Eeek! I've got a swarm....

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Eeek! I've got a swarm....
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Tavascarow

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

Posted: Thu Jun 28, 12 3:18 pm Post subject:

shadiya wrote:

Well, after a quick look at the biobees website I've found and ordered some stainless steel mesh which will hopefully not only last forever but will also be badger proof. Not that we have badgers in the small orchard but who knows what pesky wildlife will do next, buggers!

I'll let you know how I get on with the move, thanks for the tip. Are you going to the natural beekeeping conference in August? I'm dithering but may go as it looks interesting. Only concern is that it might be a bit over my head, what with being a beginner and all....

No I wont be going.
No money, to far to travel & no one to look after my dogs & livestock.
Don't worry about it being over your head.
From reports I've read about last years event it was very much tailored towards the beginner, & many new beekeepers went.
I don't know if there is a local natural beekeeping group in your area but might be worth looking through the posts in the local groups section of the natural beekeeping forum to network with other like minds or looking through the members list for those around Oxford & dropping them a PM.
Just did a quick search & come up with this thread.
If you are anywhere near Gareth (the last poster) he's a very knowledgeable & helpful chap.
I'd be surprised if he's not at the NBK conference, so worth searching him out & introducing yourself IMHO.

shadiya

Joined: 02 Feb 2008
Posts: 1285

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 12 9:34 am Post subject:

That's a shame, would have been nice to meet you but it is miles away from you and it isn't easy finding reliable farm sitters as I am well aware. I'd spotted Gareth already as being someone clever round these parts so I was planning on contacting him anyway. Might do one of his courses but think he's a bit far for cycling to. We shall see.

Got a bit trapped on the Biobees website, it's got some really interesting info on there, blink and you've lost an hour! Are all your bees in top bar hives or do you mix and match? I've got a friend with a Warre and have been wondering about those....

Mary-Jane

Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 18397
Location: The Fishing Strumpet is from Ceredigion in West Wales

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 12 9:56 am Post subject:

joanne wrote:

Just find a cardboard box, knock the bee's into the box, turn it upside down on the floor and wedge it so that the remaining bees can find their way in

Then you can wrap them in a sheet and keep them until the top bar hive is ready as long as it's only going to be a day or so

I just learnt all that at the bee-keeping course last weekend

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42207
Location: North Devon

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 12 10:03 am Post subject:
I know it in theory too. I'm less sure about my ability to do it in real life.

Tavascarow

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

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 12 7:52 pm Post subject:

shadiya wrote:

Are all your bees in top bar hives or do you mix and match? I've got a friend with a Warre and have been wondering about those....

My original bees that I've had for years are still in conventional national & commercial boxes but I'm just using the frame top bars (no sides or bottom bars & strips of foundation for starters.
Managing them on the same principals as Warre.
Not that successfully.
The bees are very happy, but because the boxes are so much larger than Warre boxes, they are in no hurry to move down into new accommodation, so I doubt I will be harvesting any honey from them this year.
Although with the weather we have been having it's no surprise really.
Besides that I have one Kenyan top bar hive finally occupied & doing well & a second waiting for bees.

I'm going to try & build a Warre hive for next season.
I wont bother with viewing windows, but for the beginner I think they are invaluable.
Once you have a few years experience you can tell from the sights, sounds & smells at the entrance what is going on inside, so less important then.

joanne

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

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 12 8:32 pm Post subject:
I'd love to know how you go on with a Warre - I really like them and to be honest I would put in observation windows just cos I'm nosy and I like to see what they are doing I'm still in Nationals but hoping at some point to get my confidence with power tools back and build myself some top bars

Cathryn

Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 12 9:05 pm Post subject:
It was suggested today that I should try a polystyrene hive. I think I might as well (when I can afford it). I have a great deal of respect for the woman who suggested it. The condensation side of it worries me slightly but the weight reduction sounds good for me as well.

joanne

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

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 12 9:48 pm Post subject:

Cathryn wrote:

It was suggested today that I should try a polystyrene hive. I think I might as well (when I can afford it). I have a great deal of respect for the woman who suggested it. The condensation side of it worries me slightly but the weight reduction sounds good for me as well.

I've got to be honest - I have big issues about poly hives, I have a poly nuc and whilst it's been good I can't scorch it and although you can clean it with washing soda and bleach it just feels very unnatural

I don't think the weight reduction is that much either, the weight in a hive tends to come from the combs rather that the boxes - if you are having problems lifting a top bar is a much better option - natural, no lifting and happy bee's IMHO

Cathryn

Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 12 10:00 pm Post subject:
I have a topbar. I'm going to do a lot more reading and consider all options. I would like to have a variety and compare how well each works for the bees. I'm new to this though and I might find that I stick at the one.

mochasidamo

Joined: 22 Sep 2005
Posts: 615
Location: Montgomery

Posted: Tue Jul 03, 12 11:18 am Post subject:

joanne wrote:

I don't think the weight reduction is that much either, the weight in a hive tends to come from the combs rather that the boxes - if you are having problems lifting a top bar is a much better option - natural, no lifting and happy bee's IMHO

Very good point Joanne. Although I use poly apideas and Keilers for queen breeding I only had cedar Commercials and a handful of ancient Nationals (for my ten year old as the bigger frames are still too big for her and the longer lugs safer even with nitrile gloves) and some whitewood tbh until...

...I crossed the divide this year and bought two Commercial polynucs (adapted Langstroths really) for trapouts as I thought they'd be lighter strapped/bracketed to walls etc. They really aren't...the density of the material makes them strong for sure, but heavy. Ought to weigh one against a conventional ply nuc.

We are slowly going out of top bar hives for various reasons (two nucs, two four foot, four three foot) having tried them for three years. Some of the pro arguments don't hold very much water and some of the negatives are really not in the bees' favour IOHO. But the important thing is we have used both so can give viewpoints from experience. And we have seen PC talk and some of his arguments are far from accurate and weighted sadly.

Remembering that bees do not have human emotions and thoughts and treating them sensitively, keeping them warm, dry, healthy and with adequate food and space for their needs is what matters.

So Cathryn, you have a healthy attitude - good luck

joanne

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

Posted: Tue Jul 03, 12 11:43 am Post subject:
So what are you using then rather than top bars?

Tavascarow

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

Posted: Tue Jul 03, 12 1:55 pm Post subject:

mochasidamo wrote:

We are slowly going out of top bar hives for various reasons (two nucs, two four foot, four three foot) having tried them for three years. Some of the pro arguments don't hold very much water and some of the negatives are really not in the bees' favour IOHO. But the important thing is we have used both so can give viewpoints from experience. And we have seen PC talk and some of his arguments are far from accurate and weighted sadly.

Would you care to elaborate on why you feel that way?
I don't disagree that with all systems there are failings, including conventional framed hives but would like to hear your opinions.
I'm one of those people who consider a hive is just a weather proof box & it's how it's managed that's important.

Quote:

Remembering that bees do not have human emotions and thoughts and treating them sensitively, keeping them warm, dry, healthy and with adequate food and space for their needs is what matters.

Aims that IMHO are just as achievable using natural methods & top bar hives, although probably because the bees are doing their thing more naturally, requires a more intuitive approach & less by the book which doesn't suit everyone.

Cathryn

Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion

Posted: Tue Jul 03, 12 6:05 pm Post subject:

One problem I have with the design of my top bar and it is a design problem of mine rather than anything else, is that the roof I have made is too large and heavy for me. I cannot however think of a different roof at the moment. The bars are not attached or dropped in as they are in conventional hives so it could just take me being clumsy or a gust of wind and I could knock quite a few bars of comb completely out of the hive. If I build another one I will change the roof and I will also somehow drop the bars below the top level so that they rest securely on a lip as they do in standard hives. I haven't searched on the biobees site yet if others have had similar problems. (It's a great site by the way whatever kind of bee keeper you are).

On a plus note, I checked them briefly today, a quick look and they do not appear to have cross combed at all. On a negative, they had finished all the syrup and I gave them more. The weather is impossible. Lots and lots of flowers all around but rain storms and wind preventing the bees getting out much.

Tavascarow

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

Posted: Tue Jul 03, 12 8:12 pm Post subject:
Mine have still got the old sheet of galvanised steel & a couple of concrete blocks for a roof. You are not the first person to have this problem. Some people hinge their lids at the back so it's easier to lift.

Cathryn

Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion

Posted: Tue Jul 03, 12 8:21 pm Post subject:
I think the sheets and brick would be a safer option. Hinging occurred to me but was completely beyond my technical ability and beyond my ability to explain it to my partner when we were putting it together.

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