Frequently Asked Questions:
FOR PRIVATE BEEKEEPING SERVICE:
WHAT SITE WORKS BEST FOR A BEEHIVE?
The best place for a beehive is one that is in a sunny area that is 10 to 15 feet removed from high traffic areas. Honeybees need an area a bit like a runway for takeoff. We'll work with you to identify the best location for your hive.
IS IT SAFE TO HAVE HONEYBEES IN MY YARD?
Our main goal is to make sure everyone is safe, both the bees and their hosts. Honeybees sting only as a last resort, as it is meant to protect the hive but ends in the death of the stinging worker bee. It is uncommon bee behavior (and something that we would need to correct) for bees to defend their hive when they are left alone.
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What you will experience most is the incredibly calm nature of honeybees. We wear protective gear while working with the colonies to be comfortable and safe.
WILL YOU NEED ACCESS TO MY YARD?
Yes. Chris, the owner and bee expert from Camas Honeybee Company, will perform colony inspections on a regular basis (About every 14 days March through August, and once per month September through February). We will always give you a heads up when we are heading your way.
WHAT ABOUT IF I HAVE PETS OR KIDS AROUND?
Many people with pets and dogs keep bees in their yard. We keep bees in our yard within 20 feet of our back door. With 3 kids, a dog, and plenty of backyard activity, we've only had stings when our son squeezes bees (he learned)!  We work closely with our bee hosts to make sure all is well.
WHAT AREA DO YOU SERVICE?
We currently place hosting hives in Camas, Washougal, and Vancouver WA. If you are outside our service area, contact us to see if we can make something work!
WHAT TIME OF YEAR IS BEST TO BEGIN HOSTING?
Hosting is best started during the months of March through July. Outside of those months, we take reservations for the following season.
CAN I SHARE SERVICE WITH MY NEIGHBORHOOD?
Of course! Neighborhoods or groups of people can go in together to host a hive.
CAN I TAKE OVER MANAGEMENT OF MY HIVES?
Yes, we do sell the hives and bees to our hosts if they want to head that direction. If you've always wanted to get into beekeeping but didn't know how to begin, this is an excellent route! We are happy to provide service, teach you how to manage it along the way, and then work towards your purchase and full management of the hive.
DO I NEED TO RESERVE A HIVE FOR NEXT SEASON?
Yes. We are a small business that has a limited amount of time for hosting. Maybe someday we'll have an unlimited amount of time and bees (wouldn't that be something!?). Contact us early and reserve a spot for hosting. Service does not begin until installation day.
WHAT ABOUT PESTICIDE USE IN MY YARD?
Honeybees are up against many challenges in todays world. To give them the best chance, we ask that you do not use pesticides on your lot (in fact, that's actually a city requirement to having bees). The goal of Camas HoneyBee Company is to get more in tune with nature, and one way to do that is to look to natural methods of pest control.
HOW MUCH HONEY WILL I GET EACH YEAR?
You get ALL of the honey that your bees produce each year. This amount varies depending on tons of variables. It can range from 0 to 100lbs of honey per year in excess of what they need for surviving the winter.
We guarantee that you will receive 24 lbs of honey whether or not your colony produces 24 lbs. If your colony does not produce at least 24 lbs of honey, you will receive a total of 24 lbs of honey from yours and other hives in the Camas area. However, hives are capable of producing much more depending on the season.
Any honey derived from the hive is yours!
LIVE HONEY BEE PURCHASES:
WHAT SIZE ARE YOUR NUCS (Nucleus Colony)?
Our nucs are made up of 5 deep Langstroth frames.
Our bees are the European Honey Bee, Apis mellifera. The breed is a Carniolan-Italian mix, or "survivor stock". All of our queens are bred right here in Camas, WA. We believe that bees that overwinter here and are bred here are far more likely to be fit for our Pacific Northwestern climate. Our overwintering success is over 95%.