I Bee Happy: My Bee Kit Arrives Thursday

http://inhaughtpursuit.blogspot.com/2008/06/restore-christendom-order-your-bee-kit.html

Now what do I do to prepare? Follow Mr. Burger's list!

Mr. Burger is a Houston bee expert. I found him through Leisure Learning. He offers a one-day beekeeping class. From there I went on to find his website. He has lots of good information, including the list I copied below. It looks like I can schedule the bee removal from my parents' house for four weeks from Thursday.

Oh, boy! I get to check off the first one on the list.

Getting Ready for Your Bees
compiled by Donald Burger, Attorney at Law
http://www.burger.com/beeindex.htm

Four weeks before bee pick up:

_____ Order hives and equipment.

_____ Buy two bags of Quikrete and a mixing tray for same.

_____ Buy two 2 x 4's for foundation frames.

_____ Buy lattice materials for beeyard fence

_____ Buy at least four foam paint brushes (two inch size) to paint hives.

_____ Buy a two inch nylon paintbrush for feeding package bees.

_____ Buy the paint for your hives.

_____ Build and paint hives.

_____ Glue and nail the frames.

_____ Begin to think about decision about surface of beeyard: grass or mulch.

Two to three weeks before bee pick up:

_____ Pour concrete foundations for hives.

_____ Fence in the beeyard.

_____ Make final decision about surface of beeyard: grass or mulch.

_____ Buy and spread the mulch for beeyard

_____ Finish up building and painting hives.

_____ Finish up gluing and nailing the frames.

One week before bee pick up:

_____ Place hive stand, Rossman SHB trap, one deep, inner cover, telescoping cover, Boardman feeder with empty jar and fully closed entrance reducer in the beeyard at its permanent location.

_____ Practice lighting smoker.

One day before bee pick up:

_____ Make up two gallons of 1:1 sugar syrup and bottle in one quart jars.

Just before leaving to pick up bees:

_____ Bring receipt or confirmation as to bee order.

_____ Bring clean nylon brush to brush off stray bees.

_____ Bring newspaper-lined cardboard box(es) of sufficient size to hold the package(s).

Things to take with you to the beeyard to hive your bees:

_____ Small pen knife.

_____ Ice pick or small nail for queen candy.

_____ Jar of 1:1 sugar syrup with Boardman jar lid in place.

_____ Package of bees.

Last revised March 12, 2008

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