Newbee shopping list

[Big ears]

Yellow painted hive tools are generally made from mild steel, buy a decent stainless one and keep it in your hand, when not in the soda box. Learn to work with it, like it was one of your fingers.

So the half red ones are better?

 

[Erichalfbee]

When looking for queen cells how do you clear a frame without a brush ?

I use a large feather. My bees hate a brush and get caught in the bristles stinging it

 

[Poly Hive]

The veil is fine if a bit tight for my round hat. I meant to measure them both pre the op and let him know but ran out of time. Bee brushes serve only to annoy the bees. I used one once and that was once too often. This is great for finding hive tools: Waterproof Pinpointer Pin Pointer Probe Metal Detector Automatic Tuning Tool UK | eBay

We have one in the car as my wife metal detects. I found my HT 4 times this year.

PH

 

[Big ears]

I use a large feather. My bees hate a brush and get caught in the bristles stinging it

Any particular type of feather or will any do? We have loads of Canada geese in the local park who shed them every now and again.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

When looking for queen cells how do you clear a frame without a brush ?

back of hand, blow, leafy twig, bunch of grass

 

[Curly green finger's]

Any particular type of feather or will any do? We have loads of Canada geese in the local park who shed them every now and again.

Any feather will do the trick.

 

[Curly green finger's]

back of hand, blow, leafy twig, bunch of grass

Finger running across comb moves girls out the way

 

[fizzle]

Any particular type of feather or will any do?

Needs to be from a goose that lays golden eggs

 

[Erichalfbee]

Any particular type of feather or will any do? We have loads of Canada geese in the local park who shed them every now and again.

Any large one. I use red kite because they are abundant

 

[Swarm]

Any particular type of feather or will any do? We have loads of Canada geese in the local park who shed them every now and again.

A primary feather, preferably from the right wing if you are right handed so you use the softer side of the feather.

 

[Big ears]

A primary feather, preferably from the right wing if you are right handed so you use the softer side of the feather.

See what I can find/catch

 

[Big ears]

Any large one. I use red kite because they are abundant

Might have to be buzzard down here but do know some turkey farmers

 

[Big ears]

Needs to be from a goose that lays golden eggs

I’ll keep planting those beans as not found one yet.

 

[Patrick1]

So the half red ones are better?

If they have to paint it it's probably mild steel and will rust.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

just test it with a magnet

 

[Patrick1]

I use a large feather. My bees hate a brush and get caught in the bristles stinging it

Blowing on them also works .......eventually, personally I would rather have the reliable kit I need to do the job, I find it difficult to grip the quill. Personal preferance only.

 

[Patrick1]

I could not see any discussion on the following,
Smoker fuel, if you feel the need to use the smoker, or you could practice your beekeeping and control them with a water spray.
The advantages of the water spray are, you can add smelly to distract them when wanting to unit in a hurry.
When you spray the top bars they go down much quicker, they seem to be much calmer.
It never goes out, a big problem for a new beekeeper it seems.
You can always resort to the smoker on a real stroppy hive later in the season.
Smoker fuel, choose it carefully, if you don’t like the smell what makes you think the bees will ! and never use cardboard, they hate the glue.
I would never be without a Roller paper one end, when I see the queen if I need to I isolate her and put the roller on top of the frames, the bees and the queen stay relatively calm and you cannot close up with the roller on the frames.
I disagree with the Haynes book, there are much better books, some based on local areas.
You don't have to follow anyone's advice, develop your own skill set and style from all you read and practice, it is much like bringing up children, learn on the job

 

[Poly Hive]

I blow to move them. The best bit is no extra kit. Water spray is handy though proper dry rotten wood gives a lovely cool smoke.

PH

 

[Murox]

A fine water spray certainly works very well for most of them, but there is always the odd few who just take the mickey.

 

[Patrick1]

Love the photo, is it one you have taken ?