I live in the southeastern United States, and have been considering attempting beekeeping for a while. I have a few questions regarding the risks to any bees that I might try to... uh... keep.
I am aware that hornets can be a threat to bees, and as European hornets have moved into the area in the last few years, I'm concerned that they might prove an obstacle if I want to keep bees. How likely are these hornets to attack a bee colony and is there anything that can be done to defend a bee colony from hornets?
I'd also like know to about pests and parasites. I'm aware of wax moths, and I think two types of mites? Or maybe one type of mite and a virus/disease? How likely are pests like this to cause problems with my prospective colony/ies, and how much time+effort+cost should I expect to put in if I want to keep my colony/ies clean and healthy?
I also just read that skunks, raccoons, and mice can be a problem. Skunks will eat bees, I'm not sure if raccoons are after the bees or the honey, and mice will try to nest in the hive/box.
I've only occasionally seen skunks or raccoons, but they are around. I've seen opossums, armadillos, and foxes a lot more often, though. We have mice. We must have mice, because they get into the house sometimes; and they have to have come from somewhere. We also have a lot of squirrels. If mice will try to nest in the box, would squirrels try to do the same?
Where I live, there's mostly smallish cowfields and some woods, with houses interspersed between. There aren't a whole lot of wildflowers but I could plant some. There's at least one nearby field that's usually planted with something; generally soybeans, wheat, or cotton. I've never seen it sprayed with pesticides; but I can't state for certain that it isn't.
I'd like to spend on average no more than 30 minutes, 3 times a week, tending to bees, after they're established and excluding any time spent harvesting honey (but including any time spent preventing or fending off pests and other threats). So a total of an hour and a half per week. Is that a reasonable amount of time to expect to spend in order to keep bees and keep them healthy; or should I consider other hobbies?
If I do start beekeeping, it probably won't be until the spring of 2019, as I've got other priorities until mid to late 2018, and I read that it's best to start a colony in the spring.
btw, I know this is a lot to ask in one question. Sorry in advance.
I am aware that hornets can be a threat to bees, and as European hornets have moved into the area in the last few years, I'm concerned that they might prove an obstacle if I want to keep bees. How likely are these hornets to attack a bee colony and is there anything that can be done to defend a bee colony from hornets?
I'd also like know to about pests and parasites. I'm aware of wax moths, and I think two types of mites? Or maybe one type of mite and a virus/disease? How likely are pests like this to cause problems with my prospective colony/ies, and how much time+effort+cost should I expect to put in if I want to keep my colony/ies clean and healthy?
I also just read that skunks, raccoons, and mice can be a problem. Skunks will eat bees, I'm not sure if raccoons are after the bees or the honey, and mice will try to nest in the hive/box.
I've only occasionally seen skunks or raccoons, but they are around. I've seen opossums, armadillos, and foxes a lot more often, though. We have mice. We must have mice, because they get into the house sometimes; and they have to have come from somewhere. We also have a lot of squirrels. If mice will try to nest in the box, would squirrels try to do the same?
Where I live, there's mostly smallish cowfields and some woods, with houses interspersed between. There aren't a whole lot of wildflowers but I could plant some. There's at least one nearby field that's usually planted with something; generally soybeans, wheat, or cotton. I've never seen it sprayed with pesticides; but I can't state for certain that it isn't.
I'd like to spend on average no more than 30 minutes, 3 times a week, tending to bees, after they're established and excluding any time spent harvesting honey (but including any time spent preventing or fending off pests and other threats). So a total of an hour and a half per week. Is that a reasonable amount of time to expect to spend in order to keep bees and keep them healthy; or should I consider other hobbies?
If I do start beekeeping, it probably won't be until the spring of 2019, as I've got other priorities until mid to late 2018, and I read that it's best to start a colony in the spring.
btw, I know this is a lot to ask in one question. Sorry in advance.