Pollenation!

[themoudie]

White a*sed bumbles out on the winter flowering erica up here today and for about the passed week. The early flying moths have also been pollinating the flowering willows in the evening/night. If the temps keep up, we should have the daffies out in the garden by the weekend. If all goes really well, swallows in about 3 weeks time and the clocks going back in just over a weeks time. Good to see it for another time around! 

Apiarists, any news? Survived the winter? Varroa?

Toodle pip, Bill.

[johnr]

think veroa tends to affect honey bees more than bumbles(humble) or solitary bees, as they spread through the colonies. however, here on the fylde coast we  have had a few early bumbles knocking about this week, which ios a good sign.

[mini-thumper]

My small colony of honey bees ("Thanks again BeeMan!") has made it through the winter and are now making the most of this warm spell.

Boyd

[johnr]

awww, i want some bees!!!! ive a huge allotment at the back of my house, and i quite fancy a hive to pollenate and produce me a bit of honey.

[beeman]

Went through my bees yesterday 3 hives with 5 frames of brood 1 with 4 brood and 2 with 3 brood admittedly one of the hives with 3 brood is not looking very big. but has a laying queen.
I lost one colony just after Christmas and two in the late summer/Autumn due to robbing bees or wasps.

I don't know how others have faired yet but am going to a bee sale/auction next weekend so will update. This is also a good source to get second hand equipment at the fraction of the price new ( check out thornes of wragbys prices)

Why Are you not you keeping bees on your allotment, if me and Boyd can do it so can anyone. Let us know if you need any help or advise, Where are you living in the UK.
Remember as far as bees are concerned they are living in a hollow tree. So don't over complicate the matter. my advise is to read one book and just do it. I don't suppose the African tribesman keeping bees has read that many books on the life of bees so we don't need to either. Try reading Ted Hoopers "guide to Bees and Honey" no other book is needed. I meet many people who are about to keep bees but never do.

Boyd when are you going to remove that hive of the top of yours?  I would suggest in about 4 weeks when the the temp is a bit higher.  let us know if you need any help
  As for varroa treated mine trice once in the Autumn and once this Jan/Feb and no sign of any in the hive.

Themoudie better not forget that it is this week that the clocks go FORWARD, not in a weeks time.

Bye for now I'll get off my high horse about bees, still it's better than owning a Landie!!!

beeman

[themoudie]

.....Themoudie better not forget that it is this week that the clocks go FORWARD, not in a weeks time.

Bye for now I'll get off my high horse about bees, still it's better than owning a Landie!!!

beeman

Aye beeman,

Just shows where my head is at the moment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Delighted to read your 'high horse' about bees. 

Used to have the morning teabreak at work named the 'High Horse Club'. Bit like this web site, except it could be very non-PC, sectarian, homophobic and bombastic. However, there was also the element of bluff and counter bluff, along with Central Scotland opinion, against the guile of the West Coast and rural bluntness of the East Coast in one large melange! 

My regards, Bill.

[johnr]

ok guys, ballpark figure, whats it going to cost me for the stuff to setup a hive at the end of my garden. im in a quite rural area, and afaik there are no other hives in the area, but plenty of gardens and the old dears round here do like their flowergardens. several fruit trees and plenty of fruit and veg grown in the market gardens about 1/4 of a mile away. in order to justify this to swmbo i need to be able to say 'but it will only cost,,,,,,,,?'

[johnr]

ok, ive taken your advice and ordered the ted cooper book, im in a village called freckleton on the fylde coast about halfway between preston and blackpool.

[chippit]

I have been thinking about keeping bees,  wanted to go on a course first but they are always on at the weekends when I am working. Anyone keep bees nr. Rugby?

Just bought another landrover this week, what is it with bikes, landrovers etc. one of each is never enough.

[beeman]

You Don't need a course just a mentor to help guide you through the ups and downs. If my memory serves me well there are plenty of local clubs to rugby, I used to live at southam, look up the BBKA for addresses.

I'm not sure what is around you johnr but try the BBKA (british beekeepers asociation) web site for help

The cost of starting. Well how much have you got, brand new cedar wood hives are upward of £300 pounds plus equipment plus bees which are going for £220.
Boyd has gone in off the shallow end and built his own top bar hive but probably he may have difficulty in controlling them as the year develops. I hope it works but I wouldn't bother with that type of hive myself.

Most beekeepers have what are  called national hives, 2nd hand they cost approx £30-70 each and you WILL Need at least 3 of them.

I set some one up last year with second hand hives, jacket , smoker and hive tool for less than £130 he had a colony of bees off me.

I would assume that if you started early enough in the year getting 40-50 honey is feasible but beginners get less as they cant leave the bees alone.

Any one who is interested there  is a good bees sale of equipment and bees on saturday at lincolnshire show ground I know it is too late but if interested I can get prices of what things sold for. I will be there all day. Do not buy without taking advice as the equipment may be the wrong size or too expensive. As for bees I usually have a colony or two for sale at a lot less than £220.

If you keep bees you will need to keep 2 colonies to help support the other colony if problems develop. 2 colonies takes 1-2 hours a week in April-mid July, plus honey extraction and processing. the rest of the year once or twice a month may be all that is needed. You do not need to buy two colonies but you should be able to split your bees in the summer to produce two colonies. Most beginners usually borrow equipment to extract honey and many local associations have equipment just for lending.

As I have previously said keeping bees is easy The principle KISS keep it simple stupid is what I use. beekeeping is part art part science but in the end 1 years beekeeping is better than 10 years of reading how to keep bees.

let me know if you need any more info.

beeman

[beeman]

Been to the bee auction today bees from £90-150 without hives. Hives from £30, plus frames and foundation as extra.
Smokers were going for about £10-20 each.

check out Thornes prices for the difference.

I reckon that for about £150-175 I can sell a hive with bees and for a bit more a spare hive to go with it. You need two hives of bees not one, as if any problems occur can be sorted using the other hive.

If buying local don't be "done"  give us a call even just to confirm the deal is a good one. Like I say I am not a commercial beekeeper and only cover my costs. I am also not trying that hard to flog bees either, I am more interested in getting others interested in keeping bees.

beeman

[johnr]

my bee book came the other day, swmbo agrees that i can get some bees, next door says she isnt bothered (and can she have some honey) i just need to try and learn the ins and outs and get myself set up. where in the uk are you beeman?

[beeman]

Sunny Sheffield near junction 31 of the M1

Why don't you pop over in the next few weeks and look in a hive to see how you feel close to bees. Bring SWMBO, always good to get them on board. I can do Heysham from my house in the car/van (not rushing) in less than 2 hours if that helps with timing. About 94miles according to rac route finder

beeman
 
ps always give honey before they get bothered by bees its harder for them to complain then.

[johnr]

i think i'll do that if you dont mind. be a nice run out on the beesa. next door to me both sides have apple and pear trees and the open prison over the back. has a huge market garden dept so there should hopefully be a good spread of food for them throughout the year. but i'll speak to swmbo and get back to you.