- Joined
- Jul 30, 2019
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- 6,486
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- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 86 + nucs/ mini nucs
Hi, Manley preferred using that years queen's for the Heather I know a few others that do this what are your thoughts.
That was the only winter feed my grandfather gave to the bees - heather extraction was too much of a faff (and was never popular around here) so he would just take off the summer floral honey then leave the bees the heather - it also meant that the bees' "ration sugar" could be used to bottle a boxful of pears that he used to get sent down from Hereford on the trainWhen I started I was told bees don’t winter well on heather, over the years have found it to be the exact opposite.
Thanks Ian. Yes I fretted about leaving them on heather, there’s so much mis-information and teaching about how over wintering on heather is bad for the bees re dysentery. Probably from people who have never done it and just lift it out of books. Not found it to be the case, quite the reverse.I believe the thinking was young queens continue laying later also forcing stores up in your supers. When I started I was told bees don’t winter well on heather, over the years have found it to be the exact opposite. Bees really benefit from the late sources of pollen and those with ivy and heather sources are streets ahead. Ian
That's what makes this forum so great. Advice comes from experience not somebody else's notesThanks Ian. Yes I fretted about leaving them on heather, there’s so much mis-information and teaching about how over wintering on heather is bad for the bees re dysentery. Probably from people who have never done it and just lift it out of books. Not found it to be the case, quite the reverse.
Nice story. My grandad in Lincolnshire used to help his mate take bees to the heather to the North York moors, my mum recently told me. He had a huge pear tree in his garden. Got lots of nice memories of him storing all his pears in wooden crates in his out building and all people in our village coming to buy them. That pear tree used to pay his rates every year.That was the only winter feed my grandfather gave to the bees - heather extraction was too much of a faff (and was never popular around here) so he would just take off the summer floral honey then leave the bees the heather - it also meant that the bees' "ration sugar" could be used to bottle a boxful of pears that he used to get sent down from Hereford on the train
I'm considering taking up lots of this year's nucs with a second brood box of drawn comb to fill up with lovely heather honey, see how it goes.Hi, Manley preferred using that years queen's for the Heather I know a few others that do this what are your thoughts.
If your taking up the Nucs to build up fine if your going for a crop then take the strongest you’ve gotI'm considering taking up lots of this year's nucs with a second brood box of drawn comb to fill up with lovely heather honey, see how it goes.
Anybody selling a good loosener?
I'm considering taking up lots of this year's nucs with a second brood box of drawn comb to fill up with lovely heather honey, see how it goes.
Anybody selling a good loosener?
Yeah they can cost a bit but on a big scale worth saving the comb.I'm considering taking up lots of this year's nucs with a second brood box of drawn comb to fill up with lovely heather honey, see how it goes.
Anybody selling a good loosener?
I think the Heather is worth the hastle if it pays of, as with moving bees to any crop like the osr so far this year in Shropshire it's dia.They need to be set for the heather mid July around here I think. I may take a couple on Rhossili Downs to see what it's all about but if I was hoping for a crop that would be to the detriment of a summer floral crop which doesn't seem worth the effort with all the faff of the extraction. Maybe a few nucs to prep them for the winter?
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