That (5000) number is a complete guess, but there are about 30-50,000 bees in a healthy hive; being new and not yet established, I figure we've a few thousand.
I've wanted bees for ages. The earliest I can mark this desire with certainty is 2004, when I was meandering up New Zealand south-to-north and hoping to WWOOF with an apiary (winter interfered with the venture's success).
Fast forward to 2015. We have our own backyard. Of course we'll start beekeeping. When telling the neighbors I phrased it as more of a statement than a question.
Erin and I attended a 2-hour seminar. Bought a book. Ready.
First, procure the boxes (Erin got Brian a beekeeping jacket/veil for Christmas). The photo below was pre-orange paint.
We ordered our nucleus colony ("nuc") in winter. Yesterday was the big day when it was ready. A colleague asked me to pick up her 2 nucs as well, so we'd have 3 to bring back to Burlington. The place was about an hour and a quarter away. A pick-up is advised, but I figured our hatchback would be fine given that another coworker had offered me some netting as a barrier.
We picked it (the netting) up en route. I was disheartened (Erin more so) to see its 3/4" mesh -- obviously not a weave that was going to offer any realistic protection. Alas, it was too late to do much about it now. Onwards!
Pull into the farm/apiary on the edge of a forest, a few miles down a gravel road. A dude in a bee suit acknowledges our arrival. Gear up.
By my estimation, bees don't enjoy being transferred from their nuc boxes to the deeps (the taller bee boxes that typically form the bottom layer or two in the stack) that will serve as their new home. I've been around open hives without protection, but this was the first time I'd been around pissed-off bees in a total cloud around me. With the suit as protection, it wasn't too bad, though I did get stung once (in the knee).
I was calmer than most, I must say. While waiting for the hives to settle down before lifting them into the car, I once looked up to see a guy wearing a full Tyvek suit, colored blue, racing down the gravel driveway in the opposite direction from the bee zone. I wasn't the only newbie, apparently.
I really tried to seal up the hives so that bees couldn't get out.
It really didn't seem to work.
Erin was a little nervous about the arrangement (have I ever mentioned what a good sport she is?). The bird netting obviously wasn't going to help in any fashion other than its being a psychological barrier, so that's precisely what we used it for.
It really didn't seem to work.
Erin was a little nervous about the arrangement (have I ever mentioned what a good sport she is?). The bird netting obviously wasn't going to help in any fashion other than its being a psychological barrier, so that's precisely what we used it for.
Some part of me secretly wishes that there would have been more drama on the drive home. It started to look like there may be. We weren't a mile down the road and we had a handful of bees already buzzing around the back. However, we kept the rear windows partway open and it seemed to keep them calm and at bay, especially once we hit asphalt.
Once home, I set things up. Here we go. Isn't the box beautiful?
They seem really happy here! At various points today, we've both sat ourselves nearby and watched them come and go.
***OTHER PET UPDATE***
Wendell graduated puppy school a few weeks ago and is continuing to practice so that he can become a certified therapy dog and go to work with Erin. Wendell took Erin's transition back to work a little hard and took out his frustration by eating her computer mouse....
Whidbey continues to be fantastically easy going and adjustable to the constant changes in the Just household.
