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Bee Nuc/Swarm Suppliers

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Lionheart

Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Posts: 427
Location: Cheshire

Posted: Wed Apr 23, 08 8:20 am Post subject: Bee Nuc/Swarm Suppliers

Having gone down the 'self-taught and read everything I can get my hands on' route with beekeeping due to the lack of response and return of emails and phonecalls from my local association, I wondered if anyone had any advice on gettig hold of a nuc/swarm in the next month or two?

I'll be ready to take delivery sometime during May and from what I can see the main suppliers get booked up ages in advance.

I've got a new National hive and second-hand/new basic equipment for the beginner and have avoided trying to be too extravagent!!

Also, any advice on what people pressume to be absolute essentials would be welcome............!

Thanks

Cris

chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35935
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Wed Apr 23, 08 8:46 am Post subject:

Thornes sell them - but they are pretty expensive. And the Honey House in Mold, too - although their website says they are all booked out for 2008.

I think I would try to persevere with your local association - they should have a swarm control officer and if you let them know that you are looking for one you may get lucky.

I will also PM you the contact details of someone I know who keeps bees in Cheshire.

joanne

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

Posted: Wed Apr 23, 08 9:25 am Post subject:

I would just go along to an apiary meeting - It looks as though the next one for South Cheshire is next Thursday at Bradwell Village Hall - I'm sure once you are there and a member they will get you sorted out

https://www.cheshire-bka.co.uk/branch/southcheshire.php

And you really want bee's that are naturalised to your area - bringing in bee's from outside the area especially Carnolian Queens etc can cause trouble when they interbreed with the naturalised population and lead to bad tempered bee's

Last edited by joanne on Wed Apr 23, 08 9:27 am; edited 1 time in total

Tavascarow

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

Posted: Wed Apr 23, 08 9:27 am Post subject:

There was a firm on E-bay that sell the shipping boxes for nucs & they had a link to their home page for bees but I've just had a look & they aren't there at the mo.
My only other answer would be to contact your local police & council & ask them to add your name to the local swarm list.
I used to pick up 3 or 4 swarms a year this way.
But with varroa wild swarms are rare.
I haven't been called out for 2 or 3 years.

Grenwich

Joined: 20 Jan 2008
Posts: 151
Location: Leicestershire

Posted: Wed Apr 23, 08 10:49 am Post subject:

I agree with Chez, keep on trying with your association. In my (limited) experience, they are all helpful and willing but volunteers and not effecient with the admin. Also when you get your bees, you will on at least one occasion I'm sure want one of them to come out and sort something out for you and you definately need support on a local level. Our club courses start about now so your best bet would be to get yourself on a local course and you're more likely to get a nuc from them and much cheaper than thru one of the suppliers. Plus they are then more likely to be interested in helping you. Happy Beekeeping. G.

Lionheart

Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Posts: 427
Location: Cheshire

Posted: Wed Apr 23, 08 10:53 am Post subject:
Hi all and thanks for the response - I should have been clearer and stated that I'm actuallyon the south Cheshire/north Shropshire border and it had been the North Shropshire Bee Keepers Association that I'd been trying to make progress with! I'll try and get in touch again........ C.

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