I am now a Beekeeper!!

[dickymint]

Thanks for the help and support guys it's really appreciated

So my "cunning plan" like i said my concerns after the first full inspection was the lack of food stores and empty frames. At the same time I was given a link to a Keeper some of you may know, Mel Gwenyn Gruffyd Honey, about a DEFRA warning about the recent drought and the effects on food supplies. He was advising to feed bees now. Like I said it was on my mind to put a feeder above the crown board anyway in the hope it would attract them upstairs and do some bloody work

I put 1kg of Apimix in (yes i know it's bloody expensive but hey-ho only the best for my Girls) and monitored it for the day hoping I wasn't just fattening up greedy Drones! It was almost gone within 12 hours. Two days on I went in to check and to decide wether to put another 1kg in and got Wifey to video it. Apologies for the commentary........sarcy cow

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuBdvhs2vHw&t=...

At least 5 frames fully drawn and even some nectar Amazed at what they can do in just a few days. That was some experience seeing my first ever "home grown" fully drawn comb held up to the sunshine in the US of K (do you see what i did there )

Time will tell if/when Her Majesty decides to pay a visit. Watch this space as they say.

[dickymint]

Evanivitch said:

I don't think the drought has affected plants much to date, however we are entering the June gap, so unless you've got any crop flowering nearby you do tend to see a drop in available stores around now before the summer bloom is in full effect.

I'm off out for walk in a moment to check on the Brambles as i have a few already in bloom in my garden.

[dickymint]

A quick heads up, Gwent Beekeepers have just sent me a link to a free webinar on the 9th June. It's buy one of my go to Keepers
Wally Shaw so should be good.

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/33894824...

[dickymint]

Mr Pointy said:

Well thanks a lot for sucking me down this rabbit hole. I've just spent 21 minutes watching a lecture on why I should feed bees sucrose.

I don't even have a pet bee.

Hope you get the bug Pointy

Edited to say: Wifey is planning Her revenge..........looks like Chickens next

Edited by dickymint on Friday 5th June 11:03

[dickymint]

Jambo - here's that odd plywood frame you queried..............

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTcy_zf4sdA

Is it just a 'make do' thing?

[dickymint]

A week on and that top half brood box is filling up rapidly....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjNLwdJ2xps

And Queen Sam makes an appearance up there..............

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1vpPLv8wsk

[dickymint]

Mr Pointy said:

Looking good. Do you think there will be any honey this year or will you leave it all for them?

Probably all for them. There's no capped honey at the moment so i'm guessing they're using it straight away. I'm tempted to put a super on next week in anticipation of a flow. Playing it by ear at the moment as yesterday i did a full inspection of the main brood box for any signs of swarming. Found what could be Queen cells but i think they're 'play cups'. I'm just going through the videos now and will post later for anybody to comment on as like you know it's all new to me.

[dickymint]

Wow where did the last six months go
I'll fill in the detail over the next couple of days but for now here's a taste of the roller coaster I've been on (note I've now got both hives up and running which in itself was a heck of a journey)...............

Couple of vids.....



So I got closer.........

Edited by dickymint on Sunday 24th January 13:02

Edited by dickymint on Sunday 24th January 13:05

Edited by dickymint on Monday 25th January 06:43

[dickymint]

Jambo85 said:

Did you find them clustered somewhere?

Ah well you see that's the funny thing, this happened an hour or so later........



.........there's more but bear with me as i'd thought i'd lost these videos but just found them on icloud and need to sort them.

[dickymint]

SlowcoachIII said:

I’m loving the updates on this thread and I am inspired to keep bees although it’ll be many years until I have a suitable garden.

I’ve heard Mason bees mentioned and I’ve read that they don’t produce honey or beeswax. Out of interest, what do they do for food storage?

Slowcoach, don't put it off, contact your local association and put your name down for a free "taster" afternoon (not sure if they all do this but mine does. In fact mine wouldn't let me sign up for a course unless I did that first. Apparently it's to make sure that you feel comfortable around bees as in the past many drop out after their first hands on experience).

I put it off for thirty years or so and so regret it now. Go for it now it really is that good.

[dickymint]

GriffoDP said:

I've also just spent the morning reading through this thread! Lovely . Thanks for the regular updates and friendly and informative discussion!

You're welcome, it's a shame I didn't update more regularly but I've been on several other dedicated bee forums and it gets a bit time consuming. I've done so much in the past six months It's only just sinking in now i'm updating in here.

[dickymint]

...........early evening after they came back and settled I took this gruesome video ...........





I knew there was at least 2 queens (possibly 3 when I looked at the video after) in that hive because I actually saw one emerge in front of my eyes and dart down into the hive. An amazing sight. This was weeks before during the initial Pagden Split. I had to leave them to it hoping nature would take its course and the strongest would win.

I didn't get much sleep that night

[dickymint]

Nimby said:

Are your queens clipped?

Not clipped - I'm still in two minds about clipping. Besides at the time I only had one known Queen and she was safe and sound in her new hive with only one frame of brood and some nurse bees along with all the flying bees. All the other frames were brand new with just some melted wax brushed on. Basically she was going nowhere.

[dickymint]

Jambo85 said:

dickymint said:

Not clipped - I'm still in two minds about clipping. Besides at the time I only had one known Queen and she was safe and sound in her new hive with only one frame of brood and some nurse bees along with all the flying bees. All the other frames were brand new with just some melted wax brushed on. Basically she was going nowhere.

Believe that last bit at your peril

Particularly if your split is quite late in the swarm preparation process (sealed queen cells) it is quite common for them to swarm in exactly the situation you describe.

Clipping is good damage limitation IMO.

The way i see it is the Queen has no say in the matter. Once they make their mind up they're off if She can't follow she may fall and not make it back home. It's a tough call but clipping can only buy you time. So with a strict 7 day inspection it's up to us to intervene - easy for me as they're only down the end of my garden

[dickymint]

pequod said:

Thanks both, for your replies.

To clarify, this idea has come from my family in NZ who have been successful in the past with other investments, so I have given this new diversification of their business empire due regard.

I have no idea about bee keeping on a commercial scale (or amateur), but from what you both say, there are possibilities to make a success of this venture in NZ given we have the land for the number of bee colonies needed to sustain them.

I like the sound of £25/kg trade, however I see Holland & Barratt are selling Manuka Honey products for 4x that retail!

Any diseases I should know about which could affect the remote NZ colonies?

When you say "investment" I take you are considering just putting some money into the venture with no input into what happens? Does your family have any knowledge of bees? Does your family have any knowledge of bees or are they in turn investing in someone else?. TBH there are too many unknowns for anybody to say on here if it's a money spinner for you.

As regards Manuka my view is that it's a total rip off for the end user. From what I've been taught (and read) is that Manuka honey failed as a viable "industry" because to be frank it tastes like st. It was only due to some very clever marketing as regards to health properties that it ever took off. I'd also ask your family if they are looking to sell "raw" honey.

Anyhow good luck if you invest as obviously (going by retail price) somebody is making a killing. But is it the beekeeper

Edit: Here's a biased but interesting (if you read between the lines) video on Manuka.........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6bGZXk6F2E&fe...

Edited by dickymint on Thursday 4th February 22:09

[dickymint]

pequod said:

dickymint said:

pequod said:

Thanks both, for your replies.

To clarify, this idea has come from my family in NZ who have been successful in the past with other investments, so I have given this new diversification of their business empire due regard.

I have no idea about bee keeping on a commercial scale (or amateur), but from what you both say, there are possibilities to make a success of this venture in NZ given we have the land for the number of bee colonies needed to sustain them.

I like the sound of £25/kg trade, however I see Holland & Barratt are selling Manuka Honey products for 4x that retail!

Any diseases I should know about which could affect the remote NZ colonies?

When you say "investment" I take you are considering just putting some money into the venture with no input into what happens? Does your family have any knowledge of bees? Does your family have any knowledge of bees or are they in turn investing in someone else?. TBH there are too many unknowns for anybody to say on here if it's a money spinner for you.

As regards Manuka my view is that it's a total rip off for the end user. From what I've been taught (and read) is that Manuka honey failed as a viable "industry" because to be frank it tastes like st. It was only due to some very clever marketing as regards to health properties that it ever took off. I'd also ask your family if they are looking to sell "raw" honey.

Anyhow good luck if you invest as obviously (going by retail price) somebody is making a killing. But is it the beekeeper

Edit: Here's a biased but interesting (if you read between the lines) video on Manuka.........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6bGZXk6F2E&fe...

Edited by dickymint on Thursday 4th February 22:09

Sorry DM, just seen your post.

This is a possible investment on my part, but as its 'family' who are proposing a new venture, albeit acquiring a going concern with experienced commercial beekeepers and the opportunity to expand the final product markets in the Far East, I have asked the question here to gain some insight into beekeeping.

I also asked my neighbour, here in the UK, his opinion (as he is an Apiarist) and he kindly offered me two of his hives relocated into my orchard which he will tend, but I can gain some first hand experience of bee keeping should I wish, and to see if the output from the orchard improves with a colony or two of local pollinators right on the job!

P

No problem but this confused me when you said ...."I have a neighbour in NZ with a few hives who is happy to relocate one or two of his colonies" that's a long way to relocate bees

[dickymint]

Jambo85 said:

Hi again Pequod - something your NZ associates may want to look in to is that NZ is currently the ONLY country on the planet that bees can be imported from to the UK! Previously a lot came in every year from Italy and elsewhere in Europe but Brexit has knackered it for now.

Likely this will be resolved in time so maybe only a temporary opportunity.

These may help

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_1LWn8cHYk&t=...

and



First link doesn't work unless you cut and paste sorry.

[dickymint]

pequod said:

Jambo85 said:

Hi again Pequod - something your NZ associates may want to look in to is that NZ is currently the ONLY country on the planet that bees can be imported from to the UK! Previously a lot came in every year from Italy and elsewhere in Europe but Brexit has knackered it for now.

Likely this will be resolved in time so maybe only a temporary opportunity.

Thanks Jambo, I will pass that info on although I don't believe they are considering exporting bees as they are trying to build the business in NZ and, I imagine, will be seeking to increase their own numbers to satisfy the projected market demand in the FE and beyond.

As you say, the post Brexit posturing (on both sides) will hopefully settle down and common sense cross border trading will resume to the benefit of all in Europe, as soon as possible!

We don't need their bees (nobody does) they all die within 6 weeks anyway (except winter bees of course). Queen bees have not been banned.......there is no problem

Edit: And we don't want their Hive Beetles either

[dickymint]

In an attempt to get up to date from where I left off.

Two days after they came back from their brief holiday and then the murdered queen this happened.........



Sadly they didn't come back........................but..............



Found them 20 foot up in my neighbours Magnolia (hate that tree as it drops all its dross on my side) so I reached for a can of cider and my fags, sat on my bench to gather my thoughts. I made a quick phone call in the hope that one of mentors could help. He wasn't sure if he could make it in time so it seemed like i was on my own and bearing in mind i'd never seen a proper swarm before let alone how to catch one (youtube videos aside). Gathered up all the equipment I thought I may need including a large plastic flower pot duct taped to a pole, nuc box, sheet that i ripped off our bed! and my Fiskars telescopic tree pruners and lobbed it all over the fence..............



Not long after I'd got ready to do "mission impossible" and thought 'what the fk could possibly go wrong' The cavalry arrived Long story short is that I now had 3 bee colonies in my garden



All was well and about three weeks later I gave the swarm away to my Association as there's no way I want three hives to deal with going forward.
Well happy days ..........until mid October and going into winter more to come

[dickymint]

s p a c e m a n said:

What is the name for a collection of hives? There's a load next to the M23 near Gatwick and I was called an idiot for pointing and shouting 'bee farm!' as we drove past

Apiary - must be the only word I know that makes me stutter!