trapperman 474 Posted April 13, 2010 Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 Right, i`ve been thinking about it for years but finaly took the plunge today and ordered a beehive and some kit i went for a british national in red ceder with 2 supers with all the frames etc. I have 2 local people i met whilst doing wasps for them that keep bees and have offered to help but just thought i would post to see if any of you keep bees and can give some advice for a newbie. I am hoping to get on a course soon thats run local to me, but missed the first one cos they were fully booked so am waiting to hear about dates etc i am hoping to collect a swarm as to buy bees in is quite expensive and if i do something wrong and lose them it will be more costly so any advice would be great 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John Keswick 119 Posted April 13, 2010 Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 (edited) Edited May 30, 2010 by John Keswick Quote Link to post Share on other sites
moxy 617 Posted April 13, 2010 Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 I will pm you some usefull links and information but will have to get them from another pc first, I will be in touch Quote Link to post Share on other sites
trappa 517 Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 Good luck trapperman! I would love to do what your doing. Maybe in the future. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
J Darcy 5,871 Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 I have been looking into this for the past month. Looks a very interesting passtime, though i am sure it will be a case of listening to those in the know......Good luck. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John Keswick 119 Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 (edited) Edited May 30, 2010 by John Keswick Quote Link to post Share on other sites
trapperman 474 Posted April 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 Right, i`ve been thinking about it for years but finaly took the plunge today and ordered a beehive and some kit i went for a british national in red ceder with 2 supers with all the frames etc. I have 2 local people i met whilst doing wasps for them that keep bees and have offered to help but just thought i would post to see if any of you keep bees and can give some advice for a newbie. I am hoping to get on a course soon thats run local to me, but missed the first one cos they were fully booked so am waiting to hear about dates etc i am hoping to collect a swarm as to buy bees in is quite expensive and if i do something wrong and lose them it will be more costly so any advice would be great Brood boxes come flat packed? If so my advice would be to get your hammer out and ready and get fitting. Supers come flat packed? If so my advice would be to get your hammer out and ready and get fitting. Frames come flat packed? If so my advice would be to get your hammer out and get fitting. I have made my own hives from stock timber, takes a little longer, but more satisfying. I was going to make my own frames and just buy foundation, but i ran out of time for this year so bought frames instead. Got your smoker and hive tool? What floors have you bought? I have a solid floor and a mesh floor for each of my hives. Have you got any feeders? If your going to collect a swarm and pop them onto fresh foundation, you will need a feeder on top if you expect them to draw out your new foundation. 6 pounds of syrup for a pound of wax! Yes its all comming flat packed and have got my hammer and glue ready and cleared the dining room table. have ordered smoker and hive tool and feeder and it has a mesh floor with sliding solid floor. i know i will be busy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
trapperman 474 Posted April 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 I will pm you some usefull links and information but will have to get them from another pc first, I will be in touch cheers mate Quote Link to post Share on other sites
trapperman 474 Posted April 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 Here some snap shots of my "stuff" The hives Feeders! Crownboard Inside view of roof Super with frames Super frame Varoa mesh floor Ass end of the floor (slide out inspection board) Closed up floor My queen excluders and solid floors are in the shed and i'm too lazy to get them out to photograph them Hope this helps... Hey john you dont happen to have a few bees knocking around that you dont want do you Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DUCKWING 302 Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 CRACKING HIVE JK , AND WELL MADE TOO ! .................. I WOULD LOVE TO KEEP BEES ... ITS ON MY LIST .....!!! HOWEVER TIMES TIGHT AND ...... LIKE THE PROGRAM ..... SOMETIMES I HAVE TO ....... Curb My Enthusiasm YRS AGO AN OLD FELLA LIVED ALONG THE ROAD AND HAD 15 HIVES IN HIS GARDEN , I SPENT MANY HOURS LEARNING AND WATCHING HIM WORK HIS HIVES , OFTEN HE GOT SWARMS ....... USUALLY IN HIS TRUSTY CARDBOARD BOX .....COMING BACK WITH A SWARM IN A BOX IN THE BOOT OF HIS OLD BANGER WASNT THE MOST SECURE FEELING ....... FUNNILY ENOUGH HE HAD A HATED OF WASPS AND HORNETS ! ALL THE BEST DUCKWING Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John Keswick 119 Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 (edited) Edited May 30, 2010 by John Keswick Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stubby 175 Posted April 15, 2010 Report Share Posted April 15, 2010 send chrisbee a pm, he's got quite a few hives dotted around essex he did promise me a jar of honey Quote Link to post Share on other sites
J Darcy 5,871 Posted April 15, 2010 Report Share Posted April 15, 2010 Fascinating stuff. Can we have more photos and details about getting started please..... Especially the feeding aspect of it all.....cheers JD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MOO 730 Posted April 15, 2010 Report Share Posted April 15, 2010 CRACKING HIVE JK , AND WELL MADE TOO ! .................. I WOULD LOVE TO KEEP BEES ... ITS ON MY LIST .....!!! HOWEVER TIMES TIGHT AND ...... LIKE THE PROGRAM ..... SOMETIMES I HAVE TO ....... Curb My Enthusiasm YRS AGO AN OLD FELLA LIVED ALONG THE ROAD AND HAD 15 HIVES IN HIS GARDEN , I SPENT MANY HOURS LEARNING AND WATCHING HIM WORK HIS HIVES , OFTEN HE GOT SWARMS ....... USUALLY IN HIS TRUSTY CARDBOARD BOX .....COMING BACK WITH A SWARM IN A BOX IN THE BOOT OF HIS OLD BANGER WASNT THE MOST SECURE FEELING ....... FUNNILY ENOUGH HE HAD A HATED OF WASPS AND HORNETS ! ALL THE BEST DUCKWING Its been on my list for a long time also but like most things my time away working restricts me. I remember as a kid my mates dad who was a joiner ...we used to load up hives in his joiners van the old mark 2 transit and take them up the glen so they could get heather honey ....but the 1/2 hour drive up the bumpy road there was always a few bees escaped and I always wondered what would happen if we crashed ....it was always amazing watching a a swarm coming into the hives sometimes the roof of his house was literly covered with thousands of bees moving into a hive ,...unbelievable to watch ...the noise was something Quote Link to post Share on other sites
trapperman 474 Posted April 15, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2010 does anyone know how good the pheramone(spelling) attractants are as i ordered a pack of 2 with my order, they are supposed to get swarms to come to an empty hive, i thought i would assemble the brood chamber and get it out there with the attractant and some honey and see if i get lucky just incase i dont get a call for a swarm, i have also been told that a little propolis can help to get them in with the smell? one local beekeeper told me that the scouts for a swarm looking for a new home will travel up to 3 miles so am hoping that this may work for me? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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