Warnings, from beginners to beginners

[Zante]

Just thought I'd start this thread, so we can talk about our mistakes, share them, and hopefully avoid making them again (yeah right )


I'll start with two:

First one: make sure your suit is really bee-proof, or at least with no gaps.
So far my bees have been quite nice to me, so I started getting a bit careless with closing every gap. Today, for some reason they were a bit stroppy, probably because they were running out of space (I was there to add a second super), and one found a gap got inside the hood and stung me under my chin.

Not nice, let me tell you. Half an hour later it wasn't itching more than a mosquito bite (got plenty of those... ), probably because I reacted quickly and got less venom, but still it's something that could have been avoided.

Second one: keep the area around your hives clear.
I put the super on the second hive, and walked off to let the bees settle a little bit before putting the crown board and lid back on. As I walked back towards the hive I stepped on a ear of grass that hit the crown board where several bees were still sitting. Of course they flew up in anger and that roused the bees in the hive too.

Fortunately my visit was over, so I quickly put crown board and roof back and walked off waving my arms and smoking myself to shoo the bees away. One followed me almost to the car...

 

[JWF]

Brood and a half if you decide to go brood and a half, take the castellations out! Use Hoffman frames or spacers. The castellations mean you can't separate frames before lifting and result in you rolling bees every time you remove one.

 

[Millet]

Don't swat bees if you are stung without a veil on just run like fook..

 

[Birdie Wife]

Be sure you have enough smoke to go through the whole inspection...

Sent from my D6503 using Tapatalk

 

[wightbees]

A few years back now but... Make sure your wear a suit of some type when taking a super off that's over a clearer board, umm all the bee's might still be in there!!

 

[JWF]

If the bees have the proper arse, close them back up and come back tomorrow when you've had a bit of time to think. Don't persevere, it doesn't get any better when they're seriously grumpy and you carry on!

 

[beesbeesbees]

When doing a nuc type artificial swarm don't leave the mated queen in the swarming hive and put the queen cell in the nuc, and after a swarm go in and destroy the six other QCs waiting to cause afterswarms

 

[Poly Hive]

My top tip to any beginner is do not use castelations or porter so called bee escapes.

PH

 

[Beefriendly]

My top tip to any beginner is do not use castelations or porter so called bee escapes.

PH

My top tips are castellations (supers) are good, easy to do 11,10 or 9 spacing. Non rock about when moving them. Very important when moving supers, particularly from the heather . Down side is they tear rubber gloves easier.
Porter escapes work fine, the new versions with plastic springs are good. Usual reason against them is drones get trapped.....what are drones doing in your super above a queen excluder?
Another thing to remember is that there are a million mistakes to make in beekeeeping....and with a few years experience behind you, you only have a few hundred thousand left to make.
It doesn't matter how many years of experience you have, you will still make mistakes. Anyone who tells you otherwise is a liar!

 

[Millet]

The best thing to do with them castellation bits of rubbish if ordered by mistake is turn them upside down and nail them. you may have to drill the odd hole for tacks but it makes life a lot easier.They should be banned..

 

[Beefriendly]

Wait until you have brought the most perfectly formed frames of fully capped heather honey off the moors and found the shaking around of hoffman spaced frames has destroyed the cappings and you can't get the amount of premier grade cut comb you originally thought you had. Manley are better....

 

[Millet]

Wait until you have brought the most perfectly formed frames of fully capped heather honey off the moors and found the shaking around of hoffman spaced frames has destroyed the cappings and you can't get the amount of premier grade cut comb you originally thought you had. Manley are better....

i'm not there yet but i hate the castelasion thing's with a passion, sharp edges for one and no slide here or there movement, still learning though as we know.

 

[castanea]

Hi
Can you please be more specific about castallations? Here in France its normal to buy a hive with castallations.

 

[drex]

I use them in honey supers and think them excellent. However an abomination in brood boxes, where I use runners and Hoffman frames, which allow you to move frame sideways, away from next comb, before lifting, so that you do not roll bees.

 

[Beefriendly]

These things.

 

[Eyeman]

The best thing to do with them castellation bits of rubbish if ordered by mistake is turn them upside down and nail them. you may have to drill the odd hole for tacks but it makes life a lot easier.They should be banned..

Castellations work well in supers.

 

[taurus]

Take everything you read about bees with a pinch of salt.

Figure out what works for you and don't be afraid to experiment.

Always talk to your bees and tell them what you're doing. (I'm not 100% sure they understand or act on it but it helps focus my mind what I am meant to be doing.)

 

[Levitt53]

Oh so many things.

- don't ever say I won't disturb them much I won't bother suiting up.

- a swarm you have collected might swarm a few weeks later.

 

[Angularity]

Don't buy a cheap suit.

Hang your hive tool on a nail near the hives, then you won't forget it.

 

[B+.]

If you need an item, you need a spare (or two).
Beekeeping is one of those things where you might need something infrequently, but, it'll drive you nuts when you need it and can't find it (oh, and you'll need a lot of storage for all of this beekeeping paraphernalia! [and an understanding/supportive spouse]).

The best "tip" I can give is: get the best bees you can. There is a lot of people out there propagating rubbish bees to make a profit. Ask around. Find someone who has good bees and stick with them. Learn as much about bees/beekeeping as you can. Don't be afraid to ask/try out new things. Pretty soon, people will be asking you how its done.