What next - double brood 14 x 12 ?

[Excession]

Pargyle, nice photos fella, but you may want to replace the bubble in your spirit level... Those poly's are looking a bit donkey.

 

[Swarm]

Make a nuc up with your new queen and combine that to the angry hive.
Much safer( for your new queen) in my opinion.

+1
Use frames of sealed brood, new emergees won't know any other queen.

 

[pargyle]

Pargyle, nice photos fella, but you may want to replace the bubble in your spirit level... Those poly's are looking a bit donkey.

Yeh .. the platform they are on was a bit of a temporary measure ... by the time I had dragged the LDH six feet across the apiary the bees were well up for it so I just roughly levelled the ground where the hives were going to be sited and left myself enough space in front so, in the next week or so, I can pull them forward a bit and do a proper job of levelling behind them either with some double boarded pallets I have stashed away or some paving slabs ...then put the hives back where they are now.

If I had had ANY sense .. (another lesson learned !) ... I would have located the hives further forward than they are now so I could have worked behind them with the levellling and saved one hive move.. I really hadn't bargained on a zillion bees flying everywhere and to misquote that famous saying ... it's difficult to remember that your original objective was to re-site the hives when you are up to your arse in bees !

...not only are the hives wonky at present they wobble as well !!

But ... it's still a work in progress !

 

[pargyle]

If you know you would have problems lifting a full 14×12 bb of honey then you will probably struggle with one full of bees brood and honey. The top bb could very easily start to fill with honey and gradually get very heavy. How are you at lifting supers at shoulder height.

Not too bad with supers but a 14 x 12 brood box with honey and bees is a bit of a challenge ... it's not so much the weight it's the fact that you can't really get your legs into the lift - not made any easier by the rather minimalist Paynes handholds.

My stands are set so the brood boxes are at my most comfortable height for a straight back lift - and by coincidence (no planning) one stand takes exactly 2 lengths of Wickes planed stud wall timber .. and a bit of pallet wood .. total cost per stand £4.80 + screws and glues.

Care of my back is one of the reasons I went for a long hive in the first place and I do have to be careful as there's a weakness there. Two supers and a brood box on my stands comes to about halfway up my chest .. I tend to keep a super on top just filled with Kingspan as insulation so I can manage that .. if I get to the stage where I have THREE supers filled with honey on any hive I will be a happy bunny and I'll make a crane !!

 

[wessexmario]

If you want to be careful with your back then get a strong box or step to stand on so that you're not lifting anything above waist height. ie: raise your waist up, not your arms.
It's easier and less strain to use your legs to step up and down when carrying at waist high, rather than reach chest high or higher while standing on the ground.

 

[pargyle]

If you want to be careful with your back then get a strong box or step to stand on so that you're not lifting anything above waist height. ie: raise your waist up, not your arms.
It's easier and less strain to use your legs to step up and down when carrying at waist high, rather than reach chest high or higher while standing on the ground.

That's a very good idea ... so now I have to incorporate a 'step' into my hive platform ? ... I love this forum but I just can't keep up with incorporating all your good ideas ...

 

[Tremyfro]

On the other hand...your apiary will be splendid when finished. H&S approved even! My Bee Yard is beginning to look good too. As it is on a slight slope all the hives have to be on levelled slabs. Which has slowed down the progress. Now the Bee Barn is up...there is some protection from the prevailing wind too. Next is the painting and planting and fencing......

 

[wessexmario]

Alternatively, a decent wine box will make do as a step.
Unfortunately you'll have to buy a case of decent quality wine to get one.

 

[pargyle]

Alternatively, a decent wine box will make do as a step.
Unfortunately you'll have to buy a case of decent quality wine to get one.

Your ideas are great ... it's just that they seem to be costing me time or money ... or both !!

 

[beeno]

Your ideas are great ... it's just that they seem to be costing me time or money ... or both !!

I use my workmate and most of the time I can swing the 14x12 across. H & S would never approve lifting the boxes, so don't ask.

 

[pargyle]

I use my workmate and most of the time I can swing the 14x12 across. H & S would never approve lifting the boxes, so don't ask.

Yes - I've got a bit of a stand you can see part of in the photo to the left of the hives that I can rest hive bits on but I really need something that is more robust and of a size that I can sit a box on squarely rather than at an angle ... it's another project in my mind.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I use my workmate and most of the time

I have one of those, he's great at lifting stuff I can't manage.

 

[Obee1]

I really hope you will ask someone from the Cardiff Beekepers to help you. Or perhaps the Beekeeper you got your bees from would come to help. It must be a nightmare! You must have to rally all your bravery! If you can't find someone...I will come and help you....I will wear two suits, two hats, lots of gloves....so don't be afraid to ask.

Thanks trembly that's such a kind offer. I gladly accept. When you coming round?



Only joking! I have a cunning plan. Have bought extra strong gloves and have told OH he's helping. Apparently he thought I was managing ok. Why didn't I say I needed help! Men!

 

[pargyle]

Thanks trembly that's such a kind offer. I gladly accept. When you coming round?



Only joking! I have a cunning plan. Have bought extra strong gloves and have told OH he's helping. Apparently he thought I was managing ok. Why didn't I say I needed help! Men!

Probably because men can never understand what women are thinking ?

Anyway ... marigolds and two pairs of nitriles over the top will stop all but the most persistent of stingers and I would wrap some duct tape around the wrists/cuffs as mine seemed to be quite adept at crawling down the end of the glove and as soon as there was a millimetre of flesh available they found it !

I found it daunting enough just having a zillion relatively docile bees flying about me but I've been involved in inspecting a hive from hell and even half a zillion bees intent on killing you is not nice. Make sure OH is well wrapped up or it will be the last help you get ...

 

[Tremyfro]

Thanks trembly that's such a kind offer. I gladly accept. When you coming round?



Only joking! I have a cunning plan. Have bought extra strong gloves and have told OH he's helping. Apparently he thought I was managing ok. Why didn't I say I needed help! Men!

Well happy to help if you need another set of hands. Only a phone call away. good Luck...when does the new Queenie arrive?

 

[Obee1]

Well happy to help if you need another set of hands. Only a phone call away. good Luck...when does the new Queenie arrive?

I only wish I knew. Ask hive-maker!

 

[Tremyfro]

I only wish I knew. Ask hive-maker!

Has anyone got spare queens in the Beekeepers assn? Might be worth asking. Also there are a number of Beekeepery pages on FB...often see queens for sale there too.

 

[Cussword]

Has anyone got spare queens in the Beekeepers assn? Might be worth asking. Also there are a number of Beekeepery pages on FB...often see queens for sale there too.

FB??

 

[pargyle]

Well ... just when I thought I had it all under control ... got a call from my wife to say 'there are bees in the neighbour's front garden and he wonders if they are yours'.

Well ... they weren't mine as there is a nice red marked queen in the middle of them and I don't mark my bees ! So ... it wasn't a huge swarm and I've put them into a nuc for the time being with a frame of part honey/empty cells and a couple of empty frames and they are sat on the top of a wheelie bin in my neighbours garden until tonight when they will be added to my rather too rapidly expanding apiary.

Made the mistake of telling SWMBO that they weren't MY bees ... fell into that trap nicely .. " So you've got some MORE bees then ?' ... I only seem to open my mouth to change feet at present !

Just had a look at them and they all seem to have gone in and there's just a few coming and going with full pollen sacs .. making themselves at home ! I'll move them when it gets dark tonight and put a few more frames in there - I've got another frame part filled with honey and empty cells so they will be right at home with three new frames and two ready made ones - and some food !! Bee paradise I reckon ...

Rather puts me under some pressure to get the LDH back in action as I don't have another full size hive .... here we go again .. just when I was bragging about having it all under control for once ....

 

[Erichalfbee]

You'll have more hives than Finman soon
Think of the power that will give you