I am applying for my bee-keeping registration and joining the association which are part of the state laws where I am for keeping bees.
My question is - should I even be buying bees yet here on the Gold Coast, Australia (sub tropical climate zone 11b) now or wait until spring?
If yes, where can I get a package of bees on the Gold Coast?
What breed of bees are best in a small yard with kids?
Hi & welcome to the forum, I think it’s ok to get bees now on the Gold Coast. Especially if you acquired a nuc, in preference to a bee package. Also if the nuc had a nice young queen, coupled with a healthy colony with plenty of brood in all stages. I’m on the Sunshine Coast & I wouldn’t discourage anyone from starting with a nuc like I describe at this point in time. Bees with a good queen will build up nicely over the next couple of months. Then they will hold their own over our short winter, ready to take off during the spring, which can start (as far as the bees are concerned) as early as late July.
Find bees with a recommended nice temperament. Self praise is no recommendation. All bees have their moments. Therefore having kids in a small yard with bees will have an element of risk. There will always be the odd half dead bee on the ground, so it would be prudent to make sure the kids are wearing shoes. I would look for a place to put a hive, away from where the kids play.
My wife recommends stingless native bees for a small yard with kids.
The breed isn’t so important but the hive location is.
Site the hive so that the flight line does not intersect with peoples and kids activity areas.
Also consider placing a barrier in front of the hive say 0.5m away. This will make the bees rise into the air and fly above kid and human height levels, thus reducing the risk of accidental stings.