Madge
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What course would that be?
Hive Building?
- Thread starter LJH
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What course would that be?
Nige.Coll
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He had done a classroom based course looking at a slide show. I drove to 30 miles to try and help him out when he didn't have a clue if the hive had stores or brood. Things looked different in the pictures he had seen.
Don't know how he is doing now he has left the forum.
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Madge
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Yes - and received a certificate, you said. That's why I asked about the course.
I think most associations give a series of winter lectures aimed at beginners and people wanting to find out about beekeeping, but they don't give a certificate at the end of it - so that chap must have received a bogus certificate. I know our association's winter lectures are excellent.
Nige.Coll
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It wasn't an association course.
The certificate was one I could make just saying he had done an introduction to beekeeping course and passed.
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Sounds similar to the certificate's I got, one for attending a taster day at Plumpton college (which was really good as it meant I had exposure to handling bees for the firs time) and one for doing my local associations beginners course (again, useful for contacts with other bee keepers, hands on experience and availability of experienced people to question), both of whom repeatedly made the point that the certificate was just one of attendance.
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Whichever way you decide to learn, I'd suggest that you get your hands in a colony, (if you haven't already...), before spending a lot of time and/or money sourcing kit, bees etc.
I - and no doubt a lot of others on the forum - have seen an awful lot of people who like the idea of beekeeping, but find it's just not for them only after they've jumped in! They do the course, buy/make the whole kit and caboodle - sometimes the other way round - and, at the first visit to an open beehive, realise that they really aren't comfortable with the prospect of handling 50 odd thousand bees. (Then there are the ones who give up because they can't get the hang of swarming/varroa/feeding or where to put their matchsticks...)
I'm not trying to put you off - the first time I handled bees was the moment I knew I was hooked!
And this forum is a great place for - sometimes maddeningly - varied, very useful knowledge, experience and opinions - as you will have gathered!
Now I have to go and wash my mouth out for mentioning matchsticks...
oops, late again
I - and no doubt a lot of others on the forum - have seen an awful lot of people who like the idea of beekeeping, but find it's just not for them only after they've jumped in! They do the course, buy/make the whole kit and caboodle - sometimes the other way round - and, at the first visit to an open beehive, realise that they really aren't comfortable with the prospect of handling 50 odd thousand bees. (Then there are the ones who give up because they can't get the hang of swarming/varroa/feeding or where to put their matchsticks...)
I'm not trying to put you off - the first time I handled bees was the moment I knew I was hooked!
And this forum is a great place for - sometimes maddeningly - varied, very useful knowledge, experience and opinions - as you will have gathered!
Now I have to go and wash my mouth out for mentioning matchsticks...
oops, late again
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OP
Thanks all...
Can I just ask for opinions please. Where would you put the holes in a top bar hive, 3 at the front (long side) or 2 or 3 the end? And for what reasons? Or doesn't it matter? I have seen both and I am wondering on opinions please. Which works best??
Can I just ask for opinions please. Where would you put the holes in a top bar hive, 3 at the front (long side) or 2 or 3 the end? And for what reasons? Or doesn't it matter? I have seen both and I am wondering on opinions please. Which works best??
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Thanks all...
Can I just ask for opinions please. Where would you put the holes in a top bar hive, 3 at the front (long side) or 2 or 3 the end? And for what reasons? Or doesn't it matter? I have seen both and I am wondering on opinions please. Which works best??
I have TBHs.. two with holes at the end and two with holes in the middle.(but not both) As far as I see, it makes no real difference to the bees. BUT you should really align the entrances to face South to encourage early rising . And that may mean one set of holes may be more convenient to you as a beekeeper.. depends on space and terrain. A 4 foot long TBH takes up quite a bit of space...
If unsure, drill both sets and blank off one set with corks..
Inspecting a TBH is a bit of a pain irrespective of where the entrances are..
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As low as possible
itma
Queen Bee
An entrance at both ends would seem useful for swarm control manipulations, using the traveller board as a divider.
An appropriate hole in the end wall is also the easy way in for an Oxalic vaporiser (trickling simply ain't on for a TBH).
Similarly, feeding is trickier in a TBH than a 'conventional' hive. But, I've seen cunning adaptations to the end wall to provide for a syrup feeder.
An appropriate hole in the end wall is also the easy way in for an Oxalic vaporiser (trickling simply ain't on for a TBH).
Similarly, feeding is trickier in a TBH than a 'conventional' hive. But, I've seen cunning adaptations to the end wall to provide for a syrup feeder.
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+1 ... But put two holes on all four sides and then you have lots of options - if you put the entrances on the sides diagonally opposite each other you also have the option for splitting the colony if you need to. Just make sure the blanking corks are a good tight fit ...
Nige.Coll
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I'm off he mentioned TBH....
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I'm off he mentioned TBH....
Now now Nige ... Open minds ... there is something fascinating about seeing bees fill a completely empty space - very quickly - with free hanging comb. I would accept all the drawbacks of a TBH but ... they are cheap to make, cheap to run and the bees like them. You might not get as much honey out of them as a conventional hive but they are a bee box and for some people it's all they want and a few jars of honey or comb is a bonus. No place for prejudice on here ...
Nige.Coll
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Now now Nige ... Open minds ... there is something fascinating about seeing bees fill a completely empty space - very quickly - with free hanging comb. I would accept all the drawbacks of a TBH but ... they are cheap to make, cheap to run and the bees like them. You might not get as much honey out of them as a conventional hive but they are a bee box and for some people it's all they want and a few jars of honey or comb is a bonus. No place for prejudice on here ...
Sry I was being silly.
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Hi ljh,
im just down road from you! , my two pennys worth are, do a course, usually get your joining fee in with it which means u can borrow an extractor and get your insurance.
also ive built kit and bought it, the mistakes you make make for harder beekeeping but not impossible. plus you get better the more you make.
im just down road from you! , my two pennys worth are, do a course, usually get your joining fee in with it which means u can borrow an extractor and get your insurance.
also ive built kit and bought it, the mistakes you make make for harder beekeeping but not impossible. plus you get better the more you make.
Travelator
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I'd say that before you start keeping bees
1. Finding an opportunity to get up close to some bees and handle them is essential. There are various ways of doing this - go on a course with a practical element / join an association / befriend a beekeeper.
2. Learning some theory is essential. Again, there are various ways to do this - go on a course / read some books / follow an experienced beekeeper around and ask plenty of questions.
3. Getting a support network in place is essential, and again there are options - join an association / spend time hanging around internet forums / perhaps you already have beekeeping friends or relations.
Going on a good course should tick all three of those boxes, but there are other ways of doing it.
1. Finding an opportunity to get up close to some bees and handle them is essential. There are various ways of doing this - go on a course with a practical element / join an association / befriend a beekeeper.
2. Learning some theory is essential. Again, there are various ways to do this - go on a course / read some books / follow an experienced beekeeper around and ask plenty of questions.
3. Getting a support network in place is essential, and again there are options - join an association / spend time hanging around internet forums / perhaps you already have beekeeping friends or relations.
Going on a good course should tick all three of those boxes, but there are other ways of doing it.
OP
Thanks everyone for the advice... Hi Meetballuk - yeah you're pretty close to me!! ��
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