Bees

RE: Bees

Bob Russell — Thu, 16 Jul 2020 10:29:36 GMT

Just get them to bring round the offending bee to check if it is one of yours!

There are as many opinions on how to keep bees as beekeepers! Get used to that first!

Edit: Keep out of beekeeping politics if you know what is best for you!

RE: Bees

Sarah Keir — Wed, 15 Jul 2020 15:36:08 GMT

I've had a hive or two for 4 years, still very much a novice and learning on the job! I don't do much with my bees, minimal interventions and leave them enough honey to see through the winter without supplementary feeding. Some points:

- Bob is correct - do the winter bee keeping for beginners type course with your local association, make contacts and use them when you need help

- you will always be learning but there are as many ways of doing things as there are apiarists! They all have their own opinions and rubbish anyone elses!

- it is an expensive hobby. You will not make money, no matter how much honey you get.

- check your neighbours are happy if you live within a few hundred metres of anyone. Also some housing estates don't allow beekeeping (in the freehold agreements). Remember non-beekeepers don't understand about bees so when a neighbour gets stung in your garden expect outrage and demands that the hive is removed (they were spray painting within 5m of the hive and BBQing when explained they can do it the other end of their garden to avoid stings).

RE: Bees

Chris Geddes — Tue, 07 Jul 2020 15:46:49 GMT

[quote userid="6550" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/29198/bees/224100#224100"](take a lot of advice on this before parting with your money)[/quote]

Sounds like good advice if you don't want to get stung!

I'll get my coat.

RE: Bees

Bob Russell — Tue, 07 Jul 2020 09:44:19 GMT

That's what comes from teaching the courses!!

RE: Bees

Clive Ansell — Tue, 07 Jul 2020 09:18:16 GMT

Bob - thanks for such a comprehensive response, very useful. I have ordered the BBKA book and the local bee keepers association seem very friendly and helpful, and run various introduction days and course. I will attend some of these once C19 is over, and see if it is all for me

again, many thanks.

Clive

RE: Bees

Bob Russell — Mon, 06 Jul 2020 11:52:53 GMT

British Bee Vets is a nice resource for bee vets but not really set up (yet) for beginner bee keepers. At the moment there is a lack of disease knowledge in the profession just at a time when disease is causing major concern.

Worth joining!!

RE: Bees

Iain Richards — Mon, 06 Jul 2020 11:08:46 GMT

https://britishbeevets.com/

RE: Bees

Bob Russell — Mon, 06 Jul 2020 10:21:19 GMT

I have kept bees for a number of years but have none at the moment.

Generally I would suggest joining a local beekeepers association. I was going to teach part of our local association beginners course this year before it was cancelled!!

Obviously the meetings are not taking place but it is still worth contacting your local association. Look on https://www.bbka.org.uk/ for your area association.

They do publish a good book on the subject and there is a beekeeping for dummies book (a bit American).

Ideally get to meet a beekeeper and watch him or her do a hive inspection. This can be done with social distancing but be careful, beekeepers tend to be very social people and once started don't stop talking bees!

Best timescale:

Meet a beekeeper and his/her bees when the rules allow. We used to do a meet the bees day course but not this year.

Do a course over the winter. Order your bees in advance once you are sure you want to go ahead. You can await a swarm but they will be of unknown temperament and disease status.

Buy/build your hive over the winter (take a lot of advice on this before parting with your money).

Sorry it is not straight forward but it is a great hobby. PM me if you want more!!