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Lorrainelovesplants

Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 6521
Location: Dordogne

Posted: Thu Jun 04, 09 12:47 pm Post subject:
Branding is better than painting (which they can just paint over). And pinning a name and address of owner slip on the inside of te lid also discourages the 'Oh, I thought the hive was abandoned' one, which has been tried down here on those of us who farm hives out to the rape fields or heather areas on the moors.

Mrs Baggins

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

Posted: Fri Jun 05, 09 7:55 pm Post subject:
Lorraine - Can't they just paint over branding too? I have no marks at all on my nice new Nationals and you can see them from the lane past the top fieald as you drive by. The geese were supposed to go up there today - always a good deterrent (esp 3 ganders...) but I was so tired I have postponed it til tomorrow. Wait and see - mine'll get nicked tonight! (I won't be laughing if they do!)

goosey

Joined: 29 Apr 2009
Posts: 380
Location: Merry England

Posted: Fri Jun 05, 09 8:03 pm Post subject:
I'll keep my fingers crossed no-one sees them tonight! Remember when ppl disguised their compost bins as WBCs? Perhaps we can disguise our hives as compost bins. Or in Richard's and my case, put some potted geraniums on top as per plant troughs. We've got to be ahead of these nasty thieves.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46256
Location: yes

Posted: Fri Jun 05, 09 8:26 pm Post subject:
get rufty tufty bees ?

goosey

Joined: 29 Apr 2009
Posts: 380
Location: Merry England

Posted: Fri Jun 05, 09 8:42 pm Post subject:
Good idea dpack .. and beekeeping used to be such a nice peaceful thing (sigh)

Lorrainelovesplants

Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 6521
Location: Dordogne

Posted: Sat Jun 06, 09 6:58 am Post subject:

I brand inside the box, s inside the lid, brood box and supers. No-one paints inside, only outside, so if recovered bee hives are examined it would immediately raise suspicion. Also, when branding, press the iron into thewood to leave indents.
On the outside of my brood box its marked really well, possibly with a router or something, I use a dremel and then burn it in.
Not bothered about frames - too much hassle.
Also keep a photoraphic record.

goosey

Joined: 29 Apr 2009
Posts: 380
Location: Merry England

Posted: Sat Jun 06, 09 7:50 am Post subject:
What do you use as branding irons? Do ironmongers sell alphabets, so we can put on our initials? Or do you just heat a poker and do it freehand? Thanks As I am making my hives, I might put in something secret, to identify them later.

Mrs Baggins

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

Posted: Sat Jun 06, 09 7:59 am Post subject:

dpack wrote:

get rufty tufty bees ?

Hmph! Got those already!

I pity the fool who tries to nick my girls.

Some great ideas there Lorraine - thx! I wish I had had this conversation before I put my rufty tufty bees in there...

Lorrainelovesplants

Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 6521
Location: Dordogne

Posted: Sat Jun 06, 09 9:21 pm Post subject:

Sorry, its the retired police officer in me

For garden sheds also paste newspaper on the nside of the window (lets some light in, but keeps nosy folk out. Also remove screws on hinges and replace with bolts. Cant be bothered? then drill out the screw heads....

OH got some thick copper pipe bashed the ends flat, drilled through and bolted these onto the inside of the windows in our large shed with all the equipment/tractors in it.
His biggest seller just now is decorative security grilles for windows and doors...........crime has come to Cornwall.

Mrs Baggins

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

Posted: Wed Jun 10, 09 8:43 pm Post subject:
Sadly crime is everywhere Lorraine. I think your bars for the shed windows is a great idea. Big thumbs up!

Lorrainelovesplants

Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 6521
Location: Dordogne

Posted: Thu Jun 11, 09 2:32 am Post subject:
Seriously - opportunist crime is a big thing lately - even in our tiny village. And lambs have gone missing too........ OH has found 2 working security cameras at the local auction (cost a fiver) and is wiring these up for installation. Awful, but necessary to try any deterrant.

Mrs Baggins

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

Posted: Thu Jun 11, 09 12:53 pm Post subject:
Some ppl would steal anything if it wasn't nailed down. They don't care how hard you worked for whatever they see fit to nick or care about the impact it might have on your livelihood. It makes me sick. Okay. Off my soap box now.

beean

Joined: 04 Jun 2009
Posts: 254

Posted: Mon Jun 15, 09 12:17 pm Post subject:
It's appalling. I comfort myself with the idea that (a) bee-hives are much less likely to get nicked than cars/oil tanks/etc, and (b) my knackered old Smith's aren't worth anything to anyone else.

goosey

Joined: 29 Apr 2009
Posts: 380
Location: Merry England

Posted: Mon Jun 15, 09 12:30 pm Post subject:
Be careful of 'visitors' you might have too. Last year this place was up for sale, and ppl came viewing. 2 weeks later, noticed the chain saw was missing. One of them must've come back later. But how to prove it? Could have been passing thief, but the saw was not very obvious at the time. Everything is chained up now. A nuisance, but better than losing it. If anyone steals my hive.......

Ginkotree

Joined: 26 Jun 2008
Posts: 2956
Location: south west wales

Posted: Wed Jun 17, 09 8:15 pm Post subject:
It is a difficult subject, wanting to share ,hosting the bee meetings so have to publisize that we welcome folk but wanting to be secure at the same time...vunerable in a way but have dogs, geese and a fair amount of trusted people about most of the time.

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