Bee keeping

[rhubarbontoast]

I am tormenting them, I can't leave them alone. I ahve no problem approaching the hive now as I have turned it away from the approach route- a real mistake. The guard bees were out like a shot. They've settled right down and are just doing their thing now. I get the odd one fly into me as I wasn't there when they left but they just go on round. They really do make a bee-line for the hive- straight in at speed.

I need to open it up and have a look in and see what's happening! I had no broon on Monday and am worried the queen is off the lay / departed or something else odd has happened. I have added two frames of brood in the hope that they will requeen from that if needed. I want supercedure rather than a swarm!

Just found out that my parents have a wild colony in their attic... sounds like more bees for me!

[Headfry]

well......sanman....are they home with you? I hope all went well

[sanman]

Hi Headfry

Yes, they are at home now. They were far from happy about the move

[rhubarbontoast]

Give them a week to settle down, mine are MUCH calmer now- I was seen off a few times (my own fault for snooping). I can go up an lift the roof in shorts, t-shirt and flip-flops now. No damage to me so far...

[Headfry]

sanman...will you be feeding your bees, weather is a little pants at the moment.

I went to classes wednesday evening and we opened a huge busy hive, I took gloves off and lifted frames bare handed, it was a brilliant feeling, the first thing I noticed was how warm, almost hot, the hive is! and to feel the bees - bliss I was just using the back of my hand to move the bees about....heaven but most def not for the faint hearted!!! nope...not a single sting, bit daunting when they fly straight for your hand though as they hit quite hard really- but were content just to sniff my hand and crawl about.
Still have not found my quenn (Atilla) I do have eggs and up-capped brood which should be a good sign of being 'queen right'
get a glass quilt if you can.....you can look inside with out disturbing them at all....very adictive though.
I love my bees

[sanman]

Hi Headfry + ALL

Yes I am feeding them. My instructor warned me that they were a strong colony and to feed them as this would encourage them to draw-out the foundation. Currently they are going through two 1lb jars of sugar syrup a day Called on my way home from work last night to top up the syrup and got my first sting. It was my own fault as I panicked a bit when a load of bees came through the hole in the crownboard when I took the feeder off. In my haste to get it covered up a crushed 3 or 4 bees and got a sting in return.

Went this morning to top up syrup again. This time I ensured my smoker was going properly and that I was mentally prepared. Gave the the bees a little smoke and managed to top up both feeders and rearrange gauze with no problems whatsoever. A couple of bees came out of the hive entrance and came up to see what I was doing but that's all. I get the feeling that they have now settled into their new home and are happy. If the weather is OK on Sunday I'll do my first inspection on my own

[Headfry]

Good luck sanman.... being organised is a good thing when it comes to bees, if you are queen hunting, take a marker!!! the day you find her will be the day you dont have a marker with you!!
what type of feeder are you using...?
mine is a rapid feeder, I dont even take it off the hive to fill it. I mix the syrup up in a 2ltr plactic water bottle, so with care I can tip it straight in!!
let us know how you get on please!

[sanman]

Hi Headfry

At the moment I am just using jamjars as feeders, I may try to pop down to my local bee shop (about 40 miles away) and get myself a rapid feeder this weekend.

[sanman]

Although the weather was far from ideal I decided it was time to be brave and have a quick look in the hive today. They are drawing out the foundation at a rate of knots. Had a quick look at a couple of frames and there is a vast amount of sealed brood so I am expecting a population explosion very shortly

Headfry, have you thought about what you are going to do for winter feeding? Sugar, Fondant, both or are you leaving a super of honey on there for them?

[Headfry]

Sanman, Hi ya....
I am not sure yet, syrup I guess, I am worried that my little colony of girls won't make it through the winter -I shall try my best for them.
I dont think they will have much honey with the way the summer is going. I doubt I will take any from them, they can have all they honey they make....bless them.
I did not get to peep in there this weekend, not sure if I will tonight or even tomorrow- weather is to poor! cold turkey time for me!
what about yours? what will you feed them?
were you able to get a feeder?

[sanman]

Hi Headfry

No, I didn't manage to get a feeder, I am sending for one today. I think I'm going to feed fondant over the winter. It won't ferment like syrup would of left, so the bees can take it when they can. I'm hoping I may get some honey this year, it all depends how well they do when they go up onto the heather.

[vicpivo]

This link has inspired me to get off my a*se and find my local beekeeping association and enroll on a course.

If my allotment contract permits, I am aiming to keep bees next to my fruit plants.....

This should increase the yield and give me some honey to put with them!!

I've found my local beekeeping association (Bridgend), but they do not carry out courses. Any suggestions of where to look & expected cost of courses?

[sanman]

Hi Vicpivo

I'm glad we've been an inpiration to you Can your local association not offer some advice on where the nearest course can be found? Failing this try www.bbka.org.uk on it you'll find contact details for most of the associations, so you may find one adjacent to yours that runs a course (this is what I had to do). As for cost, I think this differs but for my course with hive and bees the cost was £80, a fantastic deal. Courses are normally seasonal and I think you've probably missed this years, however because of their popularity I'd advise you to get your name down early for next year.

Don't be put off if your allotments don't allow bees, you'll find the local farmers/land owners are normally very accomodating in this respect.

All the very best and keep us informed.

[Snadger]

Appologies in advance for the length of this reply!

Interesting thread!

My boss who was a gamekeeper used to have about a dozen hives situated at my work place. When I first started my job I was a bit apprehensive about going near to them but after a while (whether it was familiarity breeding contempt or not, I'm not sure) I used to take no notice of them and walk past a dozen hives with no shirt on in the Summer. He used to get called away at a minutes notice because of a swarm in someones garden, usually on an apple tree from what I remember!
At the time, because I showed an interest he offered me a hive of my own free of charge if I wanted it. In retrospect I was daft not to take him up on his offer, but life is such!

I am a bit more mature now (in body anyway!) and may have a go next year after I have realised my other ambition of keeping chooks!

I have had a look at my allotment tenancy agreement and there is no mention of NOTbeing allowed to keep bees. I suppose I should really have a word, out of curtesy with my two immediate neighbours to make sure they didn't mind.
I have a miriad of questions and can remember my boss using an array of gadgets including a stainless steel spinner to seperate the honey from the combs!

My main questions are cost related:-

Cost of attending course at local Agricultural college which is close by?
Cost of hive?
Ongoing costs?

As well as the above questions I have concerns about amount of chooks on our allotments and will the bees bother them?
Africanisation is another concern?

Anyway that's enough to be going on with!


Goodluck to all you apiarists and may the fruits of your labour be bountiful!

[CarolineSonning]

I would really recommend getting bees - we went and collected our first swarm the first week of June and have been loving it. (That was a fascinating "jump in with both feet" experience.)

We did take a couple of courses at our local agricultural college and I wouldn't say it was a cheap hobby!!! But as it has now got to the stage that 90% of bees in Britain are looked after by humans, I see it more as a service than anything else - if we don't take on the responsibility then there will be no more bees!

Have fun with it and enjoy the byproducts.