My Girls (bees)

[ukmaggie45]

Hi ukmaggie45 and welcome to the vine!

Thank you for the welcome.

I put my ear against both hives on Saturday, and I could hear quite loud buzzing !!! such a happy headfry
Just need some pollen bearing flowers and warm still days!

Oooh, that sounds better news. I'd love to keep bees, but suspect the neighbours might not be so keen. I think we'll just have to try and make the garden friendly for bumble bees, give them somewhere to sleep and keep warm and safe. Will be haunting the RSPB online shop I guess!

[HeyWayne]

Come on girls!!! (HF's bees that is, not you lot)

Hope everything starts to improve soon!

[Headfry]

Thanks HeyWayne, daft isnt it but I get so worried about them, they are really just bugs, but to me they are sooo cute and just brilliant to watch, a look in the hive has me totally in love- the little 'waggle' dances they do, the way they have order in the hive, the miles they fly for a tiny drop of honey and find their way home, the way they clean and repair the honey comb even when I have done my worst by taking the honey. The frames are sticky and a little damaged but within a day or two, I cant believe it! they have been cleaned perfectly and repaired like new! brave clever little girls - they make me look stupid!
Roll on spring......


ps even love their dangley little legs when they are in flight

[Pumpkin Becki]

they are really just bugs,

No way HF!! We (the human race) would be in serious trouble without the honey bee. Long live the bee, and long live you and people like you who tend and care for them.

Go Bees!!!!

[jackyspratty]

Hi HF, been thinking of you and your girls too. Hopefully things are on the up a bit? On the school run today even through the fog we saw the first glimpse of purple crocuses! Made me and my boys feel quite uplifted! Gardens are bulging with snow drops too. Heres hoping for your girls!

[SueA]

Headfry, have you seen any of your girls out & about yet? I spotted my first honey bee of the year on Saturday on the snowdrops in Grappenhall walled garden, only the one though but it was a nice sunny day, it's turned very cold again though so maybe they'll go back into the hive again.

[Headfry]

Hi SueA that is good news!
My girls have not really been out yet...maybe just a quick flit round - It is still too cold really.
Did have quick peep under roof (have glass 'quilt' - cover on the hive so I can see without to much disturbance to them.....there they were! - oh they did look lovely, all grouped together round the food I had put in....cant wait for warm weather and to see and hear them flying.......sigh sigh smile awwwwww bless them.

[bigal123_123]

hi headfry im on on a beekeeping course in march and would love as much info as possible before then if you dont mind please

[Headfry]

Hi bigal123 123
Good to hear that you have managed to get on a course, they are getting booked up really quickly these days!
What kind of information do you need?
Are you definitely going to be keeping bees?
Depending on how many pennies you have to spend I would try to invest in some clothing! this can be worn for your course and will give a great degree of confidence if you know that you are 'bee proof' and will be needed when you get your own bees.
If you are not worried about stings - buy just the minimum but if you are in any way concerned then you cant beat the all in one suit! I have a separate top and trousers and every time I go through my girls I have a bare strip round my back so far I have been very lucky and not got stung- it is just a matter of time I fear. Bee gloves are a must, the soft leather, long gauntlet type are ideal. Wellies are good too, one poor chap on my course got stung all over his feet through wearing shoes. ouch he was fine but came back the following week in Wellies!
Books, books, and internet......do some reading.....beekeeping like all hobbies has its own language, so learning some terms will help.
Great to have another possible bee keeper here!

[Liza]

Hey Headfry how are the girls?

Awoke this morning to yet more snow !

Not far from you ? Didcot

[Headfry]

Hi Liza thanks for asking.....
Saw one or two fly from each of my two hives Sunday afternoon when the sun broke through. Since I have had them (about 3 years now) they have , at this time of the year started to get busy- I have recorded in my diaries things like- the girls are really busy, coming back with pollen and- lots of flying bees today! but this year nothing to report. I am getting worried- its just so darn cold even in the middle of the day.

[jackyspratty]

HI Headfry,just wondering if the weather has improved down there? Been warm and sunny here the last 2 days, so I have my fingers crossed for the girls!

[Headfry]

Hi jackyspratty,

Yes, quite a lot better here thanks! hope to try and get a look in their hives tomorrow! Though it is sunny here the air temp is still very low for the bees. It will be my first inspection of the year.
I hope they are ok! I have some food ready to go if they need it!
Thank you for asking

[Headfry]

Great news.....they are bringing in pollen! at last things are looking better for them!
Hive one feels heavy - good
Hive two very light - not good
So on went the feeders Sunday afternoon. I have given them a thick sugar solution (syrup) a little early and I am not keen to do this but I was very worried for them - they don't seem to like the winter food - Apifonda (like white cake icing)
Got to fill hive two's feeder up again this evening! All is mixed and ready to go - as long as the cats have not drunk it during the day - they wouldn't would they?
I still have not been able to go through the colonies yet, and I have my hives running in an odd order that I have to reverse pretty soon or there will be mischief in the boxes!!!

Happy skippy headfry......oooooh I love my little bees so much.
Happy days!

[Madasafish]

Followed this with interest.
Any news, Headfry?