Recent content by Bassett

Saw a presentation by Bees Aboard on beekeeping in Africa a while back. They were using banana leaves as smoker fuel, this caused the bees to be temporary knocked out and a calm inspection allowed, although we didn't see them recover in the video. I diid experiment using dried banana skins as...

Light bulbs x3

After my first attempt lasted 18 months before t/c failure caused the lining to melt and loss of honey. My current fridge warmer includes 2x st100 controllers, first one has fixed t/c set for max temp, which feeds power to the 2nd st100 with T/c in bucket. Fitted additional fan and 1x tube...

I'ved been using a 2004 berlingo van and purchased this in 2011. This is classed as commercial vehicle and the road tax is my only negative point but like having to sideways opening rear doors with windows ( loose bees head to these during transit) also easy to open one or both and a side door...

Booker was selling 25 kg bags for £21.99, 0.88p per Kg.

I'ved been using the sample same carpet samples (freebees) for years. These are normally 18x18, ideal for National. Once feeding is finished, 2 or 3 of these is enough. The crown board openings have a metal mesh covering (offcuts from varoa floor mesh ). Bees on omf with restricted opening and...

Been using carpet sample tiles for years now that were given freely since they were not current patterns. Usually 18 X18" so fit nationals a treat. Put 3 layers under each roof in November and remove in April at first inspection. All my hives are on OMF and the only time I use the bottom...

Bad year for losing colonies via poor queens. Lost 5 hives from 23, discovering that they had laying worker and drones hanging around in September/October Whether the bees got the swarming/replacement/mated queen wrong or there is some underlining problem, I'm not sure. 2020 another challenging...

I had 2 hives stolen a few years ago and purchased a branding iron. Branded everything including frames but as been mention already, if someone is determined enough then shaking the bees into another box isn't a big problem. Not sure why someone would steal this time of the season rather than...

For 3 years I'ved reduced the entrance using sponge and using a length of plastic pop bottle pinned across the entrance seems to keep the wasp out. Cheap solution.

heating tube Tried a heating tube in my warming cabinet, an old fridge and concluded that the existing light bulbs was better at giving the heat. The heating tube warn that these items have to be horizontal so limits size and position in my upright fridge.

Rons Apiary All Ron's queen rearing equipment has been destroyed including petrol generator, microscope and stereo scope. Majority of the hives/nucs were pushed over and although now upright it won't be for a few days to check the queens are ok and laying? Photos put on Facebook by Ron's son...

Purchased two half hives from Heather Bell Bees Ltd, Cornwall, Together they measure 18" square. Comes with open mesh floor. I made two queen excluders and put on standard supers. Ran with a queen in each box and bees seemed happy mixing in a standard super.

Using simple idea cut from plastic drinks bottle. Entrance reduced with sponge. Seen wasps flying around entrance but haven't seen one inside hive and/or exiting hive. Bees still come flying out and crashing into the plastic but they soon learn to walk to the side.

Had 2 hives nicked 5 years ago. Purchased branding iron for £50 with my BBKA membership number, shorter than my name. Branded top bars, inside and outside boxes, floors, roofs, crown boards and q/excluders. Since then the effort branding has been overtaken by the fact: 1) No one would notice or...