Hopefully it is like riding a bike!!!

[Franckkt13]

Hi

I left a message in the other section, indicating my search for a colony to buy. But I see this forum for introduction and thought it would be polite to say a few words.

It s been 20 years since I last took care of bees and extracted honey. I used to move my hives from mustard flower to sun flowers and to a local field in Normandy, allowing for a sufficient quantity of honey which I blended to offer a consistent taste year on year.

In truth, I had gradually moved away from the art of observing and experimenting to the industry of simply exploiting the 80% healthy hives. It should also be said that in those days there were less pesticides and varoa...making it less complicated to keep bees.

To cut the story short, I am now commited to start again bee keeping with a friend who is a complete beginer. I am sure I have not forgotten how to bee keep but I intend to read your threads and join the local club to limit my try and error approach.

First of all, I have a hive but need a colony. Suggestion?

thanks in advance.

Franck (French...but nobody is perfect )
Weybridge, Surrey

 

[alanf]

First of all, I have a hive but need a colony. Suggestion?

Contact your local beekeeping association. Most have a policy of distributing swarms to starters at no cost or nominal/expenses.

 

[MartinL]

Hi . . . . . . .
First of all, I have a hive but need a colony. Suggestion?
thanks in advance.
Franck (French...but nobody is perfect )
Weybridge, Surrey

As I'm sure you know, 1 hive won't be enough!

Is it in good condition, you might want to consider using it as a bait hive for a swarm and invest in new stock, (of readily available type)for your colonies?

Still plenty of swarms to be caught this year!

Contact your local beekeeping association. Most have a policy of distributing swarms to starters at no cost or nominal/expenses.

Even for the French!!!

 

[Skyhook]

I would suggest some reading up on pests and diseases. That is something that's changed quite a bit eg varroa and nosema cerana up, acarine down.

.

 

[Franckkt13]

Thanks for your initial responses.

The local club has not yet made any offer of providing a colony but I sense that this is due to the fact that I have only spoken on the phone and not attended a course /training showing my worth....which is fair enough

My ideal plan was to buy hives and colonies from someone scaling done. I am still interested in this option (Nudge nudge, wink wink!)

My old hive with (suppers et al) and a colony is indeed my current solution.

I have a wooden box for bait (in which I have melted some of my old was to give it a familiar smell... but I am not holding my breath with swarms as I have never seen any in Weybridge although I run around the countryside 20 to 40km every week!)

I definely need to follow your advice regarding varoa etc. A lot of reading in perspective.