hive and bees

[ferret]

Hi all,i'm a newbee to this and Ive been offered a hive(home made from ply) with a small colony of bees for £180 is that a good price?

 

[pargyle]

Hi all,i'm a newbee to this and Ive been offered a hive(home made from ply) with a small colony of bees for £180 is that a good price?

Not really ... for £180 I'd expect a decent hive with a good colony of bees ... what size hive is it ? If it's a plywood Nucleus (5 frames) then it's well over priced .. if it's a full size hive with several frames of brood then you are getting a bit nearer decent value.

Welcome to the Forum ...lets hope you get some bees soon ... tell us a little more about yourself ?

 

[ferret]

Hi pargyle.He said its a full hive.(Dont know of what size)The chap said all strong and laying well.I'm going to look at it in the middle of week hopefully just wondered if its a good price or not.

 

[kazmcc]

Maybe have a look, get a bit more info while you are there, tell the guy you'll let him know tomorrow and come back to the forum and ask these guys. Welcome to the forum.

 

[pargyle]

Hi pargyle.He said its a full hive.(Dont know of what size)The chap said all strong and laying well.I'm going to look at it in the middle of week hopefully just wondered if its a good price or not.

(home made from ply) with a small colony of bees ??

Not many full hives are made out of ply ... unless it's marine ply it's not an immensely weather proof timber so you might as well ignore the value of the hive ... so, take any value of that off and £180 is too much as you will need a new hive in the near future.

Do you have enough experience to know what you are looking for in this colony ?

 

[itma]

Hi all,i'm a newbee to this and Ive been offered a hive(home made from ply) with a small colony of bees for £180 is that a good price?

Not really.
Especially at this time of the year. And not a good deal for YOU if you don't know about beekeeping yet. Its a bit more complicated than keeping a cat, or chickens, or tropical fish …
Take a look at the "So you'd like to start" sticky http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=14770

 

[user 6228]

.... Its a bit more complicated than keeping a cat, or chickens, or tropical fish …

understatement !!!!!

 

[ferret]

Thanks for reply's,but ive only recently started learning about bees,i dont know a great deal about this hive either at the moment so i thought i'd take a look, but he said its a full hive not a nuc.And i know if its not marine ply its wont last,so i'll be looking for a hive in time aswell.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Are you a member of Swansea or West Glam BKA - if you are, ask one of the mentors there.

 

[BeeJayBee]

Are you a member of Swansea or West Glam BKA - if you are, ask one of the mentors there.

And see if you can get an experienced beekeeper to go with you to look at both the hive and the bees - as you've only just started it's likely you won't be sure what you should be looking for, and it can be overwhelming.

I'd say £180 is too much for a 'small colony' in a ply hive at this time of year, and if it's only a brood box and roof you'd probably have to spend more, as you'll need a super or an eke, feeder and so on, so you can give them some syrup in preparation for winter.

 

[bontbee]

and if you are only just thinking about beekeeping, without any prior experience, you may find it less daunting to start off with a somewhat-less-than-full-hive. If it is a full colony from this year, it could be quite an undertaking! Do you have a site for this colony?

After a bit of reflection, you might decides it's better to perhaps take up one of the beginners classes, (which both local groups hold during early spring), or attend their apiary meetings (which are still on-going) and get your hands in a hive, before committing to what seems like a lot of money for a ply hive at this time of year.

 

[ferret]

Hi bontbee,I got a lovely place on a private farm where i got my allotment. Only im up there and i thought it would be a great place for some bees.And yes,i think your right i need a lesson or two first maybe.

 

[bontbee]

I know you'd be welcome at Swansea beeks apiary at Llys nini RSPCA centre, Penllergaer, Saturdays, 1pm. PM me if you fancy a visit - we can provide suits, gloves etc. I'm not familiar with the apiary arrangements for W Glam beeks, but I am sure you'd have the same welcome there - JBM will be able to let you know about W Glam

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Ten o clock Sunday morning - check out our website http://www.westglamorgan-beekeepers.co.uk/ you're welcome to PM me for further details

 

[Outlander]

I I would save your money. For a little more you could get a hive made from cedar that's going to last a good few years. Cad**on hives can do you a hive with two suppers for £120. These are flat pack so would have to put it together yourself but it's not that hard to do. A friend got one of these and for the money even I am tempted to try a couple out for next year, they have to be better than plywood.

Then join your local association get in touch with your local swarm coordinator and ask him/her if they could sort you out with a swarm. You may even be able to go and collect one with them.

 

[Outlander]

There you go, on your way to being sorted.

Like the Web site jenkinsbrynmair. Norfolk could learn a lot from checking out other sites, ours is dismal but don't tell them I said so.

 

[oliver90owner]

'Home made', too. A lot of things that may not be optimal. Bee space is one of them. You can get a new hive complete with Q/E, frames and supers for a good deal less than that.

What is the provenance of the bees? Not a recent swarm, I hope!

Over-priced at this time of the year if no hope of a crop and with a high risk of losing them over winter, after feeding them with copious amounts of sugar.

Beginners are often too naive to know the good from the bad and the ugly.

Would be reasonable only if you can guarantee a strong colony in the hive in the spring.

Your risk.

 

[Jimy Dee]

Ferret - go for it, get stuck in. This forum is great and I am a dedicated fan but you might get future posts which make out beekeeping is akin to open heart surgery. It is not. it is a doddle at a relaxed level so don't be afraid. The replies todate have been bang on. Join an association, see a few hive examinations (not lectures) and get your bees. Don't rush into buying from the 180 gent, they could die out over winter. Get a nuc over wintered in spring 2015.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Too late I think, ah well!

http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=30743

 

[oliver90owner]

That thread only says 'hopefully'. Hopefully he will take 'common sense' along, for advice, before deciding to buy.