honifome:
I have been passionate at beekeeping since 2017. After surfing the internet enough for tutorials, i decided to construct a10 frame langstroth hive. The hive was installed in a rubber dominated farm in ondo state and baited with essential lemongrass oil. Sugar syrup filled container lid was also placed beside the hive. Bees came next morning and suck up the solution but refuse to colonise the hive. The lid was filled with sugar syrup four times again but yield no result. I returned to Lagos with doubts of success. I taught the reason could be inability to bait the hive with beewax or honeycomb. I did not know where to get them, that was the reason. Meanwhile, i decided to construct two more standard 11 frames langstroth hive using a beespace of 7mm for african bees strain. The first hive bee space was 10mm but that should not be the reason for swarm refusal to colonise. After finally obtaining beewax from a distant person (Mr Azeez) by contact through nairaland, i returned to ondo state with the two new hives. The three hives ( one initially installed) were later smeared with the beewax and i travelled back to lagos the next day expecting good news from my uncle, the rubber farm owner. After waiting several months without positive results, i called Mr Azeez and explained the problem. He adviced me to use honey comb instead of beewax and i hurriedly ordered for it. Upon receival, i returned to the farm on january 27 2019 and fixed the combs to the frame after dipping in honey. Sugar syrup was also placed at each entrance. Next morning, bees sucked up the sugar solution and scout bees were found inspecting the hives hours later. I waited five days to see whether at least, one of the hives will be colonised but to my surprise, none. I returned to lagos unhappy. Four weeks ago i called a professional in beekeeping and explained the issue to him and how worried i am. He asked for the dominating forage source and i replied rubber. Rubber is not a reliable forage source for bees because it flowers once in a year and the type of wood (teak) for the hives body could be the reason but the first is not teak though the wood is not known.
OP or any other willing person, i need your assistance in getting package bees from your apiary or allow me to bring a nuc box to your apiary to collect bees. I am ready to negotiate.

saliubello:
Money to be made in beekeeping

Your peculiar challenge in catching a swarm is a general problem. The business of selling packaged bees is the new business idea anyone could work on and smile to the bank.

I currently catch swarms here and there using small catcher boxes which I usually later transfer after colonization to bigger boxes.

Your next answer is this, for any serious commercial beekeeping operation. You might need to undergo training on queen breeding. That solves all your apiary expansion challenges.

Christistruth00:


Please carry on with this thread it is very important and it is the only thread on beekeeping.

saliubello:
New updates coming

saliubello:
We have acquired few units of Langstroth hives ( oyinbo styled hives ) and hoping to stock them with bees from our swarm catchers which we have placed in various places.

Updates as we progress

Christistruth00:


Thank you. What are you using as bait in the Swarm traps is it Lemon grass or Bee wax?

saliubello:
We have acquired few units of Langstroth hives ( oyinbo styled hives ) and hoping to stock them with bees from our swarm catchers which we have placed in various places.

Updates as we progress

saliubello:
Money to be made in beekeeping

Your peculiar challenge in catching a swarm is a general problem. The business of selling packaged bees is the new business idea anyone could work on and smile to the bank.

I currently catch swarms here and there using small catcher boxes which I usually later transfer after colonization to bigger boxes.

Your next answer is this, for any serious commercial beekeeping operation. You might need to undergo training on queen breeding. That solves all your apiary expansion challenges.

honifome:
Where did you place your catcher boxes before swarm arrival

honifome:
Congratulations on your new langstroth hives! Did you use top bars alone or rectangular frames and what bee space did you use?

saliubello:
it came with its frames.

honifome:
That means you need honey extractor for harvest

honifome:
Very good bro! Your new hive looks like imported one or is it?

saliubello:
We have acquired few units of Langstroth hives ( oyinbo styled hives ) and hoping to stock them with bees from our swarm catchers which we have placed in various places.

Updates as we progress

saliubello:
We have acquired few units of Langstroth hives ( oyinbo styled hives ) and hoping to stock them with bees from our swarm catchers which we have placed in various places.

Updates as we progress

jarx:

please can I see the inside and the frames

saliubello:
if you are the one who has been chatting me on whassap lately. I will suggest you join a bee beekeeping training session. There you will be taught the whats and the whys. It saves you money, time and heartache.

OpmOfficer:
Great thread I have learnt alot just going through, keep up the good work. Please who here based in Cross River State, I'm in the honey business and I believe we can be of help to each other.

saliubello:
CONCLUSION

Yesterday, 19th January 2019, I invited a colleague to join me in harvesting the honey from the apiary. Im very SORRY that I couldnt bring you step by step images how we approached the hives and how we were picking out the combs for harvesting. All arrangements were made for the photoshop. But just as the operation commenced, the fellow handling the camera had wardrobe malfunction, he was badly stunged and that unsettled us greatly..

we commenced the operation::

1. We approached/inspected the boxes to be worked upon, ONLY 5 units as the rest of the other 5 hives has been vandalised and the honey therein stolen.
2. The operation went smoothly, as our team members had shared the tasks amongst ourselves. We usually open each hive, one at a time..then comes the buzz sounds..the bees approached us mercilessly in defence of there honey. we calm them down by puffing them with smoke..then bring our the frames, one after the other, this helps to find only those that contained sealed honey only..and separating the honey from brood.
3. The getaway was the difficult part, after harvesting the honey and our buckets were full, we carried them to the waiting vehicle, every one of us went in different directions so that the bees can stop trying to sting us/follow us..as my colleagues went different ways..i just drove the car with the honey round and round so they can stop following and they can make there way back to the hive..I picked up my colleagues shortly after i could turn the car.. and off we went..
4. The veils were removed in the car after moving a distance away from the hives.

saliubello:
HARVEST REPORT
on getting home, we commenced the processing of the honey right away. put them in them press and squeeze.

A total approximate of 40litres of honey was squeezed out of the combs.

This gives an average of 8litres a box.

Further processing of the honey will continue today.

saliubello:
Financials

Financial projection below is only my idea from experience


To make at least One million naira (N1,000,000) revenue (excluding expeditures ) from direct honey sales each year, I will require a minimum of 70 units of improved beehives.

This will be attainable ONLY if I Can commit a sum of three hundred and sixty thousand naira (N360,000) being payment for one year salary for security staff to man the farm for an entire year. This was the starting point of the decisions.

saliubello:
Financials

Financial projection below is only my idea from experience


To make at least One million naira (N1,000,000) revenue (excluding expeditures ) from direct honey sales each year, I will require a minimum of 70 units of improved beehives.

This will be attainable ONLY if I Can commit a sum of three hundred and sixty thousand naira (N360,000) being payment for one year salary for security staff to man the farm for an entire year.