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Nov 2019
6:14pm, 20 Nov 2019
1,036 posts
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Dochart
A nucleus (small) colony of bees from one of the commercial suppliers would cost around 100 pounds in the UK. Then two hives would probably be 300 new. (The second hive is needed for swarm control). As Trin says, a much better bet is a local association where you might get second hand equipment (many Assocs hold auctions) and in the summer a swarm of bees cheaply or even for free. I've kept bees for over 10 years it's fun and interesting, but I'll never get rich and you do need to inspect every colony every week during the season (may-aug in the UK - presumably much longer in Spain?). This can make summer holidays a bit tricky!
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Nov 2019
6:35pm, 20 Nov 2019
1,104 posts
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Trin
Thanks for that Dochart. Interesting to see the prices in the UK, new hives (without bees) are much cheaper here. We've only ever bought bees from a beek with the hives and we bought 70 so got a good deal at €110 each.
We are very much hands off beekeepers and other than harvest time (in the Autumn) we only actually open a hive once or twice a year. We prefer to let the bees be as they would in the wild, with a little help, for example using robber screens and cedar wood frames to deter pests.
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Nov 2019
7:26pm, 20 Nov 2019
4,158 posts
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Vancouver Jogger
The company I used to work for (as a student in my holidays - see earlier post) no longer exists, but I think they have become National Bee Supplies based in Oakhampton. I last worked there in about 1992 so this is no way an endorsement or recommendation. But they do a starter kit, with everything you need (apart from the bees) starting at about £350 (according to their website). Their price for the bees supplied in a Nucleus Box with Travel Top, Frames and Foundation is £250. They also advise doing some kind of taster course etc with a local association before taking the plunge.
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Nov 2019
7:33pm, 20 Nov 2019
1,550 posts
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Winniefree
Hello! Checking in as the other namechecked beekeeper. I’m the apprentice really, it’s Mr W who does all the hard work. We currently have 7 bee colonies - they’ve been a bit neglected this year due to Mr W having to care for his mum, but they’ve all produced reasonable yields. As Dochart says, we’ll never get rich, I suspect we’re barely breaking even, but it’s a fascinating thing to do.
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Nov 2019
7:49pm, 20 Nov 2019
20,637 posts
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Meglet
My XH did a beekeeping day course and we had a couple of hives for a while. We actually gained our colonies from a swarm that appeared at work and one that appeared in next door’s compost bin! I friend loaned us the hives, suits and helped with advice and catching the swarms.
It wasn’t particularly successful. He managed to get one colony to overwinter but we never had a honey harvest. He was not particularly good at keeping them, as a busy person with the hives on farmland a couple of miles away he was either not free or it was too windy/too sunny/too dark to go and inspect them.
Eventually we gave the hives back
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Nov 2019
9:02pm, 20 Nov 2019
1,037 posts
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Dochart
Your 'hands-off' routine is very interesting, Trin. I can't do that because, where I live, the main nectar flow here is late summer (from bramble) so if a swarm goes in May or June then that's the harvest gone from that colony for that year. Also, my bees are mainly 'town' bees and swarms of bees flying about are generally not very popular with the neighbours. So I inspect my colonies every week to avoid losing swarms, but clearly other routines can work, too. Some people 'clip' their queens to avoid losing swarms, and this extends inspections from around once a week to once every two weeks during the season.
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Nov 2019
9:14pm, 20 Nov 2019
15,343 posts
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Sharkie
Just to say - what a lovely new thread! 
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Nov 2019
10:28pm, 20 Nov 2019
1,106 posts
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Trin
Thanks Sharkie, it's buzzin 😉
Dochart, that's a shame about your neighbours. Last year we advertised an incentive for the local people around here. Basically, if anyone spotted a swarm to contact us and we would take it away and 're-home' it, but would give that person updates on how the colony was getting on and a jar of honey when they had enough.
It certainly got people's interest in a positive way towards bees 😉
How do you stop them swarming?
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Nov 2019
10:31pm, 20 Nov 2019
1,107 posts
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Trin
Oh yes, and you never hear about anyone getting rich from keeping bees... it's just a nice thing to do, plus you never have to buy honey again 😉
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Nov 2019
7:51am, 21 Nov 2019
27 posts
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Running on the Spot
You cannot beat the taste of your own honey and knowing it is 100% raw not treated, processed, pasteurised or tampered with. It has been a steep learning curve for Trin and i, but well worth the effort. I recommend it to anyone!
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