Hello!

[mystil]

Hello
My and my other half have been interested in getting into keeping bees. So off we went to the bee keepers Association training classes.

Had such a good time and met alot of nice people who know their stuff!

We are going to do an apprentiship with a bee keeper over this year in the training apairy, which means we will have our own "rented" hive for this year and then we may have an opportunity to buy a nucleus from the association at the end of the year.

Cannot wait for it all to begin.

Only thing we are worried about is getting stung and also thinking of buying a flat pack Th*rnes hive (seconds) but not sure how bad they are to put together? Anyone know how bad they are?

Liza & Pat

 

[xwb]

Welcome to beekeeping and the forum!
TBH I can go a whole season and getting away with only a couple of stings and my seconds hive went together fine
Happy Beekeeping

 

[mystil]

TBH?? Im showing my complete ignorance!!

Thank you for the reply.

 

[terryme]

ah the joys of t'internet shorthand
TBH to be honest
IMO in my opinion
IMHO in my humble opinion
HTH hope that helps
HM her majesty - the queen
many many more that I'm sure you will come across

 

[xwb]

To make things even more confusing TBH can be 'top bar hive' too (like in my info)

 

[Queens59]

WELCOME! - stings hurt - but it wears off and most bees sting only a a last resort. Stock up on anti histamines and you should be OK. If worried you could be alergic ask your Doc for a simple blood test to check.

 

[Drew]

ah the joys of t'internet shorthand
........
many many more that I'm sure you will come across

One of our members is DILLIGAF

Which I am sure I have misunderstood..

 

[thedeaddiplomat]

To make things even more confusing TBH can be 'top bar hive' too (like in my info)

And there I was thinking you were referring to 'The Better Half'!

Our flat pack Thornes 'Bees on a Budget' hive went together fine - and is still going strong into its third year.

 

[mystil]

Thank you guys for the informative short hand help.

My other half has his finger over the "buy" button on the tho*nes website.

Wish us luck.

 

[milkermel]

I also have a thornes seconds, be aware that sometimes the knots can be in awkward places. It was good to enable me to see the basics of what i needed without having to try and figure everything out first go off. Mainly now I get my hives from Hivemaker on here, his stuff is lovely and no stress of putting it together. I understand that other people have said thornes have updated their instructions recently so maybe it wont be as bad

Sting wise, well, I react quite well to them however Feb this year I was chomping at the bit to get my first sting (ment i had got into the hive!!) mad or what! I get on well with Apis from the homeopath has seriously reduced my reactions to the sting. I used to get good swelling, but now all I get at the moment is stinging nettle ich for a few days. Its a small price to pay.

Hope you have fun this year! might be worth you getting your thornes hive built and put up as a bait hive, you never know you may catch your own swarm rather than having to buy one?

 

[Dishmop]

Thank you guys for the informative short hand help.

My other half has his finger over the "buy" button on the tho*nes website.

Wish us luck.

oh...stop messing about and just push the button......

 

[louiseww]

About getting stung - if you think you may be allergic, do it sooner rather than later to check!
Always wear a double thickness under your suit -jacket, such as a shirt and light trousers, tuck trousers in soxs, wear wellies, put a baseball cap under the head gear to keep the net away from your face. Finally don't wear marigold gloves but buy the nitrile gloves from justgloves on the internet - I wear two pairs and have never been stung through them.
Have you checked out caddon hives - their national is great, but doesn't come with a wire queen excluder which is best.
I started with two Thornes seconds - one was fine, the other had a few wrongly cut bits that took a bit of tweaking to sort - but they were okay.
Good luck
Louise

 

[mystil]

Thank you guys and girls. Hubby has pushed the "buy" button now. Just a matter of waiting two weeks for the delivery.

Apparently they have updated their instructions but if not I know we might possibly be having a "flat pack session" with the Beekeeping association.

I will get the electric drill when it comes!

Lousie is the Caddon hives flatpacked?

Cheers peeps

 

[Andy Coleman]

hi! i have found the Th**nes flat pack kit very good quality, and very straightforward to put together. I have been less impressed with on or two others. Can't speak for Th**nes seconds quality, but if you're getting as discount then probably a good deal.

As for stings - of course you'll get the odd sting, usually when you're not expecting it, and most often on the hands/ fingers , which hurt but not too bad! Try to avoid stings on the face by making it a rule always to put your gear on, and checking it is properly sealed. Stings on the face don't hurt any worse, but can swell up much more. I've had a couple on my face and body, which were purely the result of my own stupidity in not being properly dressed. Good luck, it soudns as though you are taking the right approach by getting involved in the local assoc. Also well worth doing a bit of reading - Ted Hooper is the classic, and is full of practical information.

 

[mystil]

Thank you, we got the Ted Hooper book from the library as the assoc. recommended it to us and also collins beekeepers bible, but think we are going to have to buy the Ted Hooper book.

Have read a book called "The bad bee keeper club" by Bill Turnbill. Very amusing book if some of you have not read it.

 

[Silly Bee]

Thank you, we got the Ted Hooper book from the library as the assoc. recommended it to us and also collins beekeepers bible, but think we are going to have to buy the Ted Hooper book.

Have read a book called "The bad bee keeper club" by Bill Turnbill. Very amusing book if some of you have not read it.

Careful, Bill is a member here,

Where do you think he gets his material?

 

[TBRNoTB]

Hello

Thank you, we got the Ted Hooper book from the library as the assoc. recommended it to us and also collins beekeepers bible, but think we are going to have to buy the Ted Hooper book.

Have read a book called "The bad bee keeper club" by Bill Turnbill. Very amusing book if some of you have not read it.

Welcome to bee keeping in Somerset! Hivemakers kit has a good reputation for quality without the hassle of putting it together. Stings you learn to live with, take antihistamines before disturbing the ladies! If it worries you consult your GP
DrS may have a further comment.
Regards
TBRNoTB

 

[TBRNoTB]

Careful, Bill is a member here,

Where do you think he gets his material?

Still don't know who Bill is ...none cryptic replies to....... on a less prosaic note read the book, good read!

 

[Skyhook]

Buy a good bee suit, wear it tucked into wellies- does wonders for the confidence, and if you do get stung, it will only be a scratch with the tip. I sometimes get stung on the hands, but barely goes through the glove.

 

[Davelin]

Whereabouts in Somerset are you? Happy to give a hand with hive assembly having successfully completed mine, if you are anywhere near Portishead.