What did you do in the Apiary today?

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Although the plan was just to spend the afternoon at Builth setting up my exhibits, I did spend some time at the carreg apiary on the way back:
Last night the Range Safety Officer on the 25m range called me to say they thought they had bees at the butts - they were definitely bees and were living behind the railway sleepers holding back the sand trap behind the targets
'Bumbles' said SWMBO 'Bumbles' I thought, 'bumbles' said the old stagers (and one SBI) at the honey show.
So as I was passing the range on the way back home I let myself in and drove up for a quick look, they were............
Honeybees!
Looks like they arrived between Wednesday and Friday Evening and chose the daftest place to make a new home! can't be much room between a stack of railway sleepers and twenty tons of sand!!

 

[Ian123]

Maybe a water washed cavity in the rear I’ve found them in a water main, base of a tree and in coral rock faces. But of course bees don’t nest in the ground and only like thermo dynamic logs of course

 

[Worldsend]

not there until Tuesday so have to hold my excitement in check until then, to be honest, most people competing don't feel much enthusiasm this year, many not even bothering to stage a full range of entries. Just realised after coming home that I've cocked up the labelling on one entry

Oh dear not the dreaded "Not as show schedul" written across your entry card

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Oh dear not the dreaded "Not as show schedul" written across your entry card

Our stewards are far more civilised, just a discreet note tucked under the exhibit.

 

[Wilco]

Back from the latest round of emptying Grandpapa's house this evening, then spun two supers although of them a couple of frames were for cut comb so did my first lot of it plus some scraps.

Sadly there were a couple of warm unhappy ladies in the box and I took a shot to the eyelid, right on the mucocutaneous junction. Well aimed. Turns out I didn't get the sting out immediately and was confused about the sensation until my wife told me it was still there and plucked it. Initial swelling now reducing so just need to wait for the usual flare up tomorrow.

@Erichalfbee I was chuffed to get a cutter in the Thorne sale and disheartened when you poopooed them as crushing the comb but can happily report beginner's luck (it won't last)! Not show quality and a little bit of variation in thickness but should have the customers happy.

@ericbeaumont and @Ian123 I think you two are near me. What's your usual cut comb price?

 

[JamezF]

Sadly there were a couple of warm unhappy ladies in the box and I took a shot to the eyelid, right on the mucocutaneous junction.

They do seem to have some sort of innate understanding about faces and where a carefully-placed sting will really put someone off.

James

 

[Ian123]

Back from the latest round of emptying Grandpapa's house this evening, then spun two supers although of them a couple of frames were for cut comb so did my first lot of it plus some scraps.

Sadly there were a couple of warm unhappy ladies in the box and I took a shot to the eyelid, right on the mucocutaneous junction. Well aimed. Turns out I didn't get the sting out immediately and was confused about the sensation until my wife told me it was still there and plucked it. Initial swelling now reducing so just need to wait for the usual flare up tomorrow.

@Erichalfbee I was chuffed to get a cutter in the Thorne sale and disheartened when you poopooed them as crushing the comb but can happily report beginner's luck (it won't last)! Not show quality and a little bit of variation in thickness but should have the customers happy.

@ericbeaumont and @Ian123 I think you two are near me. What's your usual cut comb price?

View attachment 32939

You mean like this simple take away containers, two per shallow with off cuts for me. Freeze the frames first, I don’t drain the combs as why remove weight. Personally miffed if half the honeys missing The only benefit in draining is if boxes are displayed on their side! There’s a good market for it, but its regular types or those that remember it as kids and odd presents. I was always told double the price of the runny honey, I think you can add a little to that though.

 

[elainemary]

Honey - check
Wax products - check
Frames of honey - check
Display cases- check!
Royal Welsh here we come!


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Good luck. Post some pics pls of the winners!

 

[elainemary]

You mean like this simple take away containers, two per shallow with off cuts for me. Freeze the frames first, I don’t drain the combs as why remove weight. Personally miffed if half the honeys missing The only benefit in draining is if boxes are displayed on their side! There’s a good market for it, but its regular types or those that remember it as kids and odd presents. I was always told double the price of the runny honey, I think you can add a little to that though.

Lovely combs

 

[ericbeaumont]

What's your usual cut comb price?

Sold Ross Rounds (8oz) for £11 last year, likely £12 this autumn.
If I follow Ian's guide they ought to be £13+, because a half pound of honey is £6.50.

 

[Wilco]

Sold Ross Rounds (8oz) for £11 last year, likely £12 this autumn.

If I follow Ian's guide they ought to be £13+, because a half pound of honey is £6.50.

Had wondered about rounds but not up for the cost of the kit just yet. Don't rounds command a higher price due to the presentation?

 

[Moobee]

Did my BBKA Basic Assessment and passed with distinction. Feeling quite chuffed. I know it's only the first and easiest of the assessments but gives me confidence that i'm (mostly) doing the right thing by my bees.

 

[blackcloud]

If only you knew where you could get some....

James

They're like buses

 

[pargyle]

Did my BBKA Basic Assessment and passed with distinction. Feeling quite chuffed. I know it's only the first and easiest of the assessments but gives me confidence that i'm (mostly) doing the right thing by my bees.

I did mine years ago (in the [pouring rain and with the wind howling across the field) the bees were horrible (not surprisingly) after about 15 stings to my hands I suggested to the assessor that it might be better to close them up as neither the bees nor the candidate were enjoying the experience .. His reply, 'no you are doing well - might as well carry on; ... fortunately, he had no mind-reading ability.

I passed ... it's nice to get some recognition that you do know the basics but according to a beekeeping friend who is a basic assessor ... you have to be really bad to fail.

It reminded me of a friend who, many, many, years ago, took his driving test ... it all went very well, no major mishaps of the sort that usually invoked instant failure and they parked up outside the examination centre (this was in the days when the theory was tested by the examiner with some questions whilst you sat in your car at the end of the test). "Now Mr XXXX can you tell me where you should not park you car ?" asked the examiner - David replied " On double yellow lines, where there is a single line down the middle of the road, brow of a hill, near to a road junction, places where signs restrict parking, on a blind corner" the examiner said "yes, is there anywhere else ?", David was struggling 'at a bus stop' . " Yesssss" said the examiner, "Anywhere else ?" .... "Ahhh" said David "Near a pedestrian crossing" "Good" said the examiner "and could you look outside the car and tell me where you have parked". David had parked squarely across the pedestrian crossing a few yards down the road from the examination centre .... he failed !

 

[Wilco]

Did my BBKA Basic Assessment and passed with distinction. Feeling quite chuffed. I know it's only the first and easiest of the assessments but gives me confidence that i'm (mostly) doing the right thing by my bees.

Well done.

Doing mine on Sat so I'll (hopefully) have a piece of paper to wave at companies if they want evidence of training when I'm angling for contracts... Hope it goes well.

 

[Moobee]

Well done.

Doing mine on Sat so I'll (hopefully) have a piece of paper to wave at companies if they want evidence of training when I'm angling for contracts... Hope it goes well.

Good luck - although you'll be absolutely fine I am sure.
I was convinced I had barely passed as some of the questions were a bit random (who cares how many legs a varroa has!!). It was a bloody hot day as well so we didn't do a long inspection.
I did mine for similar reasons - got asked when collecting a swarm if I was a qualified beekeeper. A bit of paper is always handy.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I was chuffed to get a cutter in the Thorne sale and disheartened when you poopooed them as crushing the comb but can happily report beginner's luck

I've used one for years with no issues - well, apart from the time I got blood all over one comb after I sliced my finger on the sharp edge of the cutter

 

[drex]

I am a basic assessor. During training I think I was told the pass rate (not the pass mark) was 97% . I try to make it as relaxed as possible and most candidates say they enjoyed it .
We use a set of guidelines for the questions but inevitable we go off at a tangent.
The weakest section for candidates knowledge is always pests and diseases.
As long as you have looked at the syllabus you will be fine

 

[Amari]

Nowt

 

[ericbeaumont]

Had wondered about rounds but not up for the cost of the kit just yet. Don't rounds command a higher price due to the presentation?

I bought the boxes on eBay, but they're pretty simple to make: just need a rebate at either end on which the cassette lips sit.

The cassettes are a one-off buy but the plastic rings and lids are wasteful. Tricky to get bees into them: big swarm works, strong flow necessary.