Bee keeping

[sanman]

Hi Snadger

Can't help you with ongoing costs I'm afraid as I've only just started. Costs of hives vary but a rule of thumb would probably be £100 for the very minimum of what you require, supers (which the bees store honey in) would be an additional cost. Honey extractors can normally be borrowed from other local beekeepers and you probably won't need them until your second year. The real basics are a protective clothing which comes in various forms the most common beeing a bee suit, I currently use a veil with a zip up boiler suit. Something to tuck your trousers into ie wellies or as use old army boots. Gloves, I use the rubber marigold type. A smoker and a hive tool.

[Headfry]

www.thornes.co.uk sell all the kit you will need, there are now quite a few others who sell gear too. Price wise Thornes is kinda expensive, it's good kit- but you can get much better prices else where!
One small point - you will get your money back after a while, through selling the honey.....!!!
My cousre is costing just £25 and its great fun. have had to buy own hive, but the bees were free...a local swarm!
Its great fun and so interesting...go for it!

[Headfry]

Just been stung by a small bumble bee that I was trying to rescue from the canteen window at work....finger looking a little fat now! oooops
poor little bee, but i did manage to set her free....bless her little strippy tum!

[Snadger]

Just been stung by a small bumble bee that I was trying to rescue from the canteen window at work....finger looking a little fat now! oooops
poor little bee, but i did manage to set her free....bless her little stripey tum!

Supposed to be good for rheumatism and arthritis aren't they?.......stings I mean!

[Headfry]

So they say, I will let you know when I am in my dotage!

[sanman]

As today is the first fine one we've had for a while I thought I'd make use of it; I went up to the bees and replaced their current floor with an open mesh one as part of my Varroa control. All went well, a couple of bees were crushed in the process but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the queen is OK. Bees were very quiet during the process and pretty much left me alone.

[vicpivo]

Hi All,

I have just come back from a beekeeping auction held by my local association. In the few hours I was there, I have got to know to some interesting people and learn tonnes about the art of beepeeing!

They were very honest, and didn't try and encourage me to get every bit of kit going and just told me to get the basics - Hive, Hive Tools, Smoker & protective clothing.

The auction prices seemed very reasonable - upto £4 for an old fashioned looking smoker, £15 for a hive, £50 for protective overalls & queen bees between £70-£100 quid depending on strength/fertility etc.

To become a member costs £26 (a year I think) which will enable me to loan some equipment (I can't remember the names), books and attend the courses (Hygiene & beginners) at no further cost.

I ended up buying a Hive (Commercial) for £14, and now need to sterilise it. Although the hive had been inspected and no foul breeds have lived in it, I want to ensure it's OK. Any ideas how I can do this? I was told to scorch it - how??

I must thank all the contributers to this string that gave me the enthusiasm to go out and find out about beekeeping.

[BayViewPlot]

I tried to go myself to the auction today (driving from Penarth), but without any decent directions. I (wrongly) figured that LLandow was small enough for me to 'use the force' to locate the bees. My Jedi training is obviously not yet complete.

Would like to get involved with a local group if you have contact details

many thanks

BVP

[Digger-07]

Vicpivo - All you need to do to sterilise is to run a blowtorch round the inside of the hive until the wood JUST begins to char. Don't make it black inside but just enough to change colour. If the supers have plastic runners for the frames to sit on they need to be removed first 'cos you will melt them.

PS Try to get into the corners well as that is where the nasties tend to live longer.

[sanman]

Bayviewplot

If you go to www.bbka.org.uk you should be able to find contact details of an association near to you.

Vicpivo

I'd get down to the gym and start pumping iron, have you any idea how heavy those commercials are when full of honey?

All

Had a quick look through the hive today. Bees are still drawing out foundation and storing styrup/honey in every available spell. Bees are bringing in two different types of pollen yellow and orange. Saw the queen for the first time Also spotted a bit of chalk brood but I think this is probably down to the damp weather, However I've sent an email to my instructor asking for his advice.

[BayViewPlot]

Thanks sanman, have e-mailed and they are sending info out to me ASAP

Good Luck with the bees!

[vicpivo]

Hi BayView Plot,

They had a few complaints about the directions to the auction, it was in the middle of a maze of an industrial estate! It took me 20 minutes to find it within the the estate!

The contact I was given was Sue, the cost to join the association is £26 which will cover the beginners course. They are looking to do a classroom course in the autumn and then a 'practical' following this (I assume the spring).

Cheers to you all for the advice on the sterilising, I'll have a go at doing that in the next few weeks.

The combs within the Super's are partially damaged and have a small amount of old honey in them. Should I be throwing these out and buying new combs to go into the super? I'm sure I read somewhere that you should never use 2nd hand combs/collectors....

[sanman]

The combs within the Super's are partially damaged and have a small amount of old honey in them. Should I be throwing these out and buying new combs to go into the super? I'm sure I read somewhere that you should never use 2nd hand combs/collectors....

Traces of honey can carry diseases such as the foulbroods. If was you I'd take the combs out and wash the honey away. You can then melt the combs down, clean them and trade them back in for new foundation.

[Headfry]

Ooooouch, went to whip the feeder off last night. Silly me- thought it would be an easy job, so no gear needed...............
got stung on my eyebrow!!! did not touch it, so that miss bee would get her sting out. Instant botox!!!!
Slightly swollen this morning, nothing much to see. This is good news, as so far my reactions to stings have been really, really slight...I am a happy girlie about this :-)
I think I have a right box of mischief with this swarm!
It would be heart breaking to love bee keeping but to react badly to the odd sting!

[sanman]

Ooh sounds painful. I've only had one sting myself and at first I thought I'd caught my hand on the side of the smoker and burnt it.