Hello Everyone! New to Beekeeping

[Robbo8916]

Hi Everyone,

I just thought I would introduce myself as I am new to this. I didn't see a 'introduce yourself' place or anything so hope this is in the right place? I haven't yet got any hives or bees yet but have been down to a local Apiary with the local BKA which was a fascinating experience.

Anyway I live in West Yorkshire and would love to be able to visit anyone else around here who has bees and learn a whole lot more. My original intention was to start this year but as money is tight it doesn't look like thats going to be a possibility so I just want to keep learning and start in the spring.

Thanks all and Im sure I will be asking questions (lots).

Rob

 

[Greatbigchicken]

Hi Rob, welcome to the forum, you'll find huge amounts of help and advice on here, including hints and tips on how to save money and what not to skimp on.

Good to hear you've already been in touch with your local BKA, see if you can get someone to montor you, and be prepared for a massive learning curve.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Hello Rob and welcome to the asylum! (worryingly enough it's a good placwe to be) There is a stickied thread in the off topic chat section for newbies to introduce themselves.
Enjoy the banter (and the odd well meant scud missile when you ask a seemingly innocent question)
Emyr

 

[Hawklord]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

 

[village girl]

Hello and welcome, the more you learn befor you get your bees the happer you will be when you get them... . then you will realise just how little you know good luck it is a realy good hobby honest

 

[Pete D]

And welcome from sunny Norfolk, swarm capital of the East




Pete D

 

[Luminos]

Welcome to the forum Robbo8916
If you're skint now, just wait till you start keeping bees

 

[grahambee]

Welcome to the forum Robbo8916
If you're skint now, just wait till you start keeping bees

And welcome

 

[ratcatcher]

. My original intention was to start this year but as money is tight it doesn't look like thats going to be a possibility so I just want to keep learning and start in the spring.

Thanks all and Im sure I will be asking questions (lots).

Rob

I too was stopped from starting a few years ago because of the initial outlay needed to become a beekeeper, until I found "top bar hives", look on utube you'll find lots of info, the beauty with top bar's, is they can be made from scrap wood, both my newly built hives cost a total of £20, yes £20


http://youtu.be/RmrYIq9TKZw

Although I have gone on to aqquire a national hive (good old evil bay) thats for the garden, the top bars are kept at my out apairy

 

[For want of a better word]

Robbo8916 .............best buy will be a starter kit from any of the large suppliers
do not be tempted with bargain second hand kit... could be riddled with all kinds of misfortune

IMOVLE ...POLLY HIVES ARE THE WAY TO GO!
Top bar hives..... schools out on them for me personally.. centrepiece of last years Guy Faulks night celebrations!


TIN HAT TIME!

 

[Robbo8916]

Hi all and thanks for the welcome messages.

Im sure I still have a lot to learn and my day at the apiary was amazingly insightful.

I've only been stopped from doing it because of money as my partner was made redundant and so my income is currently all there is to support the household.

Im sure by next spring I will be in a much more stable place. I have seen a Poly nuc at the apiary I visited and was surprised at how strong and sturdy they are as I expected them to be a bit naff.

I even got to mark a queen that day!!!

Im usually the kind of person who wants to jump into everything straight away but on this one I am definitely doing my research and gonna start next spring.

Thanks again I will be hanging around and reading a LOT.

Cheers
Rob

 

[enrico]

Hi, if you want one hive of bees you need two of everything!!!!!

 

[Robbo8916]

Lol thanks. Ive already figured that one out hehe.

 

[MandF]

Hi Rob,

If you can possibly do so, do a bit of saving and then buy some kit in the winter/jan sales. Can make significant savings!

Good luck, and welcome

Mark

 

[Elaine]

Hi, if you want one hive of bees you need two of everything!!!!!

This year make that 5 of everything!!!! . I had one hive at the beginning of this year - went up to 5, now back to 4 after giving away a swarm Each time we have just about scaped together enough equipment to deal with the situation,and then spent the next week trying to make up the parts to house them properly

 

[Dusty Rhodes]

Hi Rob - welcome.


I was in a similar position last year, if for different reasons.
Keen, ready, did the course......... had to wait till this year.

It was frustrating - especially as the cr*p weather in the spring delayed the delivery of my first nuc. But, actually, it was a blessing in disguise.

I was able to mooch around the Forum and learn an awful lot. Read loads - Hooper 3 times, for example - and researched best places to get stuff.
And attending BKA evenings taught me a lot.

So, when I did get my nuc, although the first few inspections were scary, on the whole I've felt comfortable with what's going on.

Mind you, I've had no problems. And I gather year 2 is the really, really scary one!

Enjoy.

Dusty

 

[meidel]

Welcome Rob

Although I've only been keeping bees a total of one year now, I'm pretty sure each year brings new surprises! Never thought we'd have to worry about swarms having new queens and all that, all I can say is that it's been a very sharp learning curve!!

If you're at all handy with wood you can make a lot of things yourself - one chap I know makes his frames out of pallet wood! I'm really envious as I can just about put together a super myself - and this is with precut wood.

 

[thepliedes]

Hi, sorry to hear of your partner's redundancy and hope a job turns up soon.

You can get a lot of bargains on ebay! My stock came mostly from the Spring Convention also.

All the best and remember, you are not alone. I have been really impressed with the steady stream of replies on the forum from people who care about bees and you as a beekeeper.

Regards.

 

[tonybloke]

welcome to the forum

 

[REDWOOD]

welcome to Wales....... Sorry the forum !!! Good to see someone reading and doing a bit of practical before keeping bees, bees on a budget is quite easy to do if you can use a saw ruler and cordless drill, you can find plans for beehives here too. good luck