Elaine
House Bee
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2011
- Messages
- 299
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Pamber Heath Hampshire
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 6
We got our first hive this year (my husband is by 'bee-buddy') - I would say the main thing you need to do before committing to your own hive is to make sure you feel confident handling a full hive of active bees! You need to respect them and their sting - but not be afraid of them. Sorry if it sounds like stating the obvious, but if you are not confident, then your movements will not be smooth and steady, and there will be a greater risk of squashing one, which will probably upset you as well as them :-(
Once you have them - I find it good to just sit and watch them coming and going - that helps you get a feel for thier mood - (although the down-side is you keep seeing things you've never seen before and wondereing what it means!)
Thirdly "Don't Panic" - Every time we make a decision on anything, based on what we've read/advice from the course we are attending/other beekeepers/our bee supplier/this forum or just what we think- the next thing you read or hear can be completely contradictory! And the bees do what they want anyway
Elaine
Once you have them - I find it good to just sit and watch them coming and going - that helps you get a feel for thier mood - (although the down-side is you keep seeing things you've never seen before and wondereing what it means!)
Thirdly "Don't Panic" - Every time we make a decision on anything, based on what we've read/advice from the course we are attending/other beekeepers/our bee supplier/this forum or just what we think- the next thing you read or hear can be completely contradictory! And the bees do what they want anyway
Elaine