Starting Again

[terry jones]

I have been working away from home for over 4 x years and intend to start bee keeping again.
I feel a little rusty so would appreciate any advice.
All my hives were closed down before I left the country and kept inside.
Should I destroy all the frames (even though they look ok) and start afresh.
I live in Shrewsbury and have lost any contacts with local bee keepers.
Fragile Planet are not to far away from me to purchase a Nucleus.
What is the cost of a normal sized 5/6 frame nucleus

 

[Poly Hive]

Welcome back to the craft.

I would suggest your first port of call is here:

http://www.shropshirebees.co.uk

Nucs are silly prices, going for as much as £200+

However there may be some available are more reasonable prices via the association.

If you kit has been kept carefully it should be fine.

Good luck

PH

 

[sherwood]

I have been working away from home for over 4 x years and intend to start bee keeping again.
I feel a little rusty so would appreciate any advice.
All my hives were closed down before I left the country and kept inside.
Should I destroy all the frames (even though they look ok) and start afresh.
I live in Shrewsbury and have lost any contacts with local bee keepers.
Fragile Planet are not to far away from me to purchase a Nucleus.
What is the cost of a normal sized 5/6 frame nucleus

My inclination would be to dust of the existing frames install some fresh foundation and get an overwintered nucleus immediately. That way you have a good chance of performing a two or threefold split by JUne and you will then have three hives running and the possibility of some honey as well. I already have supers filled and in one case sealed. Yes approach your local association, but it is highly likely that any members may have committed present and future nucleus to beginners in their association. I have 3 nucleus available but you are quite distant from me.

 

[bjosephd]

How many roofs crownboards and floors do you have?

Use your kit and make up as many baithives as possible in the meantime. Put some nice smellies in there and maybe somebody might move in!

 

[terry jones]

thanks for the posts.
I will take bjosephd advice and try to entice some girls around.

 

[terry jones]

Bait Hive

Returning back to bee keeping after years away , I have cleaned up and replaced all the wax in the brood frames.
Put on a feeder inside and drizzled some lemon grass around the hive.
Any other suggestions how I can attract a swarm or interest.

 

[bjosephd]

I'd say don't entirely fill the box with foundation, don't forget they are looking for a cavity... I think unless it is drawn comb they will potentially find it a rather odd space.

I caught my swarm with foundation (and a brood comb) filling the top box of a double brood. So there was still a cavity.