New Beginnings

[wwwcight]

Its the first time I've looked at the general postings board here, rather than going to the 'for sale' or 'courses' sections. Its nice to see so many people getting new bees, and now I'm one of those people too.

So the day before yesterday a friend contacted me and told me he had a swarm to collect and did I want it. It feels like I've been waiting for bees forever, although its only been 6 months. I've bought kit, spent hours upon hours cleaning old frames by scraping and scorching, only to find the boiling method 2 weeks ago. Linseed oiled box after box only to find you can still get real creasote and it makes a much better job and lasts longer.

So I checked out early from work, arranging to make up my hours, commuted home, got the car, and drove to my friend's house. I picked up the bees about 6:45, so it was all a bit of a rush to get them back before it got dark.

I sent up my (toiled over) hive in the garden, my parents garden, I have mean neighbours (long story), got my kit on and the smoker started (oh yes, they do go out easily don't they). I opened the hive and took out 5 of the frames, opting for the quick introduction, rather than the classic shook swarm up a sheet method, due to time. I opened the well wrapped box (with air holes of course) and stepped into the world of bee keeping...

 

[Alabamaeee]

I expect you are now celebrating your first colony safely installed. I am about a month ahead of you and still get quite excited/nervous each time I go to the Apiary.

I also use a commercial brood box and found the short lugged frames quite difficult to manipulate at first, but easier now. I think having them in a commercial gives them a bit more room in the swarmy season. I started with a fairly large colony so a steep learning curve, and have also learned to respect them on days when they are tetchy

 

[Poly Hive]

For goodness sake dinna use creosote. It will taint everything.

If in doubt please ask before diving in and costing YOURSELF a bomb.

PH

 

[psafloyd]

For goodness sake dinna use creosote. It will taint everything.

If in doubt please ask before diving in and costing YOURSELF a bomb.

PH

Surely he has got creosote substitue which smells a bit like creosote, but is an oil based product.

 

[nonstandard]

Real creasote is good stuff, but please limit its use to hive stands, fences and sheds.

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk

 

[Teemore]

Each to their own.... I can point you all to a gentleman with over forty years bee keeping experience who is able to source and uses old style creosote on his hives and stands. He has always done so and continues to do so; as does his father-in-law and brother-in-law. The hives are painted when the bees are not flying and he reports no problems with its use.
I use Cuprinol Clear and/or linseed oil on my timber hives. My poly Nucs are painted in masonry paint.

 

[justme]

I didnt say this but, I know someone, a - no cant say, but they use creosote, old engine oil and paraffin mixed and have for years. They do store the boxes for several weeks before using though, makes sense. If you're organised, unlike me, you'd make your boxes in the autumn for use next year and then they've got plenty of time to let them 'breathe'.

 

[bushman1872]

I didnt say this but, I know someone, a - no cant say, but they use creosote, old engine oil and paraffin mixed and have for years. They do store the boxes for several weeks before using though, makes sense. If you're organised, unlike me, you'd make your boxes in the autumn for use next year and then they've got plenty of time to let them 'breathe'.

That sounds like the same mix as used by the author of bees at the bottom of the garden.