The plastic frames I am referring to you can see in the brood box in the photo
Yes I am aware of the china clones of flow. I am also aware of the many youtube videos online that rate them pretty badly compared to the flowframes. I want the real thing, that is why I am in this forum. As a newbie, I want to make sure I can make it work before going full throttle because (as mentioned) shipping and tax of western products to Thailand is pretty horrific. Not to mention the heat and completely different plants over here.
Hi Justin, my name is Jan Davey, Old fart of 72 and will be actually starting bee keeping in the New year. At the moment I am in the process of collecting all of the required equipment. So far I have 2 hives with 2 X 2 deeps and 2 X1 mediums, all built and painted, ready for installation,plus inner covers, two Nuc boxes ( one having been smashed in transit and was replaced. But I did manage to salvage it and rebuild it. A smoker and smoke pellets. I am expecting delivery of 20 medium plastic foundation frames, hive tools etc hopefully next week. Then next month a load of deep plastic frames all for the Apis Mellifora bees I intend to purchase from Supher beefarm up in Chang Mai in February. I am relyably informed that Apis Mellifora are a nice calm and gentle type of bee breed. But February because that is when the fruit flowering season begins. Supher beefarm supplies 5 frame Nuc’s at 2k a Nuc, but is buyer collect not by post unfortunately. Hope that has been a bit helpful as I am a complete newbee also. Good luck. Janboy. RN. Rtd.
Hi Folks
New to Thai beekeeping.
Just built my first topbar hive .
Located between Chiang Rai and Mae Sai
Looking for a bee supplier, somewhere close by preferably,and any information your willing to share on setup.
Thanks
Hello! Living in Chiang Mai and curious if there are any English speaking beekeeping courses around. I am interested in learning the ins and outs of basic beekeeping while im here until May. If anyone has any tips or wants to show me theirs I would be grateful.
Thanks
Hey @BBUDD wondering how your process is going and if you would be willing to show me some of your progress one day? Looking to get into beekeeping
Just finished the top bar hive
No bees in it as yet
looking for local supplier -probably also put out some bait trap hive boxes and see if I can attract some local bees
Least that way I’ll know there acclimatized to local conditions-should also be parasite resistant
Just missed a good swarm a couple weeks ago-stayed right at my gate for a couple days
Wish I’d had a place to put them at the time
I’m located up near Mae Cam-just north of Mae Chan-guests are welcome
Well it is the beginning of flow season and it seems my two hives of A. Melifera collected from Supha bee farm (two months apart) but 8 months ago just do not want to grow. The last 8 months the queen has never really moved off the 5 frames that came with the starter kit, and does not seem to increase her laying during the 2 months sugar feeding or the beginning of the flow.
With the honey flow only being 2-3 months in Thailand, I am concerned they will not even migrate to the last 5 frames, let alone move up into the supers. I have discovered (since spending money on the western based hives) Thai bees do not like multiply levels and hardly ever use the upper super.
Is this the experience of others? Did I just get lame queens from the same source twice? Has the Thai bee population just been breed into tame/peaceful bees at the expense of production? Should I look to import a higher producing queen from another country? I really want these supers to be used, and not collect honey from the outside 5 frames of a hive as I am told the Thai beekeepers do. Or am I just to anxious and need to wait longer still?
It seems to me that if local beekeepers only ever harvest the frames from a single brood box- then perhaps that’s all the local conditions can achieve? You’d think that if there was a better way the locals would have found it by now? Knowing how much Thai’s love their food- I imagine they are super keen to get as much honey as they can. Have you spoken to many local beekeepers?
personally I doubt importing queens will change much- as it sound like the local conditions are the main limiting factor? But I don’t know of course.
Hi guy’s,
My name is Lars. I am new here.
I am looking for some courses in beekeeping somewhere in thailand any advice?
Thx
Seek out established beekeepers , via internet, market stalls,newspaper, and ask them about courses and becoming a mentor.
Hey Steve,
My name is David. I see you haven’t been on in almost a year but I’m reaching for straws at this point and hoping you can help. I live in Chiang Rai and am trying to renovate a house in Bandu. Unfortunately, there is a colony that has set up shop inside the walls of the room I need to insulate. It’s slowed down the project and the only solution I’m getting from most locals is to spray them out. No one seems to know a local that can take them out at the very least anyways. I’d love for them to have a new home. Wondering if you’d be interested in coming up to Chiang Rai to take care of them? I’d be happy to talk accommodation and compensation if you’re willing to make the trip.
Thanks
WOW This is blinding!
I didn’t expect anyone in this forum from Thailand.
Just a short hello:
I am Willy, 56 from Germany living since 2002 in Pattaya and when I retire from Offshore working I want to move north east and build an aquaponics farm.
As a child of 10 years I started with bees till my Grandpa died.
But I reckon that Thailand is another Game when it comes to bees, the only thing I learned so far is that some are like Gunslingers, a bit to close and you end up with a copious amount of stings under the T-shirt that let you sleep like a Baby for 16 hrs
others didn’t sting at all…
Flow hives, never heard of them until I checked at Lazada, I grew up with self-made classic Straw Hives or box hives with frames…
I guess after scrolling the next few days though this forum I might have a lot of questions…
Hi Willy, my name is Dennis. I live in Chiang Rai. I am looking at bee keeping as a hobby and and teaching opertunity for my students too learn about bee keeping. I would like to be in contact with other keepers and learn and share.
Hi Willy
Have you retired yet? I too am interested in doing aquaponics. I live in Chiang Rai.
Dennis
Hi Dennis,
I am since February stuck on a Job in Taiwan and obviously it will continue till end of next year.
It’s a long time away from home but on the other hands it’s a lot quicker reaching the target ($$) to buy property and start building the AP Systems.
We had 3 month ago a backdraft as one of our companions who was working in Malaysia committed suicide as he was denied to return to his family in Thailand due to the tight COVID regulations.
We have spotted a few land plots of 40-60 rai but all have advantages and disadvantages. Its not easy to check which is the best option from Taiwan.
I will have to wait till the Project is done and I am able to go home.
Cheers
Willy
I have one box of western bees at my house in Bangkok. I’m 7 months in and it is getting interesting as the nectar flow is starting. There is a Facebook page: Beekeeper Hobbyists Thailand that has some good information but not a huge amount of activity. I’d love to compare notes with others who are playing around with bees here.
For those living in places without bee keeping supply stores, I had success with Bee Hub จำหน่ายอุปกรณ์เลี้ยงผึ้ง (Apis Cerena supplies) that is on Facebook for foundation and supplies and thaweechokebee.com for frames and boxes. I did all my communication in broken Thai but they both got supplies delivered to my home in Bangkok quickly and easily.
Hello. My name is Jerry Litton. We live in Nakhon Si Thammarat and I am very interested in beekeeping. What is the best way for me to begin please? I am newly retired and I now have the time to pursue this.
Thank you
Jerry
jrryri@gmail.com
Hi every one I’m on Koh Chang, Trat Province, I’ve been around bees for a while but never owned a hive. Now I’m retired with all the time in the world I want to get started. Any help would be greatly appreciated - especially sourcing the right hive for an island environment and a nuc for the first colony. Many thanks in advance.
Hello, I’m investigating how to where to find beekeepers in Phuket
I have a big nest with honey In one of the bathrooms in my house, I’ve been stung already 4-5 times
My landlord has taken them out and kill them twice, I don’t want them to be killed again, but it’s beginning to be very dangerous for me (and my children)
anyone here that can help me?
Florencia Richeri
Lofty Villas
I’m in Phetchabun, central Thailand, I’ve been keeping bees off and on since I was a child, I currently have 8 hive because I moved to a subdivision ne’er the city befor that I had an average of 30 hives in the village, my bees in the suburbs are doing much better than in the countryside, there’s no poison or herbicide, I just harvested 18 kg honey from 7 frames but I can’t have to many hives or the neighbors will complain