beekeeping equipment list - what have we forgotten?

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beekeeping equipment list - what have we forgotten?
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Mrs Fiddlesticks

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 10460

Posted: Fri Mar 09, 07 9:46 am Post subject: beekeeping equipment list - what have we forgotten?

Off to Thornes tomorrow to try and get the rest of the things we need for our beekeeping adventure.

We already have reconditioned hives with floors, stands and roofs. The nucleus of bees are on order and we have bee suits and gloves. Although we have 2 hives we are only going to equip one for the moment.

The shopping list for tomorrow reads thus -

Smoker and fuel
varroa floors - been reading about these and think its worth a go
wire queen excluder
hive tools
apiguard - we discussed this with our bee supplier and agreed it wouldn't hurt to put some in to start them off as clean as poss at the beginning of the season
frames for brood box and supers
queen catcher
contact feeder - again suggested to get them going - I assume we don't need a big one as its only for a nuc of bees
porter bee escape
bee brush - not used one of these but fancied a go
castelated spacers - the supers we have are reconditioned ones and the spacers on there are where it was used for cut comb so we need to change them

We weren't thinking of getting anything for honey extraction yet as the colony needs to build up so weren't expecting much this year but should we be more prepared than that? (we can hire an extractor from the local beekeeping assc that we're members of)

what have we forgotten?

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Fri Mar 09, 07 10:33 am Post subject:
Sounds like more than enough to be getting on with I've got a glass observation lid for one of our hives which was lovely when I wanted to peep at them more often than I should as you could lift the roof off and have a quick look without upsetting them.

FiddlesticksTim

Joined: 28 Dec 2004
Posts: 104
Location: West Oxfordshire

Posted: Fri Mar 09, 07 10:44 am Post subject:

Quote:

I've got a glass observation lid for one of our hives

That's a good idea, Sally

Tim

alison
Downsizer Moderator

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

Posted: Fri Mar 09, 07 12:55 pm Post subject:
ok Don't bother with fuel, use shavings, and I'll explain how, when you have your smoker in front of you. Apiguard is fine, or our apiary are using hive clean at the moment, which is not so invasive, but still works. Apart form that sounds good to me.

Mrs Fiddlesticks

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 10460

Posted: Fri Mar 09, 07 1:02 pm Post subject:

alison wrote:

ok

Don't bother with fuel, use shavings, and I'll explain how, when you have your smoker in front of you.

.

we were going to get hessian as that's what we were shown to use. I know you can use dried grass etc but we wanted to have a back up fuel to start us off and help us gain confidence - don't want the smoker going out on our first attempt

do you mean chicken bedding type shavings?

alison
Downsizer Moderator

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

Posted: Fri Mar 09, 07 1:55 pm Post subject:

Yes, it is dead easy. roll up a broadsheet of newspaper, and sturr in smoker and light, closing a bit, to protect the flame. After a minute or so screw another sheet and put in too.

At this stage also put in a handful of the shavings, the same ones we use for the animal bedding. Close the smoker. Puff the smoker a few times, to get the air through. Add another handfull of shavings, the keep puffing once in a while to use.

Mrs Fiddlesticks

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 10460

Posted: Fri Mar 09, 07 1:58 pm Post subject:

alison wrote:

that sounds easy - funny how we're all shown different things. Our teacher swore by washed hessian and dried grass. But newspaper and bedding is what we've always got plenty of. We'll practise before we need to use it.

lottie

Joined: 11 Aug 2005
Posts: 5059
Location: ceredigion

Posted: Fri Mar 09, 07 2:10 pm Post subject:
You sound well equipped---pity you couldn't get the stuff at thornes when they've a sale on---cos it's not cheap is it? Are you going to set up your spare hive as a bait hive this season to see if you can get a free swarm? we've only been lucky once---enjoy your bees lottie

Mrs Fiddlesticks

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 10460

Posted: Fri Mar 09, 07 2:32 pm Post subject:

lottie wrote:

You sound well equipped---pity you couldn't get the stuff at thornes when they've a sale on---cos it's not cheap is it? Are you going to set up your spare hive as a bait hive this season to see if you can get a free swarm? we've only been lucky once---enjoy your bees lottie

it is something we're thinking about as a neighbour has bees in his chimney but we'd like to be a bit more experienced before we attempt that.

The hives were reconditioned so that's saved us a lot of money. I did look at Thornes sale but as far as I could see it was only specific things, none of which we needed. We did ask for money for Christmas which has also helped fund this and our bee suits were bought at the National Honey show so were reduced as well. But you're right its not a cheap hobby to set up.

lottie

Joined: 11 Aug 2005
Posts: 5059
Location: ceredigion

Posted: Fri Mar 09, 07 2:55 pm Post subject:
They've done well if they are still in his chimney----varroa seems to putting paid to the wild colonies--- we're hoping to get to the national on the friday this year for the lectures.

woodsprite

Joined: 20 Mar 2006
Posts: 2943
Location: North Herefordshire

Posted: Fri Mar 09, 07 5:48 pm Post subject:
We're starting beekeeping this year too. We bought two hives last year and have been steadily collecting the rest of the gear. We go on our beginners course at the end of the month and have spoken to a friend who's a bee farmer about having some of his bees. Can't wait! Woody

Mrs Fiddlesticks

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 10460

Posted: Fri Mar 09, 07 5:49 pm Post subject:

woodsprite wrote:

We're starting beekeeping this year too. We bought two hives last year and have been steadily collecting the rest of the gear. We go on our beginners course at the end of the month and have spoken to a friend who's a bee farmer about having some of his bees.
Can't wait!
Woody

its exciting Have you become a Bee Bore yet...

woodsprite

Joined: 20 Mar 2006
Posts: 2943
Location: North Herefordshire

Posted: Fri Mar 09, 07 5:56 pm Post subject:
Not me but my other half has!!! Its funny, we've kept all the big beasties over the years but we're in a small granary now with no room for anything but hens, ducks and geese. We couldn't keep bee's before because our youngest is very allergic to stings but he's left home now and the prospect of keeping bee's is very exciting. Its like getting a little of our old smallholding life back. Fabulous!

Mrs Fiddlesticks

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 10460

Posted: Fri Mar 09, 07 6:08 pm Post subject:

woodsprite wrote:

Not me but my other half has!!!

Its funny, we've kept all the big beasties over the years but we're in a small granary now with no room for anything but hens, ducks and geese. We couldn't keep bee's before because our youngest is very allergic to stings but he's left home now and the prospect of keeping bee's is very exciting. Its like getting a little of our old smallholding life back.
Fabulous!

good luck with your bees.

woodsprite

Joined: 20 Mar 2006
Posts: 2943
Location: North Herefordshire

Posted: Sat Mar 10, 07 4:12 pm Post subject:
Thanks Mrs F and the same to you!

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