New to Flow Hive:: Hope below discussion and topic bring interest to community of bee keeping.
Let’s begin::
I would like to do Swarm hive harvesting in FlowHive and need guidance specially from people within Pakistan or outside also working on bee keeping.
Here are the pictures I took for swarm hive.
As this video https://youtu.be/QUgqctAjqls shows I want to do exactly same but at same time as location is different I need to know that these kind of bees are right and also what precautions I should take in this regards to get it done in correct way.
Rest discussion to follow. Looking forward for your kind suggestions and comments.
Earlier this hive was taken from near by tree and after it looks like this:
Hi, As you say that your family has been keeping bees for many generations, the flow hive is no different in regard to this aspect of bee keeping. Swarm collection will be the same as it always is into the plain brood box with the wood frames.
I believe mentioning was for our family doing farming a part of it bees come themselves to our place in different times of year but sometimes some years they don’t come.
As I believe these are Swarm bees and hives are built on trees by bees themselves so I am more worried about they stay like if i take this above swarm in plain brood box, So will it be going to work and secondly will they stay and work ever means longer or will go away.
Otherwise I have to purchase the bee from agriculture farm but people are not much liking those and don’t appreciate much of the honey it is coming from them. They say these are farmed bees and not original or something similar statements heard. Also beekeeper keep moving within country with these bees like to warmer places in winter and to moderate/cold places in summer as we have 4 seasons in the year.
Very few parts of the world have native bees of any sort. Most bees in ‘wild’ swarms are just bees that have left other bee hives and moved out.
Where are you located? Many aspects of bee keeping are specific to the local climate and conditions. It is difficult to advise you without knowing wheree you and your hive are in the world ; -)
Nice to know that… we are located in Chakwal near Islamabad Pakistan. You may search in google maps for AgriQuartiles, Bikhari Kallan Road, Bikhari Kallan, Punjab, Pakistan as the below link showing the other address even though I am pointing it to the Farm/production area as above mentioned.
Its here underneath:
You can get coordinates accordingly. If clear pictures of bees or video required then it could also be arranged hopefully.
These links could lead you to contacts in your area who could be helpful with information specific to your location.
Hakim Khan lives in Ghool, a village in your general area. Perhaps he could mentor you or suggest someone closer to your home. Learning to keep bees is often something experienced bee keeprs share with new bee keepers.
Do you mean bees you can collect honey from? Because most most countries have native bees, there are certainly bees specific to Pakistan, India & Sri Lanka. I think Antarctica and Arctic are almost the only continents without?
I mean converting swarm to flow hive and bees are of course native bees which are abundant in our area. Also necessary research already done which results positively in our favor and we can keep them in current atmosphere and weather conditions. Also we have abundant trees where nectar can be taken from. Soon we are to inaugurate and start up.
We got bees on our farm house I believe these are Apis Cerana correct me if not. Can you advise if they could be havested to flow hive because I consulted a local researcher in NARC Dr. Rashid he is of opinion they will not stay so better to get Apis Florea. Looking forward for your usual advice.
It was designed for Apis mellifera. Apis florea is smaller (as is A cerana) so the cell size may not be appropriate for them. Do you have Apis mellifera there?
Yes we do have apis mellifera which I need to purchase queen from local farmer.
Apis Cerana bees fly away after a while; I dont know where they go and then come back but mostly people like honey of it. Can we also design for them bee hive? Secondly what can be fed to keep them for full year.
We have Citrus, Phulai, Berry and Brassica in abundance but for 2 months seperately each not covering full year but in between like 4 months no flowers or feeding available to bees. How can we manage it for full year. Like we can grow flowers but which ones are most likely good for bees.e.g water lillies etc.
I don’t imagine that Flow will be designing for Apis cerana, for one thing we don’t really want them here in Australia. There’s not really a need for them when we have Apis mellifera either. Some places will have different strengths of nectar flow almost all year round, but not many. You need to talk to the Beekeepers in your area. Bees will find plants in peoples gardens and in the wild as well. Local beekeepers will be able to tell you if there are times of year when they have to supplement the bees food sources with artifical feeding of sugar. I’m not familiar enough with your climate or plant ecology, you need to speak to gardeners as well as Beekeepers to find out what they are growing & what gives the bees the best nectar & pollen yields.
You need to have an entire colony of Apis mellifera, including the queen.
I want to save these native honey bees and give them the environment. Who and where can i get support. Secondly advise for plants and other resources required so that I can start managing for it. Looking forward for your kind response.
Please have a look at detailed video and suggest accordingly. Looking forward for your suggestions and feedback regarding saving these native bees and making garden or place as per their requirements. Kindly advise.
Dear the bees in your first pictures were Apis Dorsata while the bees in the second picture are Apis Florea. Both of these species would abscond a box as they make a single hive and that too in the open.
