Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Poultry and Pets => Pets without Feathers => Topic started by: Kate and her Ducks on April 27, 2011, 21:47
-
I think I am about to become a beekeeper!
My mum has kept bees for a few years and I have always been interested and kept meaning to do something more active than just reading about it and helping her out with hers, but you know what it's like, life just gets in the way.
Well this spring my mum and her friend have had lots of problems (in a good way) with swarming and multiple casts (think that is what it is called when there are multiple new queens and swarms/colonies formed) and they have gone from 6 colonies to over a dozen and they don't have the space!
Have joined the BBKA and looked for the local groups but it looks like I will have my first colony or nuc by next week. Just home my beesuit arrives in time!
-
congrats Kate, please post photos of your set up to show everybody :).
-
Will take loads of pics (except of me in a fencing mask and a teatowel as that is my current backup plan if my beesuit doesn't arrive in time - think my mum will actually lend me her spare if it comes to that!).
The area they are going have been cleared and just need to put up the screening and paving slab for the hive tomorrow and then it is just a case of waiting for them to arrive.
I keep looking at all the wonderful blossom on the trees and flowers in the gardens around me and waiting for them to come.
The hive they came from had a amazing year least year and made 117lbs of honey! I'm just hopng they will settle in and grow strong this year but honey next year would be nice!
-
Wow Kate, how exciting! Oh yes, you must tell us all about it!!!
-
if you lived closer I would lend you my beekeepers hat - I don't have bees but wear it when picking plums as I am terrified of wasps ::) :D
-
good luck!I'm in my second year,I started with a swarm last year and have now got three hives in my apiary,
-
congrats Kate, please post photos of your set up to show everybody :).
Seconded!!
Can we have the odd occasional photo too?
I'm fascinated. :)
-
Not jealous at all! :tongue2: Wow - lots of photos and updates please!
-
VERY jealous! ;)
-
VERY jealous! ;)
Jealous? No.
Buzzing with excitement :lol:
-
Hi Kate,
congrats on joining the association and getting bees! I'm in my second year now and I'm also battling against swarming etc which is very stressfull!
If I can offer one word of advice it would be get a second hive!!! That way, once they show signs of swarming you can split the colony to make them think they've swarmed and hey presto you have two hives!
Your BKA will be able to give you some advice on how to do this and I'd also recommend joining the bbka forum - it's not visited as much as this one but the people there really know there stuff!
Good luck and enjoy!
Su
-
Hi Kate,
congrats on joining the association and getting bees! I'm in my second year now and I'm also battling against swarming etc which is very stressfull!
If I can offer one word of advice it would be get a second hive!!! That way, once they show signs of swarming you can split the colony to make them think they've swarmed and hey presto you have two hives!
Your BKA will be able to give you some advice on how to do this and I'd also recommend joining the bbka forum - it's not visited as much as this one but the people there really know there stuff!
Good luck and enjoy!
Su
It definitely sounds as if we need a BK section!!!!! ;)
-
There is another forum,which is just called"the beekping forum"they seem to have a lot of experienced members who will answer any questions.
-
how exciting! I am just waiting for my hive to arrive there more weeks to go
-
No news from Kate recently. :(
I hope she's not gone and wandered off in the wrong direction with that mask / hat on! :unsure:
-
Sorry not posted earlier, have been busy getting everything set up.
Have joined the BBKA which as Snoozisuzi says has loads of fab information and membership has loads of advantages.
Have taken some pics of the set up and will try and get them up. The bees are due hopefully at the end of the week.
-
I forgot to take a picture before we started but you can get an idea from this one. The hives are going to go on the overgrown, covered in debris area behind the raised bed.
(http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm5/katemerriman/15e37604.jpg)
I cleared the area which is actually quite big (about 5m by 2m).
-
We then surrounded it with willow screening which makes the bees fly up so that they should not be a nuisence to anyone nearby and to me in the garden! Still need to finish the front in the first pic.
(http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm5/katemerriman/450e2223.jpg)
and from the side
(http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm5/katemerriman/06737dbc.jpg)
-
Thanks for the pictures and information.
I'm slowly learning more about the general idea of keeping bees. :)
-
wow! good job done there Kate :D
-
We have also lined the lower half with light brown coloured weed suppressant fabric for security purposes as you can see from the pic above you can see through a bit. I am a little paranoid about kids seeing what is in there are having a nose about. With the lining it is impossible to see through at the level the hive will be at. Paranoid probably but I think out of sight out of mind is probably for the best!
-
I can see why you are excited..... It'll be fantastic watching the bees going in and out.
Playing safe makes a great deal of sense.... keeping the bee hive safe as well as the children. Some of them just don't have the imagination to make them stop and think! :(
-
Run, check...
smoker, check...
hive tool, check..
We are B minus 30 and counting!
Well the bees should be here within the hour!!!
Quite excited and looking forward to donning the beesuit for the first time in ernest.
-
How did it go with hiving them Kate? it's exciting isn't it :happy:
-
Well it was very exciting!
They were amazingly well behaved given they had had quite a journey all cramped together in the car.
We got the hive into the run and unstuck the hive and they were very glad to get out for a breath of fresh air. Have been very lucky to get a full colony with a couple of frames of stores and the rest of brood.
Here is the hive when it first arrived.
(http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm5/katemerriman/d2d1953b.jpg)
When they were first let out.
(http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm5/katemerriman/b2b7d9ef.jpg)
Out for a breath of fresh air.
(http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm5/katemerriman/3774bcb4.jpg)
Got a bit worried that they seem to be liking the outdoors a bit too much but they now have a second brood body on top and a super and have all gone inside.
-
Wow... I bet that was a worrying first few moments! :ohmy:
The hive looks great - pleased to hear they went in for a cuppa after the long journey and stretching their legs. I expect one or two will be out for a scout around tomorrow.
Do you have to provide food for them until they have worked out where the nearest super-market nectar source is or have they enough in their stores?
(Excuse the daft questions. :blush: )
-
wow! what a lot of bees to start off with! :lol:
One thing though; you say that you have put a second brood chamber and a super on today: do they completely take up all of the brood chamber in the picture yet or are there still some undrawn frames in there?
I ask because bees don't like it when you give them too much to do all at once and they might not draw out the new foundation in the second bc or in the super. Perhaps just put the super on if the weather turns nice again, although we are due for some serious rain over the next week so there won't be much foraging to do for them to start filling it.
The second bc will be very useful to allow you to change the comb over when there's not a honey flow on... June would be good to do this in and that way you can change them onto clean comb which will help to reduce disease and makes your job as a beekeeper easier because you will be able to see the eggs in the clean white cells, as opposed to old brown wax which is hard to see anything on!
You also may need to get a feeder to feed them sugar syrup - it's amazing how quickly that many bees could go through the honey in the stores and if the weather is as bad as they say it will be then all they will want to do is stay home and clean house!
I'm not the worlds best beekeeper but these are things that I learned the hard way last year when I first got mine. The other thing is, if you ask 3 beekeepers how to do things you'll get 5 different answers so see what works best for you and good luck! :lol:
-
Thanks for that Snoozisuzi, happy for all the help I can get. The first bc is pretty much packed with brood although there was a couple of stores and not any undrawn frames. Luckally mum is with me and she has been keeping bees for a while (and my grandad did too, amazing how little I know for a third generation beekeeper!). She though they needed a bit more room as they seemed crowded and these bees have been very prolific this year which is why they've ended up with so many colonies.
I've been out to watch them this morning and they all seem to be flying around, exploring happily. Very pleased that the majority are heading over our property and that they don't seem to be interested in the neighbours direction. Don't want to cause anyone else any problems :unsure:
They have some stores to keep them going while they find the lay of the land and where they can get their own. This morning they are hopefully finding the local park and all the trees in blossom along the road which will keep them going for a while.
-
They have some stores to keep them going while they find the lay of the land and where they can get their own. This morning they are hopefully finding the local park and all the trees in blossom along the road which will keep them going for a while.
They will do everyones runner beans the world of good later on. I hope you are putting some in near by. ;)
-
looking good,but can I suggest lifting the hive higher off the ground,believe me you will appreciate it,bending down and lifting heavy boxes of honey gets your back.
-
The bees are looking good today.
There are hundreds of them flying in with their pollen sacs full of bright yellow pollen so they have certainly found somewhere to forage.
Good suggestion on raising the hive. I have ordered a stand but it hasn't arrived you so hopefully that will be enough to keep the back happy. All suggestions greatfully received.
Looking forward to our first bee meeting here in Liverpool next weekend.
-
Well if this is going to be a blog I better own up to the bad as well as the good and currently that would be our first newbie hiccup.
On Saturday we went to a wedding and returned in the early afternoon somewhat hungover from the night before. The OH had been drinking beer whilst I had been on the G and Ts.
My lovely calm bees from the day before all of a sudden really didn't like us, well the OH especially and he was repeatedly chased from the garden. No stings but what my Mum calls "buzz bombing". I obviously had all sorts of panics going through my head that they were going to be a nightmare to both us and our neighbours and was going to have to get rid of them or find an out apiary.
Today, now that we do not smell of stale alcohol they are lovely as pie and I have spent a lovely hour sat watching them a few feet from the hive.
Now much as I apprieciate their help weaning the other half off his aftershaves (which I hate) he might rebel if prohibition comes into force!
I had heard they didn't like the smell of booze but was amazed at how sensitive they are.
One question I had was do they get used to smells? If we left things that smelt of us round the hive would they get used to them and therefore us? Not sure it is needed as they seem (so far, fingers crossed) really placid and manageable but was wondering.
I am truely smitten but keeping my fingers crossed that they love being here as much as I love having them.
-
How amazing, Kate. I didn't know about any of this.
Thank heavens you haven't got a pub next-door. :blink:
Sorry I'm far from able to help with an answer and hope you don't mind me adding my odd (?) comment on here. Really appreciate reading your thread. :)
-
wow I never knew that either - what about those kept in orchards - doesn't
rotting fermenting fruit smell the same?
-
Not sure what they don't like, but the odor of stale alcohol given off by humans is very different to fermenting fruit as the metabolic breakdown of ethanol is a complex process (from recollection I think it's got something to do with keytones/acetaldehyde)
-
I'm with Learner on this one. Can't contribute, but fascinated by the whole thing! Keep us up to date and maybe, just maybe, we'll get our own bees one day. Thanks for posting Kate.
-
did you know that keeping your bee suit in the house weakens your immunity to bee stings?
-
this my main hive(http://i358.photobucket.com/albums/oo22/dapper64/bees/img_0301.jpg)I have since artificially swarmed them,they have 2 supers on now,1 of which has probably 25lb of honey,I have left my new colony to see if they rear a new queen,I also have a third colony that superceded in early spring but the queen wasn't laying so I had to destroy her I have introduced a frame with eggs,brood and some queen cells to see if they produce a new queen.Sorry I don't know how to make the picture bigger.
-
did you know that keeping your bee suit in the house weakens your immunity to bee stings?
Wow, how does that work?
Do you mean that your reaction is less or more? Either way, how does that work? I keep mine in the house as it is convenient, should I change?
I haven't been stung since I was a kid and have to say it didn't hurt as much as I remembered but I also don't remember it itching as much as these did.
-
did you know that keeping your bee suit in the house weakens your immunity to bee stings?
Wow, how does that work?
Do you mean that your reaction is less or more? Either way, how does that work? I keep mine in the house as it is convenient, should I change?
I haven't been stung since I was a kid and have to say it didn't hurt as much as I remembered but I also don't remember it itching as much as these did.
I'm not sure how,its just what I was told by an experienced bee keeper.
-
did you know that keeping your bee suit in the house weakens your immunity to bee stings?
were should you keep it if not in the house
-
did you know that keeping your bee suit in the house weakens your immunity to bee stings?
were should you keep it if not in the house
we keep ours in the shed with all our other beekeeping equipment.
-
I've just been told on another forum that dried bee venom on your suit gets into the air and when inhaled raises the risk of developing an allergy
-
Another reason to keep the suit washed regularly. I had heard it was important as the smell of venom alarms the bees (which makes sense given it is only dispensed if they think they are under attack).
-
I did my first full check if the bees since they arrived today and they seem to be doing well. It was a bit cold but my Mum had come down and she knows what she is looking at so that really helped (well except for locking us out of the house accidentally with the keys indoors!).
Saw the queen and no queen cells (signs they might be planning to swarm) which was really good as not really keen to have to cope with that yet if I don't have to.
-
I did my first full check if the bees since they arrived today and they seem to be doing well. It was a bit cold but my Mum had come down and she knows what she is looking at so that really helped (well except for locking us out of the house accidentally with the keys indoors!).
Saw the queen and no queen cells (signs they might be planning to swarm) which was really good as not really keen to have to cope with that yet if I don't have to.
makin sure they have plenty to do,and giving them space in the hive can help to deter swarming,I have now got my third super on my main,its given them more room and more wax to draw out.
-
Can I ask here,
I just find bees facinating and wondered what books you would recommend for a bit of light, (easy on the brain) reading while maybe work??
Because someone here's a mind reader, me talking at work about my lotty, someone pipes up, 'You'll be getting bees next!!??' :blink: :lol:
-
I have a couple of little books about starting with bees etc but the one I've found the nicest to read it Collins beekeepers bible (or something like that). It's a bit bigger but has lots about bees in mythology and history together with the history of beekeeping which I found really interesting. It starts very basic so is easy to follow and assumes nothing about your knowledge already. Also has recipes in the back for all that honey I'm hoping to get!
-
Recipes for things to do with honey? That sounds good. ;)
My dad insists on having honey sandwiches made every evening before he goes to bed then, half-way through the night, wakes up and has a feast!! ::)
Shouildn't complain. At 96 why shouldn't he. ;)
-
Is he called Winnie, Learner? :D 96 is a grand age - must be all that royal jelly from the honey bees....
-
the books I have are educational but not too deep,bees at the bottom of the garden by allan campion,and guide to bees and honey by ted hooper.
-
Dont mean to be a party pooper but before you get any make sure that the neighbours arent going to kick off. We have an on going story in our paper about an old chap in his 80s who has been doing it for the last 50 years. As the demography has changed round him people are becoming hysterical about it. Complaints that washing is being "spotted" as they fly over and saying that children are too frightened to go out . One woman saying she has to shut all her doors and windows the bees come to her garden. The poor chap is so upset and worries constantly which is making him very poorly. The council have , though I dont see how they can, stopped him from selling his honey to anyone. He may after all these years have to get rid of his one and only passion. It makes me sick that people can be so stupid. No one has been stung and I can only assume that the ones causing the fuss are newcomers to the area. A friend of his has got in touch with the Farmers Union and we are waiting to see what happens. They should realise that without people like him and others on here we wouldnt last long without them .
-
It is a real shame that people now seem to regard the nature about them as an enemy that has to be kept out.
I have to say that I have gone for the opposite approach and not mentioned it at all to my neighbours. The bees have been here a month and noone has actually noticed them. I was a little lucky with that in that they have chosen a flight path that take them up over my property and then away to the park.
They are not causing them any bother and in that case why tell them if it will just upset them. If they caused any distress or stung anyone I think I would be quick to moving them from here as it would not be right if people were having to run a gauntlet of bees to get to their front door or couldn't sit out in nice weather but I am not going to look for trouble by telling them about something they are blissfully unaware of.
-
It is a real shame that people now seem to regard the nature about them as an enemy that has to be kept out.
I have to say that I have gone for the opposite approach and not mentioned it at all to my neighbours. The bees have been here a month and noone has actually noticed them. I was a little lucky with that in that they have chosen a flight path that take them up over my property and then away to the park.
They are not causing them any bother and in that case why tell them if it will just upset them. If they caused any distress or stung anyone I think I would be quick to moving them from here as it would not be right if people were having to run a gauntlet of bees to get to their front door or couldn't sit out in nice weather but I am not going to look for trouble by telling them about something they are blissfully unaware of.
IMHO a very sensible attitude. The less they know the better or is it.... "what they don't know about can't harm them"? ;)
-
It is a real shame that people now seem to regard the nature about them as an enemy that has to be kept out.
I have to say that I have gone for the opposite approach and not mentioned it at all to my neighbours. The bees have been here a month and noone has actually noticed them. I was a little lucky with that in that they have chosen a flight path that take them up over my property and then away to the park.
They are not causing them any bother and in that case why tell them if it will just upset them. If they caused any distress or stung anyone I think I would be quick to moving them from here as it would not be right if people were having to run a gauntlet of bees to get to their front door or couldn't sit out in nice weather but I am not going to look for trouble by telling them about something they are blissfully unaware of.
IMHO a very sensible attitude. The less they know the better or is it.... "what they don't know about can't harm them"? ;)
wait till a new queen goes on a mating flight,your neighbours will be hard pushed not to notice.
-
I am hoping that I don't get a new queen till next year but if it happens, it happens!
Looked through them last weekend and no queen cells and the queen seen and laying so keeping my fingers crossed that they will be nice to me this year. My mum is coming down tomorrow and we are going to go through them together just incase I have missed anything what with being new!
I keep having panics that I am not looking after them properly, going in too often or not enough etc. Mum has pointed out to me that they have been bees for a lot longer than I have been a beekeeper and should put right anything I mess up. I certainly hope so!
-
Sounds fantastic Kate. Im glad u got them in the end. Dean is really keen and has been reading your posts. One day well have bees too and I have found a local company that do courses and offer support so were almost there. Keep posting so we can all learn.
-
Yes, Keep posting Kate.
Chickens are our next project and then bees penciled in for spring next year.
Graham
-
did you know that keeping your bee suit in the house weakens your immunity to bee stings?
This is not true. Please don't spread old wives tales. ::)
-
I am 99% certain mine have swarmed - had some queen cell activity which I was on top of then there was a period where every day was windy and rainy and when I tried to look they threw a fit (you know what I mean, coming to the top of the frames and staring before attacking).
So, by the time I got a decent day and could fully inspect the hive was strangely quiet. I'm sure I had just missed the swarm. Now I am waiting to see if there is a new queen (haven't spotted her) and am in the period before eggs are laid - none on Sunday.
A little daunting as I have just taken everything on and it is a steep learning curve even after doing an intro course last year. If no eggs appear this week it will be a shopping trip for a new queen I feel.
on the bright side...the old queen was a couple of years old so if she has left it has saved me the job of finding her and replacing this summer.
-
Well Mum and I went through them yesterday and they seem lovely and all as to be hoped for. I hadn't really used cover cloths before but they did make it easier so will definately be making some.
Then a very odd thing happened today. Was sat in the garden talking to a friend on the phone as I often do and a couple of the bees took offence and stung me! They are usually very placid and have never behaved like this before. It was pretty unprovoked and I had spent over an hour near the hives in the morning and they were as pleasent as usual.
Luckally I had taken an anihistamine just prior to this as my hayfever has been playing up a bit but am having a minor panic as I was on the phone to one of my best friends for whom I am a bridesmaid in 4 days time and was stung on the cheek!
Unfortunately I was also on the phone to the bride who I left ina minor panic as I suddenly said "Ow ow ow! I'm going to have to go... been stung... on face... hope you don't end up with a bridesmaid like Quasimodo!..."
So far just have a very healthy glow on that cheek so hopefully can just balance up with A LOT of blusher on the other if it doesn't go down!
My OH in his inimmitablly supportive fashion said "Pah! (well he didn't actually say Pah as that would be silly but you get the drift) That's nothing, if you want to see a bee sting, look at this!"
So if you want to see a beesting and how not to ever treat bees, look at this!
h03wzwBiJbE
Yummy. Bee comb with brood!
-
I am 99% certain mine have swarmed - had some queen cell activity which I was on top of then there was a period where every day was windy and rainy and when I tried to look they threw a fit (you know what I mean, coming to the top of the frames and staring before attacking).
So, by the time I got a decent day and could fully inspect the hive was strangely quiet. I'm sure I had just missed the swarm. Now I am waiting to see if there is a new queen (haven't spotted her) and am in the period before eggs are laid - none on Sunday.
A little daunting as I have just taken everything on and it is a steep learning curve even after doing an intro course last year. If no eggs appear this week it will be a shopping trip for a new queen I feel.
on the bright side...the old queen was a couple of years old so if she has left it has saved me the job of finding her and replacing this summer.
I've been informed it can take upto 4 weeks for a new queen to mate.
-
Well in the lovely weather the bees have been very busy, especially as the linden trees are all in blossom.
Not sure this pic really shows them to their best advantage but the video won't load up.
(http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm5/katemerriman/e9d3e74c.jpg)
They have been making me all sorts of presents starting with this-
(http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm5/katemerriman/568f4b84.jpg)
It is the most amazing piece of brace comb and so incredibly geometric.
Today I went in and found my first capped frame of honey and impatience got the better of me so I nabbed it! Think the rest of the frames in that super will be capped in the next week or so and the bees have moved into the super above and started getting that ready already.
Feels like the next step in the dream. I am now self sufficient in eggs, honey and dandilions!
-
That looks like they have given you their heart Kate :D
-
You are the second person to say that and I never really noticed it was heart shaped till you pointed it out.
I was sorely tempted to leave the gap so they would keep making brace comb in it as it is just so beautiful but decided to go for honey production instead.
-
Kate, this is fascinating reading. Just a quick note - I can't remember where I read it, but I remember seeing that mobile phones and their masts can irritate bees. Might have something to do with the random stinging? ???
-
I've read mixed things about this. Just got the book "A world without bees" which looks at this amongst many things. The begining seems pretty objective so far but only a couple of pages in. I would need a bit of convincing on this. I suspect it wasn't the cause of the stings as I often talk inthe mobile in the garden and the ignore me entirely. Wasn't on the phone, hadn't been drinking. Remains a mystery. Luckally they are back to their normal lovely docile selves. Think they are far too busy working making honey with all this lovely weather. I've put a clearer board in and am taking my first super off tonight with another one not far behind.
-
Hmm, maybe that wasn't it then. Glad they're back to normal!
-
I thought Kate posted the pic because it was a heart. Very pretty too.
-
Well I have been very remiss about keeping up to date with the bees comings and goings and much has been going on.
I harvested the first batch of honey which was very satisfying. The girls have been working their little socks off and filled 2 supers so I headed off to Mum who has an extractor.
The comb.
(http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm5/katemerriman/5444169e.jpg)
In the extractor having been spun.
(http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm5/katemerriman/3fb522ba.jpg)
Honey and the odd bit of wax draining out the bottom.
(http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm5/katemerriman/57ce9db8.jpg)
And the finished product (well one of the 45lbs of honey they made!).
(http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm5/katemerriman/97fa3cd6.jpg)
(already tucked into that jar!)
Then we checked my Mum's bees and a nucleus of bees she had started earlier this year had really filled the box they were in and needed moving on but no spare hive so they came to leave with me as I have a back up hive.
I'm rapidly discovering that bees are a bit like ducks and chickens. You say that you are only going to have the 1 and think about more in a couple of years if all goes well and 8 weeks later the second colony in settled in and more on the way!
And that brings me onto the more on the way. Two colonies is really all I think I can comfortably accommodate although could manage 3 spacewise at a push so when Mum ended up with another colony that needed to move up into a hive I didn't hesitate to offer her my new backup hive. Was assured that the swarming season is winding down and haven't seen much in the way of queen cells anyway, so off it goes.
Was sitting with my bees listening to them going around their business yesterday and heard my queen piping. Don't really know much about this but my book says this about it - "Queen bees often make a 'piping' noise - variously described as a quacking or tooting noise of a toy trumpet. It can be clearly heard outside the hive and has been said to be either G# or A in pitch." Thought I would ask Mum about it and have a little google to find out that it is usually made by virgin queens or mated queens in a hive with a virgin queen or queen cell close to hatching! I thought she was just chatting back to me!
Mum has never heard it and nor has her bee mentor who has kept bees for 50 years! The general opinion is that I probably have another queen in the hive somewhere and need to find her and set her up on her own!
Hmmm. Not sure how I will find her and set her up before the queen finds her and they fight and am still kind of hoping that I am just hearing things or she is just a chatty queen.
If I'm hearing things I will be the first pychotic who's internal voices speak bee!
-
2 bee or not 2 bee (queens) that is the question ::)
-
Love the pictures Kate - amazing!! :)
-
how much honey did you get??I have 4 supers on my main hive at the moment but none are capped
-
just above the photo of the jar of honey Kate mentions 45lbs of honey - which is an amazing amount don't you think? :D
-
I got 45 lbs from the 2 supers I took. Have since taken anoher super and got one still to be capped. I'm amazed how hard the bees have been working and how much honey I have got. They really seem to be flourishing in Liverpool. We are quite near a couple if parks and most of the roads have lime trees on them so plenty of forage.
Hopefully enough for the nuc to build up good stores for winter too without too much feeding.
-
Is that a normal amount you would expect to get from a couple of hives Kate? I just thought each hive would only provide a few pounds each (not knowing anything about bee keeping ::))
-
I got 45 lbs from the 2 supers I took. Have since taken anoher super and got one still to be capped. I'm amazed how hard the bees have been working and how much honey I have got. They really seem to be flourishing in Liverpool. We are quite near a couple if parks and most of the roads have lime trees on them so plenty of forage.
Hopefully enough for the nuc to build up good stores for winter too without too much feeding.
those supers don't half feel heavy when you lift em don't they?this is my second year,last year I only had 1 super of honey and it weighed 22lb,I left 1 on though to help them through the winter.
-
This thread's sooooo facinating to read! :D
Was doing a delivery to a farm Saturday, and he had 5 hives right next to the drop off point, I thought I would've upset the bees but no.
I could've stayed there all day just watching / listening to them.
-
It's amazing how heavy they feel when taking them off!
The 45lbs is actually from only one hive and I think I will get about the same again if the weather continues to be this good. This is apparently a really good amount of honey. Bees really seem to like Liverpool with all the parks and lime trees on the roads and of course everyones gardens.
A couple of bees have started coming in with balsam pollen on them so some poor gardeners or park people will be having a nightmare trying to get rid of it but bees love it and it is apparently a great source of late nectar so a silver lining for me but not much consolation for whoever is having to deal with it!
-
Is that a normal amount you would expect to get from a couple of hives Kate? I just thought each hive would only provide a few pounds each (not knowing anything about bee keeping ::))
I have heard that about 50lb is average for a hive,they can fill a super in a week,but its weather dependant,they can eat it all as well if the weather is too bad for them to forage.
-
This is a fascinating topic :) - I do know in periods of rain when they can't fly you sometimes have to feed them sugar solution but didn't realise just how much you could get back :D.
I am terrified of bees and wasps (since being stung when I was young) so will just have to borrow yours - sort of bee keeping by proxy :D
-
Someone pointed out to me that mine have mad about a lb of honey a day ovewr the time I have had them but it is tailing off a little at the moment. Still, can't complain!
Think I have used more honey in the last fortnight than I have in the last 3 years! In coffee, in cakes, in stirfry, on toast and of course, in whiskey!
-
how much honey did you get??I have 4 supers on my main hive at the moment but none are capped
Too many supers, too soon. You only need to add a super when the previous one is approximately 3/4 capped.
-
I've only just seen this thread & what a treat it is.I am would like to keep bees but am not sure our garden is suitable & I don't think I could have them on the allotment.
-
remember that the more honey you take the harder the bees have to work and the more you have to feed sugar syrup to them to make up for taking their honey.
Snowdrops most gardens are suitable for keeping bees in you dont need much space, a lot of urban beekeepers keep their bees on their garage or shed roofs. http://www.urbanbees.co.uk/
-
Thanks for the link. It's not that the garden is to small. But the corer where a hive could g is in shade all day, so I think it would be too cold particularly in the winter. I need to look in to it more thoroughly.Must find a local bee keeping group I know there are some.
-
I got my first hive three weeks ago and the "girls" are doing very well indeed:)
-
When reading up on Buckfast Bees, the type i have, I was gobsmacked to learn that some hives were producing well over two hundered pounds of honey. Where I have my hive, I was told to expect up to one hundered pounds of honey from it next year!
-
I got less honey in mine now,than I had in the spring.
-
I got less honey in mine now,than I had in the spring.
Have you been taking honey frames out then? Or are your bees eating an aweful lot of honey??
-
The honey production in my hive is definately tailing off. They have almost a full capped supper and have started putting down in the next super but very slowly. I'm currently debating whether to take the full super and run the risk of having to feed them or just leave it to them. I have a couple of supers to extract to if things are going well will extract the 3 supers and then they will have all the frames to clear and its amazing how much extra they manage to clear from them when you think you have extracted all the honey. I think that should fill up the super they are working on.
Nice to have a lovely day here today. As I work all week znd it hasn't been the best weather I have barely seen the girls this week so lovely to sit in the garden and watch them coming and going.
-
As long as you feed them fondant of sugar solution Kate, they should be ok for the winter. One lady I know feeds her bees fondant ALL the time and takes the honey. She is a commercial grower as well!
-
You could always try doing what we do leave the honey for the bees and only take what you need next year, this way they get to eat what they require during the winter rather than a sugar mix and we take what is not required next year.
And if there is no honey left at the start of the next season then the bees needed it.
-
I got less honey in mine now,than I had in the spring.
Have you been taking honey frames out then? Or are your bees eating an aweful lot of honey??
they have eaten it
-
I'm hoping that I won't have to feed my main colony and they can live on their own honey. They have worked so hard they deserve it. They have produced me about 100 lbs of honey this year and although I will feed if necessary would rather let them keep some of their own.
My nuc has nextr to no stores so I have already started feeding them so they have plenty to get through the winter.
-
A chap who lives a couple of miles from me has about 100lb of honey on his main hive,his bees have drawn out the comb on another super and its nearly full of honey since last monday.
-
A chap who lives a couple of miles from me has about 100lb of honey on his main hive,his bees have drawn out the comb on another super and its nearly full of honey since last monday.
he has just put it into jars and he has 73,1/2 lb and he has left a super on each hive.
-
I extracted my honey at the weekend and got 60lbs so a total of 106lbs for the year. The main colony has a full super of their own honey to keep them going and the nuc has a super of fed stores so they should be ok.
Have to say I have been very lucky this year to get so much in my first year. My Mum was warning me not to get too excited as 100lb from a hive won't happen often. My response it that I am going to be even more excited as it might not happen again!
It's all jarred up, the mead is bubbling away and I have a fab candle and a lot of wax to make polish out of :D
Despite the sting on the finger this afternoon, I'm a happy Beek. :tongue2:
-
Wonderful. I think we need a photo of all 106 jars together ;)
-
I extracted my honey at the weekend and got 60lbs so a total of 106lbs for the year. The main colony has a full super of their own honey to keep them going and the nuc has a super of fed stores so they should be ok.
Have to say I have been very lucky this year to get so much in my first year. My Mum was warning me not to get too excited as 100lb from a hive won't happen often. My response it that I am going to be even more excited as it might not happen again!
It's all jarred up, the mead is bubbling away and I have a fab candle and a lot of wax to make polish out of :D
Despite the sting on the finger this afternoon, I'm a happy Beek. :tongue2:
have you made mead before?is it easy to make?
-
I extracted my honey at the weekend and got 60lbs so a total of 106lbs for the year. The main colony has a full super of their own honey to keep them going and the nuc has a super of fed stores so they should be ok.
Despite the sting on the finger this afternoon, I'm a happy Beek. :tongue2:
Congratulations! :D It's been great following your bee-story. Thanks for sharing it. I'm even more keen to try now! I may go for the less invasive warre/topbar stuff to avoid disturbing the bees and getting stung :tongue2:
But it's been an inspiration, thanks Kate
-
Hi all,
we're new beekeepers this year too, we bought our hive and nuc with our wedding present money, Rob ahs done a beginners beekeeping course at our local bka.
they certainly are fascinating creatures, can sit for hours just watching them go in and out and when you open the hive its quite magical to see them all about their business.
been stung twice, only very mild reactions so far.
we had a little dig with a spoon into a couple of our supers and the honey is gorgeous,
got our apiguard treatment on now and started feeding them some sugar syrup so they can start filling the brood box with stores for the winter.
isn't it nerve wracking wondering if they'll survive the winter...... we're doing all we can to ensure they do
we've got our hive on our allotment and had to ask permission from the parish council, which we got, then someone phoned them up after we got them and said they weren't happy about it because they're dog is allergic to bee stings. not sure what they do to protect the dog from wild bumble bees and wasps etc,
never mind, things goind well so far
-
Hi all,
we're new beekeepers this year too, we bought our hive and nuc with our wedding present money, Rob ahs done a beginners beekeeping course at our local bka.
they certainly are fascinating creatures, can sit for hours just watching them go in and out and when you open the hive its quite magical to see them all about their business.
been stung twice, only very mild reactions so far.
we had a little dig with a spoon into a couple of our supers and the honey is gorgeous,
got our apiguard treatment on now and started feeding them some sugar syrup so they can start filling the brood box with stores for the winter.
isn't it nerve wracking wondering if they'll survive the winter...... we're doing all we can to ensure they do
we've got our hive on our allotment and had to ask permission from the parish council, which we got, then someone phoned them up after we got them and said they weren't happy about it because they're dog is allergic to bee stings. not sure what they do to protect the dog from wild bumble bees and wasps etc,
never mind, things goind well so far
how near is the dog ever likely to get to the hive?the problem is whenever their dog gets stung they will insist its one of your bees,you could also try giving them some of your first honey batch.
-
have you made mead before?is it easy to make?
I've made mead before and it is pretty easy.
It can be pretty confusing as there are about a thousand different ways of doing it whether you want wine or beer strength, to boil or not first and have gone for a couple of different ways that have always seemed to work. I think yeast is a bit like other plants. It wants to grow and if you give it a chance it will do it,s thing. I had a bit of a headstart as I have made wine before so really not that different. The first time I made it was before the bees so I bought the honey and followed the instructions to the letter. The second time fudged it a little and it was still fine. this time I am using the cappings washings (as tradition dictates ;)) and all is bubbling away fantastically. Found a recipe that said rather than a specific amount of honey, just make sure that the water tasted sweet and of hone and that it would be ok so will see how that goes ( actulla had to dilute it as it was too strong).
-
Congratulations! :D It's been great following your bee-story. Thanks for sharing it. I'm even more keen to try now! I may go for the less invasive warre/topbar stuff to avoid disturbing the bees and getting stung :tongue2:
But it's been an inspiration, thanks Kate
My mum has a top bar and the thing she has found is that watching them is amazing but it is almost impossible to do anthing to them as they have just filled the hive with comb and propolis! They are doing really well but they are doing their own thing ( no bad thing but stressful when you worr you can't help them). Also little honey as no way to stop HRH laying in the stores although mum is happy for them to do what the like and just observe.
-
they certainly are fascinating creatures, can sit for hours just watching them go in and out and when you open the hive its quite magical to see them all about their business.
been stung twice, only very mild reactions so far.
isn't it nerve wracking wondering if they'll survive the winter...... we're doing all we can to ensure they do
Couldn't agree more! One of the first questions people ask me is "Don't they take a lot of time to look after?"
"No" says I. "just half an hour per week per hive really." It's the hours and hours spent just watching them coming and going about their business thats the problem!
Better than any therapy and half the price even if you go for the most expensive hives you can find!
-
Am also paranoid about them getting through winter!
Can you get little heated blankets for them?
-
Kate, DH is asking where your mam got her honey extractor from please?
K x
-
Will ask her. It is a cheap plastic drill driven one but it does the job and was about £120 I think.
-
thanks x
-
I just started my varroa treatment with apigard trays,and after the first week I calculated about a 1000 mite drop in 1 hive and 300 in the smaller colony,have you started treatment yet?if so what was your mite drop?
-
we did ours a couple of week ago and didn't really take much noticce of how much had dropped.
bit concerned cos they don't seem tohave any stores in the brood box though, full super on and we're feedign the 2:1 syrup too so should be ok
-
Kate, DH is asking where your mam got her honey extractor from please?
K x
Sorry for the delay. Mum got it from Fragile PLanet (Oswetry and on the web), about £100 and the drill that drives it included she thinks.
-
Can't see it on their website at the moment but they are a small company and it changes regularly. Give them a ring as they have always been really helpful with me.
-
thanks for that Kate, hope all is well with your girls x
-
Well the bees are tucked up in bed for the winter, or they should be but we have had some lovely weather so they don't seem to know it is November and are still flying. They have had their varroa treatment but I haven't quite got round to fitting the mouse guards yet. That will have to be this weekend's job.
I attended the Honey show with my Mum a couple of weekends ago which was lovely. A bit like time travelling back to about 1953 but a lovely day in the village hall where I used to fence as a teenager which was nostalgic (Not in 1953 I hasten to add).
I entered some honey (in the wrong category unfortunately!) and a candle made of my girls wax. I came second which was exciting (and there was more then 2 entries!) so I have the rosette in pride of place at home and the candle will be saved for Christmas.
Now I just need to wait for spring and keep praying that they all make it through the winter.
-
I inspected mine at the weekend as it was so warm,I swapped the empty brood frames in 1 hive for a dummy board,the larger colony had all the brood frames full of stores and brood,I removed the varroa trays and opened the floors,and i put my mouse guards on,so that should be it now till january when I feed fondant.
-
I'm not entirely sure what to do with my main hive. During the summer they filled a double brood chamber but as they have contracted as we have approached winter HRH has settled in the upper brood chamber which is still full of brood and store and they have entirely filled the lower BC with stores. Honey in the outer frames and pollen in all the central frames. They have 9 frames packed with pollen! I have actually seen them kicking off the pollen before they enter the hive rather than bring it in!
All the books and advice I have been given is to reduce the space in the hive as much as possible so that they don't have as much top heat over winter but to reduce the space at all I would have to remove some of the store so have just left things the way they are. I'm still reckoning that the bees know what they are doing more than I do! They seem to have plenty of stores and a super of honey to keep them going so hope to not have to feed them.
-
It's been an amazing couple of weeks given how mild it had been. The bees have been flying out and collecting pollen despite it is meant to be mid-winter!
Today has been the first day I have been home and it has been cold enough to keep the bees indoors so I can do the running repairs of their run and shuffle the hives around a bit to make the most of the space, learning from last season. made a little space for nucs so we can raise some new queens this year hopefully.
Looking forward to spring and them getting going again.
-
a couple of mine were out on cleansing flights the other day. One of them was flailing around on the top of the hive (have you noticed how they seem to end up on their backs on the shiny top of the hive?) so I rescued her and put her right again.
She walked up my finger where she promptly pooped on it!! after she flew off, I had nowhere I could get rid of it so I wiped it on my jacket, thinking that I'd just put it in the wash that evening.
Anyhoo, whilst driving back to work I could smell a familiar smell of honey in the car, but how could that be - honey harvesting happened months before hand.... You guessed it, the bee poo that I wiped on my jacket smells of honey! You learn something new every day! :happy:
-
:D
I love being round the hives and their smell of honey and cedar wood.
-
Well very sad news.
My lovely first colony has died. She was in there a month ago but very few bees and not much laying. Been too cold to have a proper look through till this weekend and although there are still a few bees about the queen is gone and no laying.
Plenty of stores' just one of those things I guess.
The good news is the second colony is going great guns and is packed with busy bees making honey and growing up more bees.
-
Aw sorry to read about colony 1 but (and please don't take this as uncaring) at least you now have a spare hive for when you need to do some swarm control with your second colony.
Su
-
I know, sad as she was my first colony and had a really lovely temperament but these things happen.
-
Sorry to hear about your bees Kate, are you not able to get another Queen to put in.
-
Bit too early in the season really and sadly as she had not been laying the overwintering bees are at the end of their lives so only a few hundred left. They have been left with some stores and once they die out the hive will be free for this year and swarm control.
-
sorry to hear you lost your colony,and best of luck replacing them,have you got something sorted?
-
I have a second colony, well I suppose that's only colony now and it is doing brilliantly. Had to put a second brood box on as she has completely filled the one she has. At the moment going to see how things go but now I have plenty of space to artificial swarm if/when the time comes.
Have been a bit naughty as I have left the old hive with all it's used comb there as a lure hive just in case.
I'm not planning on replacing formally as we are hoping to move in the next few months and the fewer hives we need to transport the better, but if something were to accidentally just happen...
-
Well my colony is doing very well with this warm weather. The queen has been laying well and the numbers of bees and brood had really rocketed in even the miserable weather we have had up until recently.
In the last week of good weather they have almost filled a super with honey (about 20lb) although not capped it and have decided to make plans to swarm. Eeek! About 6 uncapped queen cells with larvae in them.
Well somehow this managed to catch me a little of guard (although it really shouldn't :blush:) so had a mini panic as I couldn't find the queen to do an artificial swarm even though she is marked. Spoke to my mentor who suggested making a nuc with the frames with queen cells on them and giving the original hive some more blank frames to work on. Hopefully this will delay them until next weekend when we can go through together and find HRH and do a proper artificial swarm.
-
the lady next door but one,told me she heard a noise like a motorbike,then she saw a big black cloud disappear off into the distance,so I checked,and my bees had split and swarmed,still had two supers full of honey and a sealed queen cell that I missed.
-
Yes, i'm amazed how easy it is to mis a queen cell (or 3).
Hopefully they will wait till next weekend so I can do a proper AS when I have a extra pair of eyes to look for the queen and go properly prepared!
None of the queen cells were close to being capped so should have time providing I haven't missed anything (very possible!).
Hopefully the nuc will do well. I am actually excited to see how they develop. Last year was so much about just worrying about them swarming and wanting them and me to settle in. Still not sure I want to have to talk to my neighbours about a swarm of bees hanging from their eves though!
-
Bother!
Well my bees have also swarmed too. Unfortunately wasn't around and my neighbour informed me that a big black cloud had set off 2 days before. :blink:
Went into the hive with my mum and since I had last been in they have made about 10 queen cells and some of them are capped. so sign of the queen as expected so left the best QC in the hive and moved the rest into a couple of nucs so will see how things go. Fingers crossed will end up with 3 happy queens and colonies in the end.
Just need some goo weather so that the queens can go on their mating flights once they have hatched. Not much sign of that at the moment so will have to hope they have a few days to go and things brighten up. :D
-
Aw sorry to see that they've swarmed - its heartbreaking and frustrating and you'll only convince yourself that you did or didn't do something but sometimes you just can't stop them :unsure:
I still haven't sorted out a replacement nuc for mine that swarmed but I can't wait to get some from my allotment neighbours that need to split their hive so fingers crossed I'll have some very soon :happy:
-
Yes, you can spend ages trying to second guess yourself!
I was assured by experienced geeks that what I had done would at least buy me time even if it didn't put them off entirely. The bees definitely had different ideas! Had no problems with swarming at all last year but hey ho.
Fingers crossed that it is for the year but was planning on not ending up with new colonies before moving. Now have potentially 3 to move. :D
-
Don't wish to scare you but I lost all of mine over winter because of a late swarm (august) and the honey had crystallised because of oil seed rape :mad: so the last lot that were left couldn't stay warm enough and had no food so they will still try to swarm even when it's far too late in the season for them to stand a chance of survival :(
-
::)
They will do their own thing!
Luckily no oil seed rape to talk about round here as we're in a city but they do generally worry me if I think I'm not giving them the best chance. Despite the miserable weather they have put down a super and a half although that will slow right up now they've swarmed. Should keep them going for a while if the weather doesn't pick up.
I am by no means complacent about the fact that although unlikely they could always swarm again. There was A LOT of bees in the main hive despite having already swarmed. Hoping I don't get a series of castes given how big the colony still is. Hopefully reducing them to one QC will stop that but guess noting will if they have set their little hearts on moving house. :D
-
I bumped into our lotty officer on site yesterday afternoon. She was taping off a path because there was a stonking swarm hanging over the path from a tree (it was about 2' long - the swam I mean :ohmy: ).
She rang me this afternoon to say that there had been 2 more swarms reported & removed, and to ask me to double check tomorrow what the situation was!
They were ignoring three mini clusters which looked as though they were about to move on of their own accord.
We've never had these problems on site before. One tenant has a hive or two near the tree (he's on holiday at present), and a tenant on a site the other side of the road also has some - and was able to help deal with the swarms.
-
Apparently it has been a bit of a funny year for it with lots of swarms. I don't really have anything to compare to as it's only my second year.
Sorry to have lost the bees in my swarm but also really kind of wish I had seen it too.
-
Driving into town this morning I noticed a load of beehives in a field, there looked about 50 or more, all spread out around the field (which has herbs planted in, last year it was basil, it smelt like cats as we drove past)
Pamela
-
Sorry to have lost the bees in my swarm but also really kind of wish I had seen it too.
Hmm. I think the saying is "Be careful what you wish for..."
Having gone through the hive again with my mentor and left just one queen cell in the colony and been made to promise not to go in and interfere for at least 2 weeks, I was having a restful Sunday morning, enjoying watching the bees flying off to forage in the first nice weather of the week...
...They had obviously been cooped up all week with the constant rain so there was a lot of them coming out to fly...
...Hmm. That's really A LOT of bees and they are not flying off, just forming a great cloud above the garden...
...Bother as Pooh Bear would say. Or as I said "MUUUUMMMM! My bees are swarming, AGAIN!"
It was quite amazing to watch as they all gently moved across the road and settled in the bush in the middle of my opposite neighbours garden. :unsure: Within 15-20 mins you would have never known anything had happened.
Mum arrived down and we collected them without too much fuss and only marginal interest from the neighbours. Luckily the owners of the house were away on holiday so no inconvenience to them which is a relief.
Starting to feel like a bad beekeeper but also exciting to collect my first swarm (well technically a cast) so will feel far better prepared if I have to do it alone next time.
-
When my bees swarmed last year they had decided to settle on a nearby cherry tree, but by the time I got to my allotment to get a box or something to put them in I was told of a vast noisy cloud that flew across a few allotments and off down towards a local copse.
I said at the time I wish that I'd seen it happen and even the old fellas said it was something they hadn't seen before but I can imagine how it would be scary for people that aren't familiar with swarming.
Good luck with re-hiving your 'swarm' :)
-
That was my greatest worry really. Luckily despite not that early on a Sunday morning only one person seemed to be about. He hightailed it indoors from painting his fence but came out for a chat when he saw me out and watching them. Came over for a chat and was more interested than anything.
Will be glad to be moving soon so we don't need to worry about upsetting neighbours when things like this happen. ::)
-
its quite amazing how big the casts can be,I'm having to move mine because of the neighbours,I lost another swarm despite being very thorough(I thought)
-
Yes, I was amazed how big it was for a cast. The noise of them all being out together was also pretty impressive!
-
Well, I sited my empty hive in its new home; now I'm hoping that some bees take a liking to it and move in :)
My allotment neighbours have their top bar and warre hives there too so it's a nice little bee community :D
Feel free to tell your girls to fly north east of you ;)
-
I remember one summer sitting outside my tent on holiday and there was a loud unusual noise. I looked up and there was a swarm passing by. It was the first time I had seen it happen and I didn't find it scary at all. I was too fascinated by it to be scared.
-
Can I update on the beehives please! There are approx 150 hives in the field now, sitting amongst the what looks like sunflowers growing (sown much later than the other fields close by)
How far would a bee fly to find a flower? Not that these bees will have far to fly once the sunflowers open
Pamela
-
they'll generally fly up to about 3 miles away from the hive, depending on where the good forage is.
You're right, once those sunflowers open up they won't be flying far :D
-
I've had a disasterous year,lost a swarm 2 days before I was gonna A S,then the new queen disappeared so I put a frame of eggs from another keeper in,that came to nowt so I had to buy a queen,I put her in yesterday so fingers crossed
-
Sorry you have had such a bad year. My swarm control attempts have been almost entirely unsuccessful! In total have lost a swarm and 2 large casts from what was my only hive. That's despite at tmps at AS and am up to 3 colonies now. The two nucs are doing well and all 3 colonies have laying queens so not too bad.
Looking forward to looking through them tomorrow and see how they're getting on. Don't think I'm going to get much honey this year but hopefully come out of the year with more bees than I went in.
-
I've heard that there are even worse reports of swarms this year than last :ohmy:
I'll have to visit my hive soon to see if I've managed to lure one... sorry any nearby Durham beekeepers :lol:
-
I bought a new queen and introduced her to the hive last friday,I looked last night and she's been accepted there's also 3 frames of brood,trouble is some of it was capped so there must have been another queen in there all along.
-
Oops, did you mark either of the queens?
they'll fight it out for supremacy but you're taking the chance that the better queen doesn't actually win... that happened in my hive last year and I ended up with a less than perfect queen :(
-
the new queen is still in there,the only explanation I can think is,because the existing queen was so small we didn't see her,I put a test frame in 7 weeks ago and the only queen cell was tiny and poor quality and it must have been that one that survived.