leftofcentre2010
New Bee
Hi all
Well i have been trawling through the posts on here and the numerous sites on the net over this fascinating subject of Bee keeping.
I was quite taken on by it all and the little beasts and was very enthusiastic about starting the hobby myself.
So much so that i have enquired with a member on here and also a few internet sellers about purchasing a Nuc to start off with next spring. I am quite handy with wood and have some stores of marine ply and was even going to build a Hive from scratch over the winter.
The next step was to arrange a Bee Keeping Course at first opportunity.
ANYWAY
You will note the above in past tense!
Having read the posts and comments under the thread "A very sobering experience" on the Stickies section, i have to admit i am rather put-off.
I guess i am quite scared of being stung. I have been stung before as a child (some 30 odd years ago) and again about 5yrs ago on the neck. The latter occasion i did not know what it was that stung me. All i know it was either a wasp or a bee and it hurt like buggary! Almost like being punched in the jaw! It did swell and ached but went away after a day or so. There was no sting left behind.
I have read on here that the bees can sting through protective suits and gloves??
My wife has indicated that she will assist the hobby only so far in that she will help brush me down after i have finished messing with the hive. She reckons seeing the moving mass of insects would freak her out!
Dont know what to do.
We live in a detached house in a little village in Warwickshire next to a farm. There are no adjoining houses but a few gardens are nearby say within 500yrds and even then seperated by about a 12' hedge.
I was going to position the hive behind the garage which is a 7' grass strip flanked by a Barn used to store machinery and Corn.
One of my concerns is that if the bees ever swarm, will they not make a lovely nest either in the garage eaves or barn roof? (there must be lots of nice little holes behind the guttering)
I was going to place a bamboo screen about 7' high on the open ends of the grass strip to persuade the bees to gain height quickly above the farm-access track.
My wife and i are i guess what you could say conservationists although not vegie (is this relevant? ) and we are all for the preservation of Bees for the environment.
Indeed we also have several pigs in a nearby field and a rather large veg garden. We would have loved to have had some of our own honey and wax.
Has anybody any comments? Suggestions?
As it stands i am kind of steering to the opinion that it was a nice thought but perhaps best to leave this hobby to somebody more thick skinned!
Am i right about the nesting in the roof issue?
Look forward to hearing from you all soon.
Andy
Well i have been trawling through the posts on here and the numerous sites on the net over this fascinating subject of Bee keeping.
I was quite taken on by it all and the little beasts and was very enthusiastic about starting the hobby myself.
So much so that i have enquired with a member on here and also a few internet sellers about purchasing a Nuc to start off with next spring. I am quite handy with wood and have some stores of marine ply and was even going to build a Hive from scratch over the winter.
The next step was to arrange a Bee Keeping Course at first opportunity.
ANYWAY
You will note the above in past tense!
Having read the posts and comments under the thread "A very sobering experience" on the Stickies section, i have to admit i am rather put-off.
I guess i am quite scared of being stung. I have been stung before as a child (some 30 odd years ago) and again about 5yrs ago on the neck. The latter occasion i did not know what it was that stung me. All i know it was either a wasp or a bee and it hurt like buggary! Almost like being punched in the jaw! It did swell and ached but went away after a day or so. There was no sting left behind.
I have read on here that the bees can sting through protective suits and gloves??
My wife has indicated that she will assist the hobby only so far in that she will help brush me down after i have finished messing with the hive. She reckons seeing the moving mass of insects would freak her out!
Dont know what to do.
We live in a detached house in a little village in Warwickshire next to a farm. There are no adjoining houses but a few gardens are nearby say within 500yrds and even then seperated by about a 12' hedge.
I was going to position the hive behind the garage which is a 7' grass strip flanked by a Barn used to store machinery and Corn.
One of my concerns is that if the bees ever swarm, will they not make a lovely nest either in the garage eaves or barn roof? (there must be lots of nice little holes behind the guttering)
I was going to place a bamboo screen about 7' high on the open ends of the grass strip to persuade the bees to gain height quickly above the farm-access track.
My wife and i are i guess what you could say conservationists although not vegie (is this relevant? ) and we are all for the preservation of Bees for the environment.
Indeed we also have several pigs in a nearby field and a rather large veg garden. We would have loved to have had some of our own honey and wax.
Has anybody any comments? Suggestions?
As it stands i am kind of steering to the opinion that it was a nice thought but perhaps best to leave this hobby to somebody more thick skinned!
Am i right about the nesting in the roof issue?
Look forward to hearing from you all soon.
Andy