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Bees! Yay for bees!
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chez



Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35934
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset
PostPosted: Fri Jan 12, 07 9:30 pm    Post subject: Bees! Yay for bees! Reply with quote
    

Someone local has just phoned me and said they are wanting to get rid of 4 hives of bees and might I be interested. MIGHT I BE INTERESTED!? We're going to have a look next week - very excited! Everything seems to be happening at once ...

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales
PostPosted: Fri Jan 12, 07 9:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

yay!

Penny Outskirts



Joined: 18 Sep 2005
Posts: 23385
Location: Planet, not on the....
PostPosted: Fri Jan 12, 07 9:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

You lucky lucky b***er



Want a blow by blow account of how they settle in etc etc!

Cathryn



Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion
PostPosted: Fri Jan 12, 07 9:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Fancy them ringing you Clearly developing a certain reputation in the area

What is it about bees - I have always fancied some. I remember reading many soppy books as a young girl where bees were mentioned somewhere or other.

2steps



Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Posts: 5349
Location: Surrey
PostPosted: Fri Jan 12, 07 9:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

excellent

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45377
Location: yes
PostPosted: Sat Jan 13, 07 12:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

bee(n) fascinated for ages and ive never got organised yet
please let us know how it goes

wellington womble



Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands
PostPosted: Sat Jan 13, 07 10:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

ruby wrote:

What is it about bees - I have always fancied some. I remember reading many soppy books as a young girl where bees were mentioned somewhere or other.


Winnie the Pooh?

Anna-marie



Joined: 18 Sep 2005
Posts: 980
Location: West Wales
PostPosted: Sat Jan 13, 07 10:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

wellington womble wrote:
ruby wrote:

What is it about bees - I have always fancied some. I remember reading many soppy books as a young girl where bees were mentioned somewhere or other.


Winnie the Pooh?




Good luck, Chez,
I hope that they are what you are looking for .

dougal



Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 7184
Location: South Kent
PostPosted: Sun Jan 14, 07 12:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

dpack wrote:
bee(n) fascinated for ages and ive never got organised yet
please let us know how it goes

Echoed.
Chez, keep us up to date on how the fun goes, won't you?

Lorrainelovesplants



Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 6521
Location: Dordogne
PostPosted: Tue Jan 16, 07 7:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

You lucky thing!
I got my first hive and bees in August, they are so brill. Ive been feeding them on fondant lately, but its been so mild they are still buzzing about. Hoping to get another hive this year. They are so easy to keep!

Best of luck!
Lorraine

Penny Outskirts



Joined: 18 Sep 2005
Posts: 23385
Location: Planet, not on the....
PostPosted: Tue Jan 16, 07 7:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Totallly ignorant question, but how long can bees be left for, say if you wanted to go on holiday or something?

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales
PostPosted: Tue Jan 16, 07 7:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I look at mine maybe three times a year, they don't seem to mind.

Penny Outskirts



Joined: 18 Sep 2005
Posts: 23385
Location: Planet, not on the....
PostPosted: Tue Jan 16, 07 8:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

sally_in_wales wrote:
I look at mine maybe three times a year, they don't seem to mind.


Excellent!

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales
PostPosted: Tue Jan 16, 07 8:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I should add that I usually need a crowbar rather than a hive tool o get the lid off because they propolis it shut with such long intervals, but I go in once in spring to check they are ok (if they need varroa strips I'll go in again to take em out later), We bung on supers at intervals over the summer, then I check late summer and steal a super or two if they have filled them, then check before winter to see if their stores are ok. Thats it here. Minimal intervention and generally very happy bees. Havent fed them for a couple of years either, but then we leave them loads of stores of their own too.

Lorrainelovesplants



Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 6521
Location: Dordogne
PostPosted: Wed Jan 17, 07 6:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I look in on mine one a week through the late spring to autumn, just to check the queen is laying, that there is no disease, that they have enough room, pop on a super when required.
Then take off full supers and collect honey, in autumn do the varroa thing, and then check stores in early autumn and feed if necessary. About Dec I would hope to settle them in, but still check weight to see if they need fondant through mild winters.
Wont open hive till a nice warm April day.
Couple of minutes once a week. Pimps!
Lorraine

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