Yup, very. Often is at this time of year. People enjoying summer & gearing up for harvest maybe?
Matters of concern.
- Thread starter James
- Start date
I took a look at the Treatment Free Facebook group yesterday. The US one started by Solomon Parker. 58,000 members and 10 posts a week.
Although might have something to do with nearly all of them losing their bees and quitting.
Although might have something to do with nearly all of them losing their bees and quitting.
That’s a fascinating rabbit hole to fall down over my morning coffee.The 1% rule.
1% rule - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
I feel for you @James. Gotta suck. Tell you what though, you should consider being a freelance/regular columnist… like my old English teacher did, doesn’t teach anymore.
I guess the “value” is in the sites (but the owners may be happy with you, not necessarily the next person) and the hardware. The bees hold some value, but I bet most potential buyers are new to owning and >1000 hives is rightly intimidating.
Here in Canterbury, a beek couldn’t even sell 2 nucs cheap on trademe. So the hobby sector is slow too.
Few weeks ago saw an advert from a respected commercial beekeeper selling hives for $50 each. Few years ago these could have fetched $450.00.
Questioned about why he is selling so cheap he said he's got a new job, can't also care for the bees, they got to go.
Don't know if he sold any.
Questioned about why he is selling so cheap he said he's got a new job, can't also care for the bees, they got to go.
Don't know if he sold any.
it used to be that the sites were probably more valuable than the bees but now that there are so many beekeepers who respect nobody and nothing, sites no longer have much real value. There appear to be some corporate beekeepers who are still buying hives but from what I can gather they are more for replacing hives that they have killed rather than increasing numbers. Given the huge stockpile of manuka which has to be well in excess of a thousand tons I'm surprised they are still bothering. It has been a disastrous season for manuka in Hawke's Bay and probably in most of the North Island from what I hear. This may be a good thing in the long-term as some people may be finally able to sell some honey.
FYI I have seen worse times and have been offered large numbers of hives for free. It will get better but I don't know when.
FYI I have seen worse times and have been offered large numbers of hives for free. It will get better but I don't know when.
Harvest here in the top of the south will be down I’m sure.
like you @John B i hope it helps to clear out some stock.
we are hanging on by our fingernails with one of us taking on outside work which is helping.
like you @John B i hope it helps to clear out some stock.
we are hanging on by our fingernails with one of us taking on outside work which is helping.
busy, tired.
tho its not quite the usual horror show just yet. a lot of beeks doing things a bit different this year, so things may be different for extraction this year.
heard of others offering $150.
why would you buy nucs when you can buy hives.
however be careful of what you buy.
i doubt that. they can breed replacements cheaper than buying in, unless they have massive amounts of AFB.
more than likely they are buying up them up to get the sites.
You have to have the necessary skills to make up losses.
if their beekeeping is that bad how are they still in business. its beekeeping skill 101.
around here the bit of bad weather the other week turned off the flow. sometimes it can restart, other times not and its season over. we shall wait and see.
Other people's money and yes some of them are that bad.