First bees

[drstitson]

I'd also imagine that a scottish nuc, as well as being better adapted for the climate, costs significantly less than a box of southern bees.

 

[Moggs]

I specifically asked when ordering bees from them last year if they would deliver and I was reassured twice by them that they would deliver a package with no problems what so ever, that is why I ordered from them (they were also recommended to me). Apparently that was incorrect - just as the order was wrongly taken down. They had me down for a nuc and not a package.

I wonder.... I too can deliver a package to you - but it won't be bees! Perhaps they misunderstood what may have seemed to have been a generic question and just assumed that you wanted a Nuc (because they can't deliver package bees). Was it clear that you were talking of a package of bees and not just any 'package'?


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[Mr C]

I'd also imagine that a scottish nuc, as well as being better adapted for the climate, costs significantly less than a box of southern bees.

 

[Hivemaker.]

I'm not sure Sussex bees would do that well in Scotland.

I wouldn't know how well Sussex bees would do in Scotland, but plenty of package bees from southern Italy and other southern countries do quite well it seems.

 

[Stiffy]

I really do question that bees are that susceptible to the climate as some portray. I would imagine some may produce more stores and need less intervention but by being aware of the bees needs most strains could be kept. If they produced a good honey crop is another matter.
S


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[Hivemaker.]

If they produced a good honey crop is another matter.

Finmans Italian bees seem to produce plenty, further north, and stick a much longer winter very well.

 

[Stiffy]

Finmans Italian bees seem to produce plenty.

Hmmmm ive read of the fabulous crop he gets but it does show that a Mediterranean strain can be kept and succeed
When I was taught beeking I was told that cold doesn't kill them but keeping them warm through the winter will. I find it strange that the coldest winter 2012/13 I lost 20% and this last winter I didn't lose any!
S

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[pargyle]

Hmmmm ive read of the fabulous crop he gets but it does show that a Mediterranean strain can be kept and succeed
When I was taught beeking I was told that cold doesn't kill them but keeping them warm through the winter will. I find it strange that the coldest winter 2012/13 I lost 20% and this last winter I didn't lose any!
S

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But what do you think now ?

It's generally accepted that cold and wet will kill bees ... cold and dry they will survive but the ideal for them is for them to be kept in an insulated environment in which they can control the temperature that they want .. or if you prefer .. warm and humid ...

Mine have survived and thrived over the winter and the temperature in the hive has not fallen below 13 degrees even on those days when the exterior temperature has fallen to freezing and below ... hive humidity generally above 75% and up into the 80+% a lot of the time. Sealed crownboard, insulation above and triple wall insulated construction. No through draughts ...

 

[Hivemaker.]

Mine have survived and thrived over the winter

What winter, have we just had a winter.

 

[galileo]

What winter, have we just had a winter.

Aye, a couple of nights ago. Bitter it was....bitter I say!

 

[Stiffy]

But what do you think now ?

It's generally accepted that cold and wet will kill bees ... cold and dry they will survive but the ideal for them is for them to be kept in an insulated environment in which they can control the temperature that they want .. or if you prefer .. warm and humid ...

Mine have survived and thrived over the winter and the temperature in the hive has not fallen below 13 degrees even on those days when the exterior temperature has fallen to freezing and below ... hive humidity generally above 75% and up into the 80+% a lot of the time. Sealed crownboard, insulation above and triple wall insulated construction. No through draughts ...

I have to admit that a lot of the information I received when taught has since proven to be wrong. I now keep my bees in a warm box with insulation on top, feed them beet sugar and don't use matchsticks either!
Its made me very cynical and questioning about how to keep bees and the strains of bee that are suitable for my locality and the UK. There seems to be a very vocal minority that appear to have had a lot to say on the way bees should be kept and the type of bee one should have. I really respect experience and take as much information as possible I can in but it has to be based on facts and stand up to practice.
S

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[pargyle]

What winter, have we just had a winter.

Should have added ... such as it was !

 

[pargyle]

I have to admit that a lot of the information I received when taught has since proven to be wrong. ..... I really respect experience and take as much information as possible I can in but it has to be based on facts and stand up to practice.

Yes ... I must admit that one of the reasons that I took so long to actually get my bees from the point that I decided I wanted to become a beekeeper was the conflicting information that was available and offered to me ... the more I read the more I discovered that beekeepers had widely diverse views about what was correct. It took me years to make my mind up as to what sort of a beekeeper I was going to be ... and having decided - I still subsequently changed direction

Indeed, some of the proponents of methods that I would (now) recognise as bad practice were so vociferous in their views that I was, at times, swayed in their direction.

It is still too easy for new beekeepers to receive poor advice ... even when paying for (apparently) bonafide courses ... you only have to look at the posts from Coventry Bee Boy to see the sort of thing that can happen