IDIOTS' CORNER - Newbee, out and proud!

[Queens59]

Totally! Just checking what home looks like etc...Robbing would be unusual at this time of year - so I would take it out, unless the colony is vv small.

 

[oliver90owner]

entrance block

Have you forgotten pos #66 and did you miss post #68?

RAB

 

[Rob55]

Yes rab I have a standard block in about 10mm high and 100mm wide (mainly as we have plenty of wasps around) Was just making sure that so many bees around the entrance was normal enough. Just stood and watched them for a good while and all seems well to me.

Biggest problem is our cat won't feck off and leave them alone, he seems to like standing on the landing board and swatting at them with his paws, hopefully after a sting or two he learns to stay away!

 

[Agne]

beekeepers research

Dear Newbees.


Many of us submit meek posts to this Forum, afraid to look stupid and raising the eyebrows of experienced beekeepers. We hear the "Tut" of those who have been around for decades and know it all. (Not that they do: as soon as they open their mouths, someone contradicts them!)

Some of them make snide remarks about us messing with our bees, because of our anxiety, when often we are trying to build a body of experience.
(To be fair, some don't and are very welcoming and patient with us.)


Brothers and sisters, we have a right to sound stupid!
We have a right to get it wrong!


So, let's stand up and proclaim our ignorance!


They have there, "What clever thing I did in my apiary today".
(What is demaree, anyway? Thought it was a form of sugar.)

We can have our "Idiots' Corner".

And I'm happy to start with two stupid questions:

1) I got my nuc 2 weeks ago; the first week was cold, this week hot.
How long can I expect before they draw out the added 6 frames (14 x 12) and I need to put on my first super?

2) Doing my inspection today, they'd built wild comb on the bottom of some of the DN frames; no problem. Some broke off and I removed it. Has eggs & larvae. What do I do with it?


Answers, please, O Wise Ones.


Dusty.

Dear Dusty Rhodes,

I am an Anthropology student from Amsterdam and I am writing thesis about the urban beekeepers in London. At the moment I am busy with the research about the beekeepers community in general and I have found your forum "IDIOTS’ CORNER – Newbee, Out and Proud!". It's a very interesting group, especially from the anthropological point of view and I would like to quote a few sentences from the introduction. Would it be no problem? I would like to use the first 4-5 sentences to illustrate the dynamics between the beginners and experienced beekeepers.
Looking forward to hearing from you!

Kind regards,
Agne J.

 

[Ziggymole]

What a fab opening to a book - I wonder how many other forum "foibles" Agne can find and expose to the wide world?

 

[Robbie & Jans Bees]

I love newbies

Dusty I am one who gets it in the neck but I don't mind, yes some responces are ??????????????? but then those people have nothing better to say and while they take the PEE OUT OF ME THERE LEAVING SOME OTHER POOR SO? AND SO? ALONE. And remember all you fuddy duddies a smile and a kind word cost nothing.

 

[oliver90owner]

Rob55,

(mainly as we have plenty of wasps around)

Wasps are not a real problem at this time. They are carnivores and would prefer to find meat for their larvae. It is later in the summer when the wasp nests have 'matured' that they seek out a sugary diet and have a go at attacking bee colonies. They are usually rebuffed by strong colonies, often even with a full-width entrance slot.

I might reduce mine a bit, later in the season, but generally no need to close them down beyond about 100mm at any time, if the colony is strong.

RAB

 

[scuttlefish]

I'll put up with any amount of sarcasm as long as it accompanies good advice. Usually the good advice comes without though - thanks exp. beeks.

It's a very interesting group, especially from the anthropological point of view

In what way?

 

[ultreen1]

Just noticed some bees drinking water from the landing board.

I have a river at the bottom of the garden and a bird bath at the top, the bees are in the middle! I thought they would be ok for water, but would you recommend a bucket of water close by? Maybe in between both hives? Or even a bowl outside each!
Thanks

 

[FreeFall]

Just noticed some bees drinking water from the landing board.

I have a river at the bottom of the garden and a bird bath at the top, the bees are in the middle! I thought they would be ok for water, but would you recommend a bucket of water close by? Maybe in between both hives? Or even a bowl outside each!
Thanks

They will use the river or bird bath (or somewhere else) once the landing board dries up. I wouldn't worry about it unless there is a water source that you don't want them to use, like a neighbour's hot tub for example, in which case you should try to 'train' them to a certain source early on.

 

[newportbuzz]

Just noticed some bees drinking water from the landing board.

I have a river at the bottom of the garden and a bird bath at the top, the bees are in the middle! I thought they would be ok for water, but would you recommend a bucket of water close by? Maybe in between both hives? Or even a bowl outside each!
Thanks

my bees drink for a pond about 60 ft from the hive.
But if there is water on the landing board i have seen them take this aswell. less flying i supose.
With a river on hand i doubt you will have many problems for water. (v envious btw always wanted a river)

 

[oliver90owner]

would you recommend a bucket of water close by? Maybe in between both hives? Or even a bowl outside each!

No. They need a very shallow pool of water, preferably not where nosemic bees might contaminate.

An upturned dustbin lid full of moss and stones at about thirty metres would be good.

 

[MandF]

You can provide a water source, however close or far you want, but getting your bees to use it is another matter!

I bought a small solar fountain a couple of years ago, and at a couple of points during the season they were using it.

I'm not sure how they find a water source, but I expect "smell" comes into it, as they do tend to like compost/peat - if you pot up any plants you might find a few visitors sucking it, even though it looks dry, and even with a water source their sisters are using 5 feet away.

Whatever you use, ensure the bees have some way to alight, like pebbles/stones, floating wood etc. At one point my small fountain had up to 20 bees on it at the same time.

 

[ultreen1]

I wouldn't worry about it unless there is a water source that you don't want them to use, like a neighbour's hot tub for example

I hope they keep them covered when not in use! One neighbour has an indoor pool! Wonder if the bees would try and get in through open windows!

Thanks for the advice.

I need to find an alternative to a dustbin lid...not sure the council would be happy with a lid-less wheelie bin!

 

[FreeFall]

I hope they keep them covered when not in use!

It's when they ARE in use you will have a problem

 

[ultreen1]

It's when they ARE in use you will have a problem

Well I only use mine at night so I should be ok, if others use theirs during the day...interesting sight!

 

[Dusty Rhodes]

Ok. Another newbee question. Athough I think it's been asked before, I can't find it.

I have 14x12 brood boxes. My nuc came with DS frames.
I'm gradually moving them to the side and have taken the first out today.

It contains a certain amount of brood, similarly pollen. But no stores (hence the inspection; they're being fed 1:1 for a couple of days).

What do I do with it? Brood is a write-off of course.
Can the pollen be somehow recycled? And the foundation/wax?
Don't need the frames; I could fire them and pass them on.....


I'm a bit of a cheapskate and hate wasting anything.


Dusty.

 

[Davelin]

If it were me I would feed the brood to my chickens if I had any (but I know someone who has) and put the rest of the wax in a solar extractor to recycle the wax (if we ever get any sun) and ditch the frames.

 

[oliver90owner]

Bait hives, drone culling for varroa, spare top bars for the odd damaged shallow, emergency use, etc. Only ditch when you are sure they will not be needed....

 

[Queens59]

Our neighbours sit in their hot tub during the day and have a 'running bet' as to how many bees will come for a drink in a given amount of time. The loser gets out to top up the glasses