Potential Newbee here

[mtbe]

Well, I've been buzzing around this site for a while now and finally have time to login.

Just moved to a small town 70 miles SW of Chicago and have a nice garden and neighbors with the same.  Am interested in having a hive or two to help pollinate and for a bit-o-honey.

So many questions:

1. I was looking at the horzontal (BYG?)boxes.  What benefit do they have, if any, over the standard box?

2. Not much sun in our yard due to our back yard full of trees and neigbor's trees covering the front yard.  Best place for sun is right next to the driveway, which is used daily of course.  Probably not ideal.  Is it okay to place them in the shade?

3.  JUST THIS WEEK, I found a hive in a hollowed out tree.  Tree is still standing and I think I would need a vac to get them out.  I'm I too late in the year to get the tools necessary to start with this hive?  It looks like they are going to be there for a while.  Nobody lives in the house where the tree is.  I figure if I order now, it'll be a week to get everything, then another 2-4 days to get my act together and actually do something.

4.  Should I start with one or two.  Again, the honey I will probably just give to friend and family, unless it becomes too much, then we will start selling at the local farmer's market.

5.  Looks like anywhere between $300-$500 to get started with one.  Is that about right?

[Michael Bush]

>1. I was looking at the horzontal (BYG?)boxes.  What benefit do they have, if any, over the standard box?

No lifting of 90 pound boxes.
http://www.bushfarms.com/beeslazy.htm#horizontalhives
http://www.bushfarms.com/beeshorizontalhives.htm

>2. Not much sun in our yard due to our back yard full of trees and neigbor's trees covering the front yard.  Best place for sun is right next to the driveway, which is used daily of course.  Probably not ideal.  Is it okay to place them in the shade?

Yes.  It's ok.
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfaqs.htm#locating

>3.  JUST THIS WEEK, I found a hive in a hollowed out tree.  Tree is still standing and I think I would need a vac to get them out.

A vac will not get them out.
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesferal.htm#beevacuum

This will get some out:
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesferal.htm#conemethod

>I'm I too late in the year to get the tools necessary to start with this hive? 

It's too late to be very confident of them building up enough to get through the winter, but they might. 
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesferal.htm#removal

>4.  Should I start with one or two.

Always two.  With two you have resources to deal with possible queenlessness (open brood) or laying workers (open brood) or a weak hive (emerging brood maybe frames of honey).  With one you do not.

> Again, the honey I will probably just give to friend and family, unless it becomes too much, then we will start selling at the local farmer's market.

With two hives you will have trouble giving it all away in a good year.

>5.  Looks like anywhere between $300-$500 to get started with one.  Is that about right?

That's a good guess.
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesnewbees.htm

[mtbe]

ahhh....another helpful site I haven't hit yet.

Thanks for the links and info.  Looks like I'll wait until this winter to order.

Oh another question:

Probably shouldn't place it somewhere I have to mow the grass, eh?

[johnnybigfish]

Hey mtbe!
 Just mow around them. if I want to get the grass out thats close to the bees i just pull it out with my hands, After you have bees you'll soon see that bees can be a lot more tolerable of what we have to do around them than a lot of non bee people realize. I even push my mower under the hives.( I try to move pretty quick tho! )
 And,...Welcome to the forums!

your friend,
john

[mswartfager]

I'm just getting started with one hive.  After buying the suit, veil, gloves, supers, smoker, etc..I realized that I also needed an electric fence to ward off black bears, which are becoming more abundant in the woods around here.  All of that (including the electric fence w/deep cycle battery, etc.) was about $500.   The hive is kept in my back yard (about 1 1/2 acres).  I've used my gas weed trimmer to trim around them once....that was enough!  They didn't like it at all!! 

[indypartridge]

Probably shouldn't place it somewhere I have to mow the grass, eh?

I usually put something one the ground under my colonies (feed bags, carpet scraps, shingles, whatever) so I don't have to do any up close trimming. Many beeks just use a herbicide such as Roundup. Then all I have to do is a quick pass with the mower, being sure that the grass throw is away from the hives.

I'd also recommend that you get involved with a local beekeeping club. Clubs are great places to find mentors and get connected to nearby beekeepers.
http://www.isba.us/index.affiliate.htm

[Cindi]

Mtbe.  Welcome to our forum, this will be the place that you can lean on us for answers to your questions, you will find that out.  You will make new friends here, a place where you can tell your tales, stories and experiences.  We are an interested bunch of people and love to listen.  Stick around and have some fun.  Beautiful and most wonderful day, lovin' and livin' life.  Cindi