catching a swarm

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Don't bother with dowsing, it is pseudo science nonsense.

Some people should know better! Next they'll probably recommend some 'homeopathic cure'.

Yes this post has every chance of bringing out the crazies, but as a newbie myself, I will take my advice from the experienced beekeepers and not psychic healers or other nutters!

I have tried dowsing, but only in minute quantities as I thought it would be more effective that way.

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Don't bother with dowsing, it is pseudo science nonsense.

Some people should know better! Next they'll probably recommend some 'homeopathic cure'.

Yes this post has every chance of bringing out the crazies, but as a newbie myself, I will take my advice from the experienced beekeepers and not psychic healers or other nutters!

Welcome to the forum, Excession...
 
Not sure about the dowsing. I would not discount it as above. It works - even large oil companies use the technique, so don't come here with scathing comments without even having tried it.

Having said that the only colony I lost this last winter(?) was one I placed on a dowsed line!
 
Don't bother with dowsing, it is pseudo science nonsense.

Some people should know better! Next they'll probably recommend some 'homeopathic cure'.

Yes this post has every chance of bringing out the crazies, but as a newbie myself, I will take my advice from the experienced beekeepers and not psychic healers or other nutters!

Stop beating about the bush tell us what you really think:):):)
 
Don't bother with dowsing, it is pseudo science nonsense.

Some people should know better! Next they'll probably recommend some 'homeopathic cure'.

Yes this post has every chance of bringing out the crazies, but as a newbie myself, I will take my advice from the experienced beekeepers and not psychic healers or other nutters!

What about experienced beekeepers who are 'crazies' like John Harding?
Could well be rubbish, but I prefer to live life with skeptical openess. :chillpill:
 
Don't bother with dowsing, it is pseudo science nonsense.

Some people should know better! Next they'll probably recommend some 'homeopathic cure'.

Yes this post has every chance of bringing out the crazies, but as a newbie myself, I will take my advice from the experienced beekeepers and not psychic healers or other nutters!
Okay, so I'll be a pseudo science nutter then! I don't mind in the least. :)

It isn't nonsense, but I can understand the sceptisicm.

I can dowse for water. I have located meandering wires and pipes hidden in our walls and floors more quickly than a stud/cable/metal detector.

I know people who can dowse for other things, and it's interesting to see what happens at the Crossing in a church or cathedral.

But, with bee-related dowsing I don't know what is being dowsed. None of the articles are clear whether it is water, dryness, or just 'the best place'?
 
Intrigued by the dowsing subject, I made a couple of dowsing rods using the housing of two ballpoint pens and some line wire. I went over my patch and after about half an hour discovered that the wires did move inwards in a few places, I marked these and soon discovered that they indeed did make a line. What this line was I have no idea. Not water I wouldn't have thought as a borehole report gives water at 60m depth, old irrigation pipe perhaps, ley lines? No idea what they are meant to be!!
I then decided to dowse the 5 occupied hives placing the rods over each of them. Each one had a reaction - the rods moving inwards quite markedly. I repeated this a few times at each hive coming in at different angles - still the same result
Anyone else tried this and have you had similar results?
 
Don't bother with dowsing, it is pseudo science nonsense.

Some people should know better! Next they'll probably recommend some 'homeopathic cure'.

Yes this post has every chance of bringing out the crazies, but as a newbie myself, I will take my advice from the experienced beekeepers and not psychic healers or other nutters!


Oh Ye of little faith.
 
Yes you are right, I do have a healthy dose of skepticism. I find it helps me avoid nonsense and snake oil salesmen.

Tell you what though, you find a scientific paper published and I will happily run around the country 'dowsing'.

Can't say fairer than that.
 
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skepticism.......... and snake oil

Skepticism - didn't they use to use those to catch swarms in? and I believe that lemongrass is the prefered supplementary swarm attractant for bait hives these days.

:reddevil:
 
Yes you are right, I do have a healthy dose of skepticism. I find it helps me avoid nonsense and snake oil salesmen.

Tell you what though, you find a scientific paper published and I will happily run around the country 'dowsing'.

Can't say fairer than that.



Scientific papers are written by open minded people who tried to find answers, often by investigating ideas, dismissed by sceptics
 
Don't bother with dowsing, it is pseudo science nonsense.

Some people should know better! Next they'll probably recommend some 'homeopathic cure'.

Yes this post has every chance of bringing out the crazies, but as a newbie myself, I will take my advice from the experienced beekeepers and not psychic healers or other nutters!

I was a newbie three years ago.

You are confusing "experience" with "knowledge" - easily done.


Experience can be gained doing the wrong thing - or the least efficient - over decades.

Knowledge is based on results..and analysis.
 

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