Bee health check

[new to bee's]

Hi, I'm new to bee keeping and I've just bought a hive with the bee's inside. I'm looking for someone who can come and give my bee's a once over. I'm in wombwell Barnsley area. I would really appreciate it. Thanks Ian.

 

[pargyle]

Who did you buy it from ? Do you know their provenance ? It's an odd time of the year to be buying or even selling bees and it's too early to be inspecting them for anything. What did the seller tell you about them ? Is it a Nuc or a full size hive ?

Sorry - it may be all fine - but I've got alarm bells ringing in my ears ....

 

[Paulypaul]

Sorry - it may be all fine - but I've got alarm bells ringing in my ears ....

I second the concern. With 1 exception, where a beekeeper had to move to an inner city area at short notice, I've not heard of bees being sold in the winter, as you can't really inspect them for disease and general good health until we hit 15c.

 

[new to bee's]

Who did you buy it from ? Do you know their provenance ? It's an odd time of the year to be buying or even selling bees and it's too early to be inspecting them for anything. What did the seller tell you about them ? Is it a Nuc or a full size hive ?

Sorry - it may be all fine - but I've got alarm bells ringing in my ears ....

I bought it from knaresborough from a father John he had to sell because he was moving and he couldn't take them.

 

[pargyle]

I bought it from knaresborough from a father John he had to sell because he was moving and he couldn't take them.

Well, that's probably the only reason anyone would sell their bees in mid winter. Did he give you any details about them ?

Were they treated for varroa in the autumn ?
Temperament ?
Have they been fed/level of stores present ?
Is it a full size brood box - or a nucleus ?
Did you go and collect them or did he deliver/meet you somewhere ?
Were there other hives in his apiary ?
Are they flying when the sun is out ?

The alarm bells are still ringing - just a little less loudly.

You are coming to the danger period in beekeeping with, it would seem, very little knowledge of what you have got into. Now is the time when colonies are at a critical stage and even experienced beekeepers can lose colonies - they can starve if there is insufficient stores in the hive and there is not a lot of forage about untl spring has sprung. If there is an excessive varroa load they could dwindle and die out ...

You could have bought a pig in a poke and you would not know. I'm not trying to disparage what you have done, it's just that there are pitfalls associated with buying bees ... it's the same as buying a second hand car, you either need to know what you are looking for or you buy from a reputable dealer with a warranty of some sort,

 

[Penninetrader]

Well, that's probably the only reason anyone would sell their bees in mid winter. Did he give you any details about them ?

Were they treated for varroa in the autumn ?
Temperament ?
Have they been fed/level of stores present ?
Is it a full size brood box - or a nucleus ?
Did you go and collect them or did he deliver/meet you somewhere ?
Were there other hives in his apiary ?
Are they flying when the sun is out ?

The alarm bells are still ringing - just a little less loudly.

You are coming to the danger period in beekeeping with, it would seem, very little knowledge of what you have got into. Now is the time when colonies are at a critical stage and even experienced beekeepers can lose colonies - they can starve if there is insufficient stores in the hive and there is not a lot of forage about untl spring has sprung. If there is an excessive varroa load they could dwindle and die out ...

You could have bought a pig in a poke and you would not know. I'm not trying to disparage what you have done, it's just that there are pitfalls associated with buying bees ... it's the same as buying a second hand car, you either need to know what you are looking for or you buy from a reputable dealer with a warranty of some sort,

Well he is soon to find out a lot of those answers, let us wish him the best of luck. In the imediacy he can, on a decent sunny day, have a quick peek under the bonnet. If it was me I would have an eke and some fondant ready. The Eke can be knocked up from any old bits of wood, if you find they have little supplies or even if you don't, plonk a slab of fondant in some grease proof paper or cling film with slits in the bottom on top of the frames, place the Eke over and close up. Oy yes, and say a little prayer to the Beekeepers god to be on the safe side.

 

[pargyle]

Well he is soon to find out a lot of those answers, let us wish him the best of luck. In the imediacy he can, on a decent sunny day, have a quick peek under the bonnet. If it was me I would have an eke and some fondant ready. The Eke can be knocked up from any old bits of wood, if you find they have little supplies or even if you don't, plonk a slab of fondant in some grease proof paper or cling film with slits in the bottom on top of the frames, place the Eke over and close up. Oy yes, and say a little prayer to the Beekeepers god to be on the safe side.

Yes .... even that may be a little daunting "I'm looking for someone who can come and give my bee's a once over"

 

[Erichalfbee]

Yes .... even that may be a little daunting "I'm looking for someone who can come and give my bee's a once over"

Maybe that should be "looking to give my bees a just-in-case block of fondant" While he joins his local association

 

[rossbyjove]

Hi, I'm new to bee keeping and I've just bought a hive with the bee's inside. I'm looking for someone who can come and give my bee's a once over. I'm in wombwell Barnsley area. I would really appreciate it. Thanks Ian.

Have you any other kit beside a box of bees ?
Join the local association and do a course right now !

 

[ldwgs]

Hi, I'm new to bee keeping and I've just bought a hive with the bee's inside. I'm looking for someone who can come and give my bee's a once over. I'm in wombwell Barnsley area. I would really appreciate it. Thanks Ian.

join https://barnsleybeekeepers.org.uk/

 

[drex]

Welcome. I hope you come to love and enjoy this beautiful hobby.
The fact you are asking for somebody to come and look at your bees at this time of year, tells me you know very little about beekeeping . I agree, you need to join your local association and get on their beginners course which may have already started. Through the association you will find someone willing to give your bees a look in time.
Your bees are your livestock and as such you are responsible for their well being. I suggest you read Haynes beekeeping manual to start you off.