Isle of wight Bee Auction

[wightbees]

Hi

I went to this today, a lovely day it was too.
I don't know if Mark s was there. Well Nationals hives where selling at about £35 this included frames all second hand mind but a good deal i thought, although i didn't buy these.
I managed to get 5 boxes and a roof Langstroth £23 . I am very happy with this . As everyone was buying the Nats of which there was lots i thought i had a good chance with the Langs

Now the good bit i have got another full hive with Bees at £130
Although i'm not sure what type it is , but i'm sure someone can help me on this latter.
5 full hives all went for about this price.
Straw skeps going at £5 to £8 each didn't buy one though.

 

[BKF Admin]

Was there any ex-vectis apiculture stuff on offer,it sounds like there was with skeps being offered.

 

[wightbees]

There was only a few new bits that i saw. A smoker, Skeps, hive tool and frame handle x 2 and a bee suit

 

[Haughton Honey]

Wow. Some attractive prices there, considering what people are paying on the 'mainland'.......

 

[mbc]

£ 130 for a hive of bees !!!!? the buble has burst I think I'll off load my ecxess nucs pdq

 

[BKF Admin]

£ 130 for a hive of bees !!!!? the buble has burst I think I'll off load my ecxess nucs pdq

I dont think so,its the IOW,thats why it was cheaper due to the amount of people that would of attended and the short distance they would of traveled.

We have a member on the forum that sells Nuc's for £80,but you have to travel to the edge of the uk to pick them up.

 

[wightbees]

And we all had tea and cakes free as well. Does not get much better than that.
Admin is right , it's the Island nothing like the mainland stuff.
I met some nice people there and have joined the IWBKA as a freind. It was the only way i was aloud to take part in the Auction. So if you just turn up like i did you have to pay to come in. But this didn't matter as i was planing on joining anyway.

 

[MuswellMetro]

wightbee

following last night chat i think you have purchased a BS commercial hive of bees for your £130...good deal

ok if that is correct then you will need to convert them to langstorths ( as that is your standard box you have chosen)..or change to commercial

so, others may correct me but i think ( thought at back of my mind) that BS comm frames at 438mm top bars and 396mmx 254mm main will fit into a langstroth 490mm ish by 230mm ish , /if you wire them to langstroth top bars ( or piece of wood the same dimension) and add a 35 mm or 40mm EKE to your langstroth

the EKE will just be four bits of wood the dimension of you langstroth and anyway comes in usefull for feeding foundant and apiguard

 

[wightbees]

How deep do i make a EKE or does it not matter ?
I will stick with the langs now as i have 3 and this other hive.
I am going to have a look latter and take some messurements.

 

[Black Comb]

The other way of doing it is to make a conversion board (a piece of 12mm ply with a relevant hole cut in it) and put the L/s on top. I'm doing this as I'm changing over from Nationals to L/s. A 12mm lath nailed to the board the same size as L/s to stop the frames touching the board at the sides. (or an eke as MM says)

Was suggested on this forum (PH I think) and it seems to be working.

When the queen is up in the top box and laying with some brood there, put on a q/e and 3 weeks later the move should be complete.

Will need a small entrance in the eke/lath as the drones need to get out.

 

[Poly Hive]

Thanks for the credit.

PH

 

[MuswellMetro]

PH's adaptor and bailey change way may be simpler for you,and its early in the season, so they with draw nice fresh comb ( you may need to feed them)

otherwise, use the eke method and slowly swap out the commercial frames for new langstroth brood foundation, the floor entrance should suffice plus a 35mm high EKE on the floor then brood box. removing the eke when you have all langstroth frames

As you have already disocvered two beeks, three answers,,,what would i do..bailey change,PH adaptor was an idea i thought of but didnt know the dimension but the flow of nectar has to be high as it uses a lot of honey to make the wax, so you may need to feed as well

 

[wightbees]

Thanks for the ideas. I moved them late last night and put something infront of the entrance as you said MM. I have ordered some frames and foundation from thornes but it's going to be late in the week before it is even posted i found out after a phone call

These bee are very small and dark in colour i will take a pic or two latter if i can, but it was dark last night so i can't be certain. I had two escape in the van but apart from that it all went ok

 

[tkwinston4]

Went to Brinsbury auction on Saturday and nationals with bees were going for over £350, nearly £400! It was mental!

 

[BKF Admin]

Was mr P the auctioneer?

 

[wightbees]

I don't know Admin
As it was my first vistit i don't know there names . The only way i new the amount i was biding was with the help of my partner ,due to hearing difficulties.

 

[MuswellMetro]

These bee are very small and dark in colour i will take a pic or two latter if i can, but it was dark last night so i can't be certain. I had two escape in the van but apart from that it all went ok

nice local mongrel black bees, well siuted to your local climate