Hi
My first post. I am uneducated, so from here on out please excuse my spelling and gramer errors.
I have no bees yet. Last summer I built seven mediam boxes and a long hive 48 inches but the standerd mediam dimentions top enterance. I think that makes it about the same as three mediums. I built all the frames foundationless and just cut the top bar with a 45 degree angle for the comb guide. I built all out of a mixture of reclaimed wood. Some pine, lots of barn oak, couple peices of wanut and wild cherry and who knows what else. I got done at the end of july and set and leveled the long hive and one mediem in my feild edge.
I live in Rosebud MO and am on 20 acres with about 1/3 being open.
I made bottom boards and tops for the other six mediems that I intend to use in deer stands as traps.
I have tried to order bees but can't make myself pay the extra $75 and up that they want for shipping to get them early. I have one guy about 80 miles away that will sell me a couple brood comb for about $25 apeace and give me enough bees to get started but it will be later and miss my 15 or so fruit tree blooms. I don't care so much about the blooming fruit trees but hate the ideal of paying $200 Through $400 to get bees that might take off the minute I hive them.
They have nucs for sell but most for pick up 80 or so miles away and the end of april. May be the best deal but I will probly just see what happens with the guy selling the brood frames if I have to start later anyway.
I am a compleet dummy, so will take any comment. If anybody on this forum lives closer to me and is willing to sell me bees that have a chance of building up in time for winter, I would like to hear from you.
I mostly joined this forum for advice on the size of my long hive. Will it hold enough supplies to over winter in MO? I built every thing the same size for interchangability and to try bees and see how it goes.
I got some chickens and they cost more then I get but not alot more. I have the fruit trees and garden (although my wife is the gardener and I run the tiller and make the raised boxes).
Got some grapes that never produce well.
I figure bee would be good to play with also.
I hope to do a bit better on taking care of things as I am now retired but being retired my income is more fixed, IE: no more overtime for toys.
I got a bunch of solar and some wind turbines so I already am a bit anti social and like it at home. (transulate, weird).
Is the long hive usable or any other comments that might help me.
Thanks
gww