New beekeeper has her piggin bees! YAY!

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New beekeeper has her piggin bees! YAY!
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Mrs Baggins

Joined: 21 Sep 2008
Posts: 837
Location: West Kent

Posted: Mon May 04, 09 10:57 am Post subject:

Goosey - You're not in East Sussex are you? Cos we'd be close if you are.

Sally - One thread title updated!

Fantastic news on your bee status! Not long for you now and then you will be making your own decisions! Scary. Brrrr!

I am thinking that maybe I will use my other hive when this swarm outgrows the hive it's in! They are very busy and still working away. Will make up more syrup today then check how they are getting on with what's up there. I read that they can use 1kg of sugar A DAY.

Greedy little beggars!

Sally Too

Joined: 14 Sep 2006
Posts: 2511
Location: N.Ireland

Posted: Wed May 06, 09 9:42 pm Post subject:
So? Are they settling in? (Got any honey yet? ) Pic of hive on site and bees flying in and out? You must have masses of activity?

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Thu May 07, 09 6:02 am Post subject:

Mrs Baggins wrote:

Goosey - You're not in East Sussex are you? Cos we'd be close if you are.

Sally - One thread title updated!

Greedy little beggars!

Personally if it was me I would sacrifice the chance of any crop this year, feed them constantly till they are filling the brood box & split them in July.
Having two colonies through the winter is more reasuring than one whereas having a few jars of honey in the cupboard & an empty hive is sad.
I wouldn't split after July as there's less chance of the new queen getting mated.

joanne

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7100
Location: Morecambe, Lancashire

Posted: Thu May 07, 09 8:02 am Post subject:

Jamanda wrote:

I went up to the apiary today to be told they want me to do my basic assessment on June 6th

I don't even know what's in it yet except lighting a smoker - I can do that at least.

I did my Basic last year - You'll be absolutely fine - just as long as you remember the disease identifications for AFB, EFB, Acarine and Nosema

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diseases_of_the_honey_bee#Symptoms

That plus how to do at least one form of artificial swarm

I'm now debating whether or not I should do the modules that take me towards the Intermediate Beekeeper award - think they would be good to do but worried I haven't got the time needed to pass them

gz

Joined: 23 Jan 2009
Posts: 8968
Location: Ayrshire, Scotland

Posted: Thu May 07, 09 8:18 am Post subject: bees
Have a look at the latest post on www.squashblossomfarm.blogspot.com They have just got their bees too

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35057
Location: Devon

Posted: Thu May 07, 09 8:51 am Post subject:

jocorless wrote:

Jamanda wrote:

I went up to the apiary today to be told they want me to do my basic assessment on June 6th

I don't even know what's in it yet except lighting a smoker - I can do that at least.

Well I know the theory - so maybe it'll be OK.

Mrs Baggins

Joined: 21 Sep 2008
Posts: 837
Location: West Kent

Posted: Sun May 10, 09 2:31 pm Post subject:

Did our first hive inspection today. Ten frames pretty much completely drawn out and the eleventh about 1/4 drawn in lovely white wax with lots of evidence that the queen is laying. Is that normal in 8 days or am I right in thinking that they are quite prolific?

Still not seen the queen even tho we ran thru the frames twice. Sigh. And the smoker kept going out but the bees were really quite serene - so we did most of it with no smoke and everything was just fine.

Pics to follow...

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Sun May 10, 09 3:04 pm Post subject:

Finding the queen is something that all begginers seem to be obsessed with but seeing eggs & larvae is much more important.
At this time of year it's normal for the queen to get busy & the fact you have OSR nearby is probably helping with the wax building.
What are you using for smoker fuel?
I use untreated hessian & never have a problem with the smoker extinguishing but when I used the corugated card rolls you can purchase they either burnt to fast or not at all.
Glad they have settled.
Have you got the other brood box ready to go yet?

Mrs Baggins

Joined: 21 Sep 2008
Posts: 837
Location: West Kent

Posted: Sun May 10, 09 4:53 pm Post subject:

Hi Tav,

Yup. Using the cardboard cartridges with a few wood chips to keep it going but definitely not got the smoking touch in that respect. I am putting an order into Thornes for the bits I need and am going to try the hessian.

Feel really happy that the queen is in there and laying but would love to see her! Was utterly rubbish at spotting her in class so may have a long wait.

I have finally (yesterday) got my supers and outstanding frames. Have got the 2nd brood chamber, one super, all my brood frames and half of my super frames built up so far. Then I'll treat the lot in one go and put it in the apiary. I was going to put the foundation in - is there any reason I should wait until I have bees in there.

PS: We've been thinking a lot of following your recommendation re: splitting them in July... I think honey this year would be a huge bonus so not counting on it anyway!

Mrs Baggins

Joined: 21 Sep 2008
Posts: 837
Location: West Kent

Posted: Sun May 10, 09 4:55 pm Post subject:
just to clarify that I will not b treating the frames... LOL Just the outsides of the hives...

joanne

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7100
Location: Morecambe, Lancashire

Posted: Sun May 10, 09 5:10 pm Post subject:

Don't put the foundation in until just before you give it to the bee's otherwise it goes stale and they really don't like it - also it can warp in the frames and then they will draw it out funny

What is your brood boxes made from? If its cedar you really don't need to treat it at all - better if you don't - it has its on natural preservative in the wood and it will fade to a lovely silvery gray colour

Mrs Baggins

Joined: 21 Sep 2008
Posts: 837
Location: West Kent

Posted: Sun May 10, 09 5:43 pm Post subject:

Thx Jacorless, I have not put it in yet so will leave it until it is going to be used. My hives are not Cedar and def need treated. I got a natural treatment from a bee farmer which doesn't bother the bees and preserves the wood. Had a natural dye in it too which looks lovely!

Still blown away by how much wax they had drawn out and how white it was. All the hives I've seen had black comb in there!

I like my bees...

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35057
Location: Devon

Posted: Sun May 10, 09 5:48 pm Post subject:
I use a few scraps of newspaper to get it going then wood shavings in my smoker - seems to work fine. I pulled a big lump of wild comb out of mine and it had two queen cells and a play cup on it

alison
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 12918
Location: North Devon

Posted: Sun May 10, 09 6:00 pm Post subject:
I am desparate for a queen cell if you get any more. A friend of mine only has 1 hive and there is no brrod, lavee or eggs, for the last week, and we think the queen has gone. I asked at the apairy, but it was too cold to open last week. If you get any more, can I have it please?

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Sun May 10, 09 6:09 pm Post subject:

Mrs Baggins wrote:

If you buy hesian don't buy upholstery grade as it's treated with a fire retardant & wont even smoulder!

Jamanda wrote:

I pulled a big lump of wild comb out of mine and it had two queen cells and a play cup on it

If they where sealed then you may well have a swarm soon.
Once queen cells are sealed the colony seems to prepare for swarming regardless of whether the cells have been destroyed or not.
Have you got a bait hive?

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