1 hive beginner in NR28 would like a local mentor

[Goldbug101]

Hi all.

Just started keeping bees a few months ago with a split colony with 2yo queen which came to me in a poly nuc with six frames.

Transferred into national brood box with five more frames and dummy board and colony has roared away.

Added a super after a couple of weeks and had to add another as they had pretty well filled the first one in a fortnight - during bramble flowering.

So now I have two supers, probably ready for extraction, but I don't want to leave the colony with only brood box stores for the winter. I do have a flat square crown board feeder and a lot of sugar on standby. I guess there will be ivy honey as well - we have a lot around here - so do I need to put a super back in for them to fill? Newbie questions like that.

I've got several books - including Ted Hooper, this forum, FB groups etc, but there's no substitute for having a wise head looking over your shoulder. I've also joined the Norfolk Beekeepers' Association.

I'd like to do a supervised inspection asap to decide what to do with the supers, see how the queen's doing, autumn preparations etc etc.

Anyone near Mundesley willing to lend their wisdom and boost my confidence?

I have bought (God, it's an expensive hobby): extractor (3 frame), decapping tray, decapping knife (heated), double s/s strainer, storage bucket 15L, 50 1lb jars, spare super, rhombus clearer board and probably some other things I've forgotten, so I'm ready to harvest some honey, I think.

Hope someone can help - much appreciated.

Thanks.

GB

 

[Ian123]

ring and find out when your next local association meeting is and show your face, you should be able to find a local beek there.....i would be inclined to take your honey and fill those jars..by the sound of it youve already got the feed and maybe an ivy flow to come, should be enough to top them up for winter...good luck

 

[Julie in Ash]

I agree, rock up to the next meeting and say hello. My association were wonderful. Everyone started somewhere and the thing I've noticed with Beekeepers (I'm new too) is that people tend to specialise in different areas. Asking questions is normal and how you learn fresh skills. Some get into microscopy, some get into breeding and genetics, others building and developing hives and equipment and it goes on. Second opinions are a very normal thing to ask for as you'll always find someone who knows more than you do, no matter how long you've been keeping Bees. So press some flesh and say hello in person.

 

[Goldbug101]

Thanks Ian.

I went to a new Beeks get together a couple of weeks ago organised by the NBKA - very enjoyable and lots of newbies there. Didn't hear anyone saying they were from my part of Norfolk, though. Have posted a request on the association's FB page, but I know I will probably have to screw up my courage and do it myself, though. Not this pm, however, as it's bucketing down!

GB

 

[Goldbug101]

Thanks Ian.

I went to a new Beeks get together a couple of weeks ago organised by the NBKA - very enjoyable and lots of newbies there. Didn't hear anyone saying they were from my part of Norfolk, though. Have posted a request on the association's FB page, but I know I will probably have to screw up my courage and do it myself, though. Not this pm, however, as it's bucketing down!

GB

 

[Swarm]

Sounds like you are well organised. Check your supers are all capped, clear one and extract. Return it to the bees under the full super and clear the other one if it's ready.

 

[Goldbug101]

Sounds like you are well organised. Check your supers are all capped, clear one and extract. Return it to the bees under the full super and clear the other one if it's ready.

Brilliant, Steve - thanks very much - just what I needed to hear!

So you think they will manage ok if they refill the supers with ivy honey and I feed them syrup + fondant if necessary over the winter?

GB

 

[Beefriendly]

Brilliant, Steve - thanks very much - just what I needed to hear!

So you think they will manage ok if they refill the supers with ivy honey and I feed them syrup + fondant if necessary over the winter?

GB

As long as you don't forget to treat for varroa as well. It's probably the single most biggest winter bee killer out there.

 

[Goldbug101]

As long as you don't forget to treat for varroa as well. It's probably the single most biggest winter bee killer out there.

Which of the two most popular treatments do you recommend? Apivar or MAQS?

 

[Beefriendly]

At this stage of your game I would 100% go for Apivar or Apitraz, they use the same active ingredient Amitraz. There are too many horror stories with MAQ's.
Easy to use, stick 2 strips between frames per hive and leave for 6 weeks, job done.
Oh.... and stick what you don't use in a freezer and ignore the use by date.

 

[Goldbug101]

At this stage of your game I would 100% go for Apivar or Apitraz, they use the same active ingredient Amitraz. There are too many horror stories with MAQ's.
Easy to use, stick 2 strips between frames per hive and leave for 6 weeks, job done.
Oh.... and stick what you don't use in a freezer and ignore the use by date.

 

[Ian123]

If your not going the thymol based route/apiguard and for 1 hive you could just get a couple of trays of it being the cheapest option then apivar would be my choice you should only need a couple of strips though. Make sure any honey for consumption is off though

 

[Swarm]

Brilliant, Steve - thanks very much - just what I needed to hear!

So you think they will manage ok if they refill the supers with ivy honey and I feed them syrup + fondant if necessary over the winter?

GB

Beefriendly has mentioned the dreaded 'V' word. Your top priority at this point.
Your main concern (honey is just a bonus) is to assess the mite level in your colony and treat them, you need healthy bees to over Winter. My bees are telling me that the season is over, piling propolis in and sticky strands of it on any frame you move.
After your extracting, you have time to zap the mites and then you can assess their stores as the Ivy kicks in. Mine do well on it but each colony still gets some thymolated invert.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Oh.... and stick what you don't use in a freezer and ignore the use by date.

Yep