Recent content by starcana

Hi, yes I did thanks Melbee and sorry I haven't responded yet. But Staffordshire's a long way to take bees, isn't it? May have good news though (for me!) in that my OH who has always been afraid to go,within 10 feet of the hives is considering giving it a year with him doing all the handling and...

thanks Doug, I had thought about that very seriously but decided that route was not for me - - see my earlier thread 'gutted'.

Sadly I have to give up beekeeping after an allergic reaction to a sting. I will have for sale: 2 x white painted WBCs with 7 lifts 2 x extra brand new lifts 2 brood boxes with strong colonies 8 supers with drawn frames 2 brand new supers with new made up frames 3 QEs 1 older cedar National...

Thanks all - only fellow beekeepers really understand why this is so upsetting! The first thing I did on return from hospital was look at the Sticky on desensitisation courses, but on further reflexion have decided that's not for me. I think you need confidence to handle bees well and I have...

After five years, learning more each year and loving my hobby, I now have to give it up. I was stung twice yesterday, had an allergic reaction, ambulanced to A & E and spent 24 hours in a ward with heart monitor and the full works. I'd gone up early evening to put my new rhombus clearer board...

I've just ordered more from a place in Bristol on fleebay (Bristol bottles Direct) had 84 12 Oz with lids and free postage for £32 and they seem good so have just ordered 72 8 0z with lids and free postage for £25.95 - seems good to me.

Right, so I've got one hive with four supers, one with tow supers and one with one (a colony that made their home in an empty hive, fortunately. Last year, my best so far, I got around 45lbs of honey of two hives. Took supers off by removing frame at a time to empty super, wrapping newly full...

these look great. do they work. I hate making frames and had just made up 20 super frames today. presumably you're just buying the plastic gizmos?????

never been there but looks like pictures I've seen of The Palm in Dubai :-)

I collected a good swarm from a postbox a few weeks ago. They 'ran' up the cloth to my neighbours hive in my field. a week later, they cleared off. Maybe too close to home? we were lent a key by Royal Mail and we gave them the only letter in the box when we returned the key.

Checked yesterday and all seemed fine - checked this morning and there they were gone. All of them. Oh dear, what a lot of effort - hope someone gets them. Could it be that my apiary is too close to where they came from?????

well, they seem pretty settled now so thanks for your advice everyone. brilliant site this - I've done the course, read the books but this is still my first port of call for advice. If only beekeeping was an exact 'science' eh ?

well, have bitten the bullet (as I knew I'd have to) and done it, albeit not very successfully - the comb was soft and squidgy and broke and bent as I picked it out, so lots of smallish pieces. Managed to get some with brood on my criss cross elastic banded frame and at least now there is an...

thanks rat catcher - the pics are very helpful there is one very large piece of comb and a few small ones that I put in the 'gap'. can I do it tomorrow when they may be a bit happier/settled (and I'm not so knackered after a few hours only of on/off sleep worrying about them :-)

Update good news and not so good. At 7 am just a few bees flying around outside the hive, maybe a couple of dozen. Have just gone back,removed, white cloth and boards and opened up ready to tie comb to empty frame. Too late, I think. A mass of bees on comb at end of box where I'd removed frame...