Got myself some rape!

[Browntea]

Well finally got permission to move the the bees to rape, 70 acres of it too! That should keep them busy, and the farmer doesnt want anything for rent he's just glad for them to be there!! Result!

 

[oliver90owner]

One colony? that will not even make a small dent in 30ha. The OSR will go over before they get far into it.

 

[Browntea]

A friend is bringing his 5 colony's too, that should help?

 

[oliver90owner]

that should help

Every little helps and that is still a tiny 'little'.

Mind you, any crop may depend on the readiness of the colonies and the weather.

 

[Browntea]

This may sound a greedy/tight on my behalf but the farmer said bring down your bee friends bees aswell, but I'm a little unsure about broadcasting to let's say my local association the location, just worried too many folk might lose us the permission! I explained to the farmer that I am trying to expand so next year I will have more colony's, he replied by saying we grow 100 acre every year, think I need to look after the location this year and not upset him!

 

[Mike a]

Well finally got permission to move the the bees to rape, 70 acres of it too! That should keep them busy, and the farmer doesnt want anything for rent he's just glad for them to be there!! Result!

If this is the first time you've put your bees near OSR and the weather is good and have a spare super ready to go and be ready for the fun when the OSR is over as you may find your bees won't be too happy about it. Lastly OSR will crystallize very quickly so don't wait for every cell to be capped before you take it off and extract it. If you search this forum there is a few threads giving great advice on OSR and how to test when its ready to be extracted.

 

[BBG]

This may sound a greedy/tight on my behalf but the farmer said bring down your bee friends bees aswell, but I'm a little unsure about broadcasting to let's say my local association the location, just worried too many folk might lose us the permission! I explained to the farmer that I am trying to expand so next year I will have more colony's, he replied by saying we grow 100 acre every year, think I need to look after the location this year and not upset him!

No, not tight - sensible

Too many is one more than your friend - don't, they'll tell everybody else if ytou do.

Look after it at all costs and ensure farmer has goodly amount of honey irrespective.

BOL

 

[Browntea]

If this is the first time you've put your bees near OSR and the weather is good and have a spare super ready to go and be ready for the fun when the OSR is over as you may find your bees won't be too happy about it. Lastly OSR will crystallize very quickly so don't wait for every cell to be capped before you take it off and extract it. If you search this forum there is a few threads giving great advice on OSR and how to test when its ready to be extracted.

My plan is for expansion this year so I won't be spinning out the frames I will just keep them for winter stores, well that's the plan anyway also I need them to draw comb for a couple of bb, my friend is the one after honey and he has plenty of experience in dealing with osr

 

[VEG]

if you are keeping the frames I hope you have plenty of them, as they can fill a box in a matter of days.

 

[Browntea]

BBG

I offered him honey and he said he didn't want nowt! But I'm sure he'll take a jar or 2, either that or it's a bottle of scotch at Xmas

 

[Browntea]

if you are keeping the frames I hope you have plenty of them, as they can fill a box in a matter of days.

I have plenty but didn't realise it would take just a couple of days to fill a super!!

 

[BBG]

BBG

I offered him honey and he said he didn't want nowt! But I'm sure he'll take a jar or 2, either that or it's a bottle of scotch at Xmas

Good idea at Christmas and if you're happy in your pile of poo - SHUT UP!

(Tell no-one)

 

[Browntea]

Good idea at Christmas and if you're happy in your pile of poo - SHUT UP!

(Tell no-one)

very happy

 

[BBG]

BT, are you near the Yorkshire Moors?

 

[Browntea]

BT, are you near the Yorkshire Moors?

Yes, at my home apiary they get heather as soon as its available, this move to osr is down the hill

 

[adrian wilford]

dont worry theres plenty of OSR around, there is a saying in north yorkshire that you would find it difficult to not see a osr field in your vision. im close by you, hives in ebberstone

 

[Browntea]

dont worry theres plenty of OSR around, there is a saying in north yorkshire that you would find it difficult to not see a osr field in your vision. im close by you, hives in ebberstone

Hi Adrian, like my last post says I'm nearer the hills so I do need to move them downt hill for osr, it's all exciting LOL

 

[Skyhook]

My plan is for expansion this year so I won't be spinning out the frames I will just keep them for winter stores, well that's the plan anyway also I need them to draw comb for a couple of bb, my friend is the one after honey and he has plenty of experience in dealing with osr

Is this a good idea? I would have thought by then they would be crystallized to the hilt and of little benefit to the bees, possibly even a source of dysentry. Better to extract, then either leave them some later stuff eg bramble, or feed them some nice healthy syrup.

 

[keith pierce]

I have heard it said that you can have 8 hives to the acre. Dont know how true it is

 

[iand]

dont worry theres plenty of OSR around, there is a saying in north yorkshire that you would find it difficult to not see a osr field in your vision. im close by you, hives in ebberstone

I'm just down the road towards the coast.
If you are lucky you may have access to winter beans to follow straight on after the OSR
Ian