BEE Feeders

[mbc]

don’t be put off I have conveniently forgotten most of my mistakes over the years with some yet to come.

Lol, ditto

 

[Nige.Coll]

the course he did must have been terrible.
all i have done is a basic course and read a few books .
i thought the course i did was quite good run by margaret cowley she works for beecraft.
we had hive inspections and a general course identifying various parts of the hive make up.
i didn't get a piece of paper after it though or do an exam.
she did give me the basic knowledge to get my hives through winter though . even though this winter was mild.
the rest i have used common sense and if in doubt ask someone.(this can be tricky as i don't think you could get 2 beekeepers to agree on the colour of a carpet)
when the honey starts then i will be in a mess lol.
only had bees since august 2013 myself so my knowledge is basic.

 

[Nige.Coll]

What amazes me is that after a 9 week course and presumably all the necessary background reading that should be recommended the OP has come out of it with so little actual knowledge of bees ... and how he passed even a tick box exam is beyond me !! The quality of the tuition has to be called into question ...

the quality of the tuition is appalling , things don't look the same on slides as they do in reality.
how can you do a beekeeping course without handling bees?
it has shocked me.
damn they never even looked at frames and what is put where.

 

[BeeJayBee]

Telling somebody they shouldn't get bees until they've done a course isn't helpful, not least because some courses are oversubscribed. Surely it's better to just offer positive support and advice relating to what's actually happening, rather than criticising a person's choices and telling them off?

the OP has done a 9 week course on beekeeping that cost £100 only problem was it was in a classroom looking at slides and no hands on hive working.
followed by a tick boxes exam for the certificate.. shame on you who ever runs that...

In all fairness, some BKAs run one day, or 6-evening, theory courses in late winter/early spring and don't do any practical follow up until the weather is good enough, so it isn't much different. Costs vary too, depending on the BKA. The quality of courses also varies, because the people in charge prefer to do their own thing.

A fair number of people attending these courses already have bees and can feel adrift unless they can persuade somebody to take a look at their hive(s), but they often only know the course tutor(s) and other new beekeepers, so it's difficult to get practical help. That's the exact position I was in - I had bees before I did the Beginner's Course. I knew nobody apart from those running the course and the other beginners. When the practical sessions happened they weren't particularly useful. I wasn't the only beginner who didn't get offered a BKA mentor.

So, you see, that's where the forum is invaluable to new beekeepers, because even if some of the written advice can be a bit bewildering, the forum does often link up those needing some help with somebody nearby who can step into the breach, as it were.

Oh, and feeders, I don't particularly like frame feeders because I don't trust my bees not to find some way of drowning, no matter what precautions I take.

 

[Nige.Coll]

In all fairness, some BKAs run 6 week theory courses in late winter/early spring and don't do any practical follow up until the weather is good enough, so it isn't much different - and costs vary too, depending on the BKA.

A fair number of people on these courses already have bees and can feel adrift unless they can persuade somebody to take a look at their hive(s), but they often only know the one or two trainers and other new beekeepers, so it's difficult to get practical help.

That's where the forum is invaluable, because even if some of the written advice is a bit bewildering it does often link up those needing some help those nearby who can step into the breach, as it were.

Oh, and feeders, I don't particularly like frame feeders because I don't trust my bees not to find some way of drowning, no matter what precautions I take.

you just have to get your foot in the door

if you give all the facts people can make a better opinion and offer more suitable help.

 

[BeeJayBee]

- now everybody can see what I wrote before I rewrote it!

 

[Nige.Coll]

sry lol

 

[Erichalfbee]

Well done you for helping out.

 

[Dishmop]

Sounds like one of those courses where they try and sell you a wicker laundry basket hive.

 

[Nige.Coll]

close it was a beehaus lol sry.

the course tutor advised to avoid poly hives i was told.

 

[Nige.Coll]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0aHrVJDRfk


this might help you .
shows you everything.

 

[pargyle]

close it was a beehaus lol sry.

the course tutor advised to avoid poly hives i was told.

Well done for helping out Nige ... we all have the OP's best interest at heart and of course his bees but you went out of your way to help.

It is sad that a beekeeping course can be so poor ... mine (run by my local association and by a beekeeper with many years of beekeeping behind him) was excellent ... and the last 'lesson' at the end of March was immediately followed with a visit to the association apiary where we were encouraged, under supervision, to get hands on with the bees.

Whilst the course did not include a formal 'exam' we were 'tested' verbally at each lesson on the previous week's topics and our 'homework' included reading in readiness for the next 'leeson'. Although there was 18 of us on the course there was no hiding place for people not making the effort to gain the necessary knowledge .. without being in any way intimidating.

Our tutor is now a BBKA examiner and perhaps I am fortunate that I fell into a course of some quality ... and I benefited from a tutor that is now a mentor as well.

So ... credit to the OP for doing a course .. at one point I doubted that he had even opened a bee book, it's a real pity that it was not a very good one and not the cheapest at £100 !!

... But there is a lesson for anyone intending to keep bees here ... and it probably starts with join an association at least a year before you get bees and read, read, read ... not understanding something about beekeeping before you get bees is a lot easier to deal with than not understanding something when you have a few thousand of them in a box in front of you !

Good luck Coventry Boy .. sounds like you are on your way ... you certainly have the 'caring' bit in spades and that's half the battle.

 

[coventry bee boy]

thank you - we have joined - and also got the free insurance ect. im going on a course starting on 4th of may i hope this going to be a better one. and also hopping for a mentor like you got . i can but hope. once again thanks

 

[pargyle]

thank you - we have joined - and also got the free insurance ect. im going on a course starting on 4th of may i hope this going to be a better one. and also hopping for a mentor like you got . i can but hope. once again thanks

Good plan CBB ... very best of luck ... you got a bit of a bum start so it can only get better ...

 

[coventry bee boy]

well i'm like a sponge - soaking up all the information. so please feel free to give me some thanks

 

[REDWOOD]

well i'm like a sponge - soaking up all the information. so please feel free to give me some thanks

Try this one, and learn it parrot fashion
http://www.wbka.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/There-Are-Queen-Cells-In-My-Hive-WBKA-WAG.pdf

 

[coventry bee boy]

tanks you if you have anything else like this please let me have it