the colony, and bring the equipment in!
Wintering bees over in the North, is just too problematic for me!

 

[cqaigy2]

I've been thinking of getting back into honey bee's.

I lived in a hot summer cold winter climate. I used to have a dozen or so, just as the varroa mites were coming on to the seen in North America. All langstroth deep supers. Combination of Italian, carniolan and local bees. Would pull loads of honey off of them, left a deep super of honey on in the winter A neighbor was a professional bee keeper primarily for pollination services so i'd help him out when i had free time.

Now im looking at Layen's style hives, oxalic acid vaporization for mite treatment. Been watching the heck out of Frederick Dunn, on youtube, along with others. If i get to making the hive and frames, this winter, i'll probably look at making a Layen's bate hive and see how that goes.