Plans for the season?

[Cuckmere couple]

similar to wingy

3 colonies
want to use one to take a few nucs off - plan on trying Demaree
probably need to requeen all 3
try some bait hives
harvest some honey (though not sure i know what to do with OSR stores if they go hard etc and creaming sounds complicated)
have some nucs into next winter
learn, ask, learn, ask etc

 

[enrico]

Really need to increase. Not had ANY sign of swarming or the need for swarm control on the two years I have been in my new house. Will need to split one hive into nucs. Oh that they could tell me their plans instead of me having to guess!!!!!!!

 

[B+.]

Really need to increase. Not had ANY sign of swarming or the need for swarm control on the two years I have been in my new house. Will need to split one hive into nucs. Oh that they could tell me their plans instead of me having to guess!!!!!!!

They do. 9-10 days in advance

 

[Newbeeneil]

My plans

Increase to 20 production colonies,
Rear some queens,
Go into next winter with 15 nucs to over winter ready to sell next spring,
To try to increase the hives I manage for others from 5 too a few more - nice little number if also supplying made up kit and bees!

I was really resisting putting this down in words as it's probably all gonna go wrong now!

 

[Eyeman]

My plans

Increase to 20 production colonies,
Rear some queens,
Go into next winter with 15 nucs to over winter ready to sell next spring,
To try to increase the hives I manage for others from 5 too a few more - nice little number if also supplying made up kit and bees!

I was really resisting putting this down in words as it's probably all gonna go wrong now!

A plan is usually better than no plan

 

[Swarm]

My beekeeping plan is the same as always, enjoy making the most of the conditions we're sent

 

[B+.]

A plan is usually better than no plan

No plan ever survives first contact with reality

 

[drex]

Yep. The bees rarely take notice of my plans. We normally end up negotiating a compromise

 

[cwinte]

What's wrong with screws?

Here's the thing. I was trying to be clever and cut corners. I made up 70 cedar supers with only screws. No glue.

I then had beekeepers remorse and thought. I have probably saved a couple of hours and massively reduced the life of the boxes.

None of them have seen action yet, so I am going back through them and dismantling them, gluing, screwing and nailing them.

But, these ones need to warm up in front of the radiator for a couple of days first as they are a bit damp.

Lesson learnt. Dont cut corners.

How does this reduce life do you know? I've wondered if the scope for a bit of movement and stronger grip against opening up might not be better. I've seen nails loose on old hives and gaps open up, glue must have failed or was maybe never applied (not parts I assembled)...

Last assembly I used some screws to pull things tight, while glue and nails went in and dry, then removed screws... Any thoughts on that?

 

[Anduril]

Will be mentoring a neighbour who has taken an interest, out apiary sorted, hive built, just need bees.

 

[BMH]

I'm certainly no expert but when I used only screws, I couldn't get all the joints as tight as with nails and glue. The acts as a bit of a filler.

I thought I won't bother going back and glueing them and treat them with glue as and when required but was then worried about the screws snapping whilst in service and how that would leave me in a mess.

Even after being screwed for a matter of weeks some of the screws have failed, so glad I am doing it now.

why did you remove the screws? Screwing and gluing certainly speeds it up if you don't have loads of clamps.

Going forward in gluing all joints, screwing to pull tight and then reinforcing the corners with 40mm oval nails. Belt and braces but it doesn't take too long considering how long they last.

Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk

 

[Millet]

If done properly Gluing and screwing is the way forward..if done properly the screws pull everything together (even warped wood) it is just a case of undoing/apply pressure to the joint and fire the screw back in and wipe any excess waterproof PVA wood glue of with a damp cloth..nails are so yesterday and by the time you knock the next one in the first one has come loose unless you use ring nails..regarding the comment about screws snapping.. what screws are you using as i have never seen one snap yet apart from getting old rusty ones back out..

 

[Curly green fingers]

Been reading? Planning? Pondering on swarm control? Making increase?

So it's fess up time, what are your plans for the forthcoming season?

PH

My plans are ..... After a really good conversation with the bee's but mainly myself .
To look after my bee's to the best of my abilities , how ever many colony's I will have .

 

[blackcloud]

If done properly Gluing and screwing is the way forward..if done properly the screws pull everything together (even warped wood) it is just a case of undoing/apply pressure to the joint and fire the screw back in and wipe any excess waterproof PVA wood glue of with a damp cloth..nails are so yesterday and by the time you knock the next one in the first one has come loose unless you use ring nails..regarding the comment about screws snapping.. what screws are you using as i have never seen one snap yet apart from getting old rusty ones back out..

If you go to Toolstation and buy a box of the cheapest 'gold' coloured screws you can be unlucky if the factory was having a bad day.
You will be able to snap a few if you dont drill a pilot hole first and set the torque-stop on your driver.
Some have eccentric heads (like yours truly) and some have no screwdriver crosses.
But they are still normally good value compared to the 'posh' ones.
Absolutely avoid the cheap silver coloured ones -they're just tin-plated plasticene

 

[blackcloud]

My plan.
Get the all kit clean,repaired and ready to use.
Pester forum members senseless with questions I half-know the answer to already
Read up and try to gain some more knowledge to supplement the rusty teaspoonful I am already flaunting like a little tart.
Try and nurture my one half-colony back to life.
Most of all take time out to enjoy it.

 

[Curly green fingers]

My plan.
Get the all kit clean,repaired and ready to use.
Pester forum members senseless with questions I half-know the answer to already
Read up and try to gain some more knowledge to supplement the rusty teaspoonful I am already flaunting like a little tart.
Try and nurture my one half-colony back to life.
Most of all take time out to enjoy it.

Most of all take time out to enjoy it.[/QUOTE]
That's the easy part

 

[B+.]

Get the all kit clean,repaired and ready to use.

That is easier said than done. I'm still waiting for a delivery of some stuff I bought in the Thornes sale a month ago

 

[Newbeeneil]

If you go to Toolstation and buy a box of the cheapest 'gold' coloured screws you can be unlucky if the factory was having a bad day.
You will be able to snap a few if you dont drill a pilot hole first and set the torque-stop on your driver.
Some have eccentric heads (like yours truly) and some have no screwdriver crosses.
But they are still normally good value compared to the 'posh' ones.
Absolutely avoid the cheap silver coloured ones -they're just tin-plated plasticene

I agree about the cheap "gold" screws, I have never had a problem. I use stainless steel screws on the hives which don't cause the rust stains you get after a while with standard ones but the stainless ones are brittle. I regularly strip a head off them when over tightening.

 

[deemann1]

Guys there is no point in buying screws on the cheap , they are cheap for a reason....
Buy good quality screws

 

[Poly Hive]

Its the old story and its centuries old really.

Buy cheap and pay dear. Now where on the froum have I heard this story.....

It broke, it bent it didn't work......

I bought a load of seconds and now they won't fit.... ETC..... year after year.

PH