| Beekeeping | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Apr 28 2011, 09:55 PM (1,018 Views) | |
| Phaedrus | Apr 28 2011, 09:55 PM Post #1 |
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Had a good look inside a busy bee hive today. The owner brought a spare suit for me. Fascinating. I`m going to join the local beekeeping association and hopefully find someone who may have a hive or two and equipment to sell. Its quite expensive to get started and second hand gear is the way to go I think. |
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| Ray | May 2 2011, 09:06 AM Post #2 |
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Don't know how I tend to miss new posts here, but I think others must have the same issue... Nonetheless.. sounds like a great idea Trev. Isn't it the case that Honey is the only food that won't spoil due to it's purity? |
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| Phaedrus | May 2 2011, 10:52 PM Post #3 |
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Dunno Ray? The stuff bees make is interesting. Honey, propolis, wax and royal jelly. I`m looking forward to my first beekeeping association meeting. Its an outdoor meet, so it will be hands on opening up hives and practical learning. |
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| Ray | May 3 2011, 09:27 AM Post #4 |
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Sounds fascinating... now you mention it I have heard of Royal Jelly. |
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| Phaedrus | May 17 2011, 09:45 PM Post #5 |
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Been doing a lot of research into beekeeping, equipment and methods. I have become interested in the idea of using Warré hives, which are different to the more common British National, WBC or Langstroth hive. Warré hives allow a more hands off, natural approach. They were developed by Abbé Emile Warré in France after 50 years research with 350 different types of hive. The Warré hive is known as "The People`s Hive", and became famous after the publication of Abbé Warré s book "Beekeeping For All". By coincidence it turns out one of the biggest advocates of Warré hives and the guy who translated "Beekeeping For All" into English, lives about 5 minutes from me in the next village. I`ll get in touch and see if he can give me some advice. |
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| Ray | May 18 2011, 07:53 AM Post #6 |
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Sounds good, ideal having the guy so near at hand |
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| Phaedrus | May 24 2011, 05:02 PM Post #7 |
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Things moving along on the bee front. I introduced myself to David and Patricia Heaf. I left a note and some eggs on their doorstep as a way of introduction. David took me to see his bees, which was really interesting, and they both answered my endless questions over coffee. I think they were pleased to see someone who had been inspired by their translation of Warré`s book. David has offered to help me set up my apiary, and help me get some bees. He has become my beekeeping guru. ![]() I came home and ordered my first Warré hive from Austria. They can be bought here, but they are much more expensive. The plan is to either make a copy of this one or else buy another when I can afford one. I went to see the people at the hotel where I wanted to start my apiary. They were really nice and I was shown round the places where i might keep my bees. I will take David up there and see what he has to say about the site. i think he will approve. So Its waiting for my hive and getting a swarm of bees next…. |
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| Ray | May 31 2011, 02:51 PM Post #8 |
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Sounds great Trev, if it's not a daft question.. why not have the hive at home? How did you come to contact a hotel? Were they surprised? So many questions.. sorry
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| Phaedrus | Jun 1 2011, 02:23 PM Post #9 |
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I would keep bees at home if I were in a little better location (in terms of proximity to neighbours etc) and had a bit more room. They are fine most of the time, but if/when they swarm in spring they can be a bit of a nuisance if they decide to try to move into a neighbours eaves or something. I also want to keep my hive away from prying kids, who might decide to poke around or throw stuff at the hive. The hotel is just up the road from me, but is in its own grounds and out of the way. My eldest works there sometimes washing up, and it was when I was dropping him off one day, it occurred to me that it would be an ideal spot for an apiary. Lots of wild flowers and trees which I thought would be great for the bees. (I found out later their foraging areas can be a couple of miles). I just asked explained to the hotel owner that I was a new beek and was looking for somewhere to start my first apiary. I think if I can build up to say 4 hives, I should be able to supply the hotel with small jars of honey to put out on the breakfast tables. (A nice touch for them. Their own honey). |
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| chrislane62 | Jun 1 2011, 05:25 PM Post #10 |
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They're not like chickens, you know. You'll never get to know each one of them individually.
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| Phaedrus | Jun 1 2011, 07:24 PM Post #11 |
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I can try.
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| Ray | Jun 2 2011, 08:50 AM Post #12 |
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![]() Thanks Trev, sounds great! |
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| Phaedrus | Jun 4 2011, 07:06 PM Post #13 |
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I spoke to the chap who is building my first hive, so that shouldn`t be too long now. Had a site meeting last night with my beek guru who was very enthusiastic about the place. He pin pointed a different area in an orchard to those suggested by the hotel owners. I spoke to them and got the nod to proceed there. I will need to fence off a section for the apiary though as they occasionally let horses graze in the orchard. Next is bees. I will hopefully get something sorted over the next few days. If I am still waiting for bees when my hive arrives I will set it up as a bait hive in the hope of attracting a ferrel swarm. |
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| Ray | Jun 5 2011, 08:40 AM Post #14 |
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I wondered how you went about getting the hive colonised |
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| Phaedrus | Jun 16 2011, 07:09 PM Post #15 |
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I have not heard from the Austrian hive people. I gave up and luckily someone pointed me to a new local Warré builder. He is building me a Warré with observation windows this week. I have also had some luck on the bees. A friend of my bee mentor has agreed to sell me a swarm. Although he is a conventional beek, he will split of one of his colonies directly into my Warré hive It will take a few weeks to get established before i can take it to my site. Bee suit arrived today. Need a smoker and a hive tool and I am all set. |
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| Ray | Jun 17 2011, 08:13 AM Post #16 |
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Great stuff.. bees like to look out the window then, my dog's just the same
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| Gina | Jun 21 2011, 09:32 PM Post #17 |
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Sounds interesting Trev Good luck with your new venture Not for me I'm afraid - and afraid is the right word!! I was very badly stung by wasps as a child and stinging insects worry me (a lot). I know bees are different from wasps but even so...
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| Phaedrus | Jun 22 2011, 09:34 PM Post #18 |
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Here`s my first Warré.![]() The observation window will be positioned at the back of the hive when I set it up. I will receive a swarm of bees early next week and then moved to my apiary site. More photos to follow no doubt. |
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| Ray | Jun 23 2011, 08:26 AM Post #19 |
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Looks great - how do you make sure your bees swarm to your hive? |
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| Phaedrus | Jun 23 2011, 08:43 AM Post #20 |
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There are several ways to get bees into a hive. You can buy a "nuc" (nucleus hive) that fits on top of a conventional hive. Warrés are smaller though, so if you want to use a nuc you need an adapter board and have to try to encourage the bees to go down into the Warré. If you can catch the queen and put her in the Warré, along with bunch of bees, they will tell the others where she is. - That`s what we are going try with this hive. I`m also going to set up a bait hive at my apiary. A basic Warré with some honeycomb inside. (you can add some pheromone attractor too). There`s a chance a feral scout may find it and I will catch a feral swarm. - That would be great. |
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