UFE Question

[Newbeeneil]

In JBM's part of the world it's probably expected

(I say that as someone whose family originated in rural Lincolnshire. I know some of my non-too-distant ancestors married their cousins regardless of the legality. It probably explains a great deal )

James

I once spoke to a heart surgeon from Norwich hospital who told me the reason they had the best heart specialists in the country was because of the inbreeding in the locality!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Is there a point to this thread?

definitely, a question was asked, people have answered, useful information has been shared and at the same time - much as what happens when people get together, they chat and veer off subject a little.
It's called fun in each others' company and a pleasant way to spend the doldrum period between Christmas and the new year.
What forums are all about.
Reminds me of the time I played Sir Toby Belch in a Christmas performance of 'Twelfth night' in my acting days (act 2 - scene 3)

 

[Ian123]

Is there a point to this thread?

Is there a point to this question…… I think the title says it all.

 

[Black Mountain Honey]

I just love this floor design! Best bit for me is the ability to close them up in seconds with a foam bung.

Perfect for reducing entrances (if ever needed), vaping and moving colonies. No other floor makes it quite as easy!

 

[Erichalfbee]

I just love this floor design! Best bit for me is the ability to close them up in seconds with a foam bung.

Perfect for reducing entrances (if ever needed), vaping and moving colonies. No other floor makes it quite as easy!

Yes. All of mine are like this. JBM let me have one and Stan copied them adding a refinement or two.

 

[JamezF]

All my OMFs use a fairly standard woven mesh that I'm sure we're all familiar with. A photo on David Edwards' site of a Pete Little OMF looks like it uses expanded aluminium mesh. I'm inclined to think that's a better choice because it allows more rubbish to fall through. In particular I think it might be better if one is using the cappings dropping through the floor as an estimate of whether the colony is broodless or at a time of minimal brood for the purpose of varroa treatment. In fact given that varroa drop numbers aren't supposed to be that good an estimate of mite load, that varroa probably don't fall through the floor that often unless they're already dead and that in my case the bees appear not to like open floors anyhow (they propolise them up), estimation of brood numbers seems like the only real use for a mesh floor.

Anyone have experience of using the expanded mesh floors? Have I misinterpreted the photo of Pete's floor design? I'm toying with the idea of making a few for next year with tightly fitting trays that are left closed all year and just used for checking for brood capping waste in the run up to treatment in the winter, though I probably won't as it seems like an awful lot of effort to check every week as hive numbers grow.

James

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

All my OMFs use a fairly standard woven mesh that I'm sure we're all familiar with. A photo on David Edwards' site of a Pete Little OMF looks like it uses expanded aluminium mesh. I'm inclined to think that's a better choice because it allows more rubbish

What part of all the rubbish falls through woven mesh don't you like? most of my floors are woven mesh - the nucs have expanded (galvanised) mesh, I have never seen any rubbish collecting on either

 

[JamezF]

What part of all the rubbish falls through woven mesh don't you like? most of my floors are woven mesh - the nucs have expanded (galvanised) mesh, I have never seen any rubbish collecting on either

Perhaps some of my bees are just more smelly and horrible than yours. Or maybe they leave the bigger stuff on the floor rather than chucking it out of the entrance because it blocks the mesh and saves them a job. Not a clue. Useful to know that you see no difference between the two though.

I still have the colony from hell on an OMF. I shall try to remember to check what their floor looks like next Spring when "Operation Gatepost" commences.

James

 

[Swarm]

Is there a point to this question…… I think the title says it all.

I think you both know what I was referring to. Don't deliberately go out of your way to antagonise another forum member.

 

[Buzby]

I've never had to or felt a need to reduce the entrances. Of course these entrances were part of the Dartington Long Hive design. Not sure which came first.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I've never had to or felt a need to reduce the entrances. Of course these entrances were part of the Dartington Long Hive design. Not sure which came first.

I think it's a useful thing to consider for a nuc during wasp season, especially if newly made up and not yet well populated

 

[Amari]

In JBM's part of the world it's probably expected

(I say that as someone whose family originated in rural Lincolnshire. I know some of my non-too-distant ancestors married their cousins regardless of the legality. It probably explains a great deal )

James

There is no illegality of first cousin marriage in UK.
https://metro.co.uk/2018/08/01/can-marry-cousin-uk-family-members-illegal-marry-7785320/

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

There is no illegality of first cousin marriage in UK.
https://metro.co.uk/2018/08/01/can-marry-cousin-uk-family-members-illegal-marry-7785320/

no - if they had legislated against that over the years the royal family would have died out by now

 

[Erichalfbee]

no - if they had legislated against that over the years the royal family would have died out by now

Weren't Victoria and Albert first cousins?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Weren't Victoria and Albert first cousins?

as were their parents probably, not much other than German blood in the current lot of hangers on - the gene pool is very small

 

[Ian123]

So I got bored before the wood yard reopened and went to B&Q, brought some 4x1 and made up a few floors. I’ll been down to the yard tomorrow and place an order, I just need to find a pile of mesh! I think my entrance reducing problem can be simply solved with a piece of 2x1 slid to the rear.

 

[Gingerbread]

Where do people buy/acquire their mesh from?
Seems expensive from bee retailers.

 

[JimBee463]

Where do people buy/acquire their mesh from?
Seems expensive from bee retailers.

I'd like a good, cheaper alternative too.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

The mesh company (from their website or ebay) C Wynne Jones usually have good deals on mesh especially during the shows

 

[blackcloud]

Stbk does or did do 1,3,5,10 amounts on ebay at reasonable cost.
TMC does a roll of it at a good price if you can stomach the outlay