Your thoughts on this breeder.

[Mint Bee]

There is a future for Beefarming in the UK and the ban on imports will most certainly hit the hobby market and those who import bees to sell into it..... very hard.
Good luck to them I say!

Nice attitude to wish for hobbiests and a significant number of your fellow members of the BFA. I'm OK so screw you......

off the top of my head, in no particular order, a few possible consequences;
prices go up for everyone, quality goes down as some people will look to take advantage of lack of supply.
breading programmes take time to improve stock, with the quality of baseline bee stocks in some parts of the country that means putting up with aggressive unproductive bees for many seasons.
swarms become premium and get sold on more frequently than given away
chance of grey / illegal imports into the UK with even less biosecurity checks
more bee poaching to meet demand
Reduction in choice - to paraphrase Henry Ford, 'you can have any color as long as its black'

I have trained and tried and am consistently crap at queen raising. could be a whole range of reasons, but I'd now rather use the honey money to buy queens off someone who know what they're doing, with a decent gene pool to select from

the greater good - sandford style

 

[rolande]

I think the important thing to remember is that If we leave without a deal it'll only be a short term issue, it's totally inconceivable that we'll never have an extensive deal with the eu again in the future. Those who seem to be hoping for a 'no deal' are fooling themselves if they think otherwise.

 

[Mint Bee]

I wish I could believe that rolande. I think it will take a long time for any bridges to be mended based on current attitudes and positions. I hope I'm wrong

 

[Curly green finger's]

I think I'm about a two years behind you at the moment, but my skill-set maybe further behind! My queen rearing failed this year, but 'lessons were learned' as they say. I go into this winter with only 18 strong hives, but who knows, it may be better eventually.
Queen-breeding, using splits and the Nicot system will be to the for, next season. Good advice has come from this forum and I am always thankful for that! The strange thing was, I got distracted by the incredible honey production this season. Processing took me longer than I wanted, due to lack of equipment.
I invested considerably last season in new hives, frames etc. It certainly mounts up. I went through about £7000 last year and made a couple of thousand on honey. Most of that went straight back into the business though. Honey sales got a bit complicated, when there were problems with my main buyer. I'm still holding about £700 worth of honey here! It will be sold though.
Next season I will buy around twenty new hives (Paradise) plus ten BS honeybees 'double nucs.' They are brilliant! I already have five, that were so useful this season. I also want twenty correx nucs.
Of course, they will all require frames and foundation. I also need a better honey production system......and jars.....and labels....and.......a paint sprayer!!!! Hahaha, just one more injection.....of about £5000?
My partner already knows that I am insane, so it's not worth anyone saying anything about that on here! It IS the time 'Apple.' I am a gambler anyway, but would rather lose lose as a beekeeper, than a poker player.

Serious bee fever my friend..
Beekeeping is a perfectly good addiction, the only thing your going to ruin is possible your relationship and back.
My wife says I'm crazy.. I won't say daily because it sounds like I'm hen peeked.

On a more sober note, I didn't realise where you were going but now I know.
Ut most respect. . [/QUOTE]

 

[Swn58]

There will always be 'deals.' They need us as much as we need them, after all? The ball is in the air as to who needs a deal most, but I suspect that it's them.

As for the beekeeping situation? It's a great opportunity for us (Beeks!) to become strong and independent. All I can say to you 'Mint Bee' is that I'm sure that there will be certain negatives, but far more positives. Negatives could be more stealing in general, by people who think they will make money. There may even be illegal unregulated imports. However beekeeping is a pretty specialist thing....with 'local dangers' attached. I cannot for the life of me believe that there will be organised crime syndicates plotting the building of a 'Bee-empire.' It's not worth the pain or hassle! The optimist in me, again, also thinks that whether 'hobbyist' or potential 'pro,' we will always help each other.
Take this forum. Some of us are arrogant, ignorant....down right stupid in some respects. Three words my partner often uses about me. As for my ex-wife.....she had far more adjectives! However, I can honestly say that I have never met a truly malicious, malevolent beekeeper in my life. Generally, everyone tries to help each other on here and in the 'real' world. I know I do. I cannot see that this will change, post Brexit, at all. After all, we all know that us Beeks will always be stronger by staying together?

 

[Swn58]

Serious bee fever my friend..
Beekeeping is a perfectly good addiction, the only thing your going to ruin is possible your relationship and back.

I think I'm okay on both those fronts. The strange thing is that it's the first time in my life that I can truly see a path to take. I wanted to be an artist at 19, but it was never going to happen. I became a gardener......saw no future in it, but built a business as a landscaper/builder for twenty plus years. I then lost everything.
I then worked for an MP and MEP husband and wife, for three years. Then looked after an estate for an industrialist. The lowest point was then becoming a scheme manager for sheltered housing. Fourteen f**king years wasted and it nearly killed me! BUT.....I met a beekeeper in that time. I then knew that I would be okay. There was a future.
This business isn't for everybody.....in fact it barely suits anyone. That's why I like it though!

 

[rook66]

I think I'm okay on both those fronts. The strange thing is that it's the first time in my life that I can truly see a path to take. I wanted to be an artist at 19, but it was never going to happen. I became a gardener......saw no future in it, but built a business as a landscaper/builder for twenty plus years. I then lost everything.
I then worked for an MP and MEP husband and wife, for three years. Then looked after an estate for an industrialist. The lowest point was then becoming a scheme manager for sheltered housing. Fourteen f**king years wasted and it nearly killed me! BUT.....I met a beekeeper in that time. I then knew that I would be okay. There was a future.
This business isn't for everybody.....in fact it barely suits anyone. That's why I like it though!

Thanks for sharing your experiences, given a little time things will will work out. I don't trust politicians to solve anything, they only have one thing on their mind, the next election! Business people are watching the end of year results.

 

[Apple]

SWN 58...
Learn to graft.. try the Nicot as well... try the Millar system and any way you think you can raise queens.
Keep your BS doubles and just try some splits of a comb of brood one of food and one with pollen... do both sides from same strong colony and shake more bees than you think you will need from the supers ( ie above qx) onto the top frames... then lock the bees in straight away and take the box to your mating apiary ( Swallow free with a couple of prime best drone producers... put drone comb in them... 2 frames... two frames in from each side.
Feed everything... THEN LET ALONE FOR A MONTH... at least one and possibly both sides of your BS will have new laying queens... you are producing your next generation of bees... and you get enough honey from the other hives. Get all those nucs full of bees......
You say you like a gamble.... this way you push the odd into your favor!

I have a New Zealand !casset! incubator.. takes 175 queens, given to me used by a breeder of Buckfast type queens... I have yet to use it..... [ somewhat doubt that I ever will} also a couple of buckets of plastic cell cups ( look a bit like the German system.. fit on 1/4 inch dowell pins)
Anyone interested in collecting ... would swap for a couple of firkins! ( Tamar Valley East Cornwall)
PM me!
I don't bite ( well not often!!)

Nadelik Lowen

 

[Polymorph]

BS Buckfast or Carniolan, Tim?

It was two buckfast queens. Introduced fine, but didn't last. As I said, the daughter of one created a really strong colony but my sleeves would get covered with little hunched bees trying to get there weapons through. So different to the other colonies.

 

[Curly green finger's]

SWN 58...
Learn to graft.. try the Nicot as well... try the Millar system and any way you think you can raise queens.
Keep your BS doubles and just try some splits of a comb of brood one of food and one with pollen... do both sides from same strong colony and shake more bees than you think you will need from the supers ( ie above qx) onto the top frames... then lock the bees in straight away and take the box to your mating apiary ( Swallow free with a couple of prime best drone producers... put drone comb in them... 2 frames... two frames in from each side.
Feed everything... THEN LET ALONE FOR A MONTH... at least one and possibly both sides of your BS will have new laying queens... you are producing your next generation of bees... and you get enough honey from the other hives. Get all those nucs full of bees......
You say you like a gamble.... this way you push the odd into your favor!

I have a New Zealand !casset! incubator.. takes 175 queens, given to me used by a breeder of Buckfast type queens... I have yet to use it..... [ somewhat doubt that I ever will} also a couple of buckets of plastic cell cups ( look a bit like the German system.. fit on 1/4 inch dowell pins)
Anyone interested in collecting ... would swap for a couple of firkins! ( Tamar Valley East Cornwall)
PM me!
I don't bite ( well not often!!)

Nadelik Lowen

When you say the Miller system do you mean the Miller frame system?.

 

[madasafish]

When you say the Miller system do you mean the Miller frame system?.

Miller method queen rearing https://tinyurl.com/yxopkr6z

 

[rolande]

Money talks.

.. try the Millar system

Yes. Taber was of the opinion that the Miller method was as good as anything for someone with up to fifty colonies.

Edit: Miller of course had considerably more than 50 colonies and got by just fine with his way of doing things.

 

[Curly green finger's]

Miller method queen rearing https://tinyurl.com/yxopkr6z

Madasafish the Miller frame method has been my method for queen rearing for the last three years it has taken me this long to really get to grips with it.
I've read about it studied other beekeepers that use it. ive Tried different types of frames foundation starters.
Fresh comb from starters
Super frames, brood frames, and both types of boxes.
Demarree colonys even, with the Miller frame.
I did plan to graft as my mentor does which I didn't try this season but I'm going for it next season.

To produce queen's on a bigger scale and to a better time scale I need to graft.
This country isnt the most ideal place to use the Miller frame method as you know..
I find this guy very inspiring among some others.Miller frame method.

 

[madasafish]

Madasafish the Miller frame method has been my method for queen rearing for the last three years it has taken me this long to really get to grips with it.
I've read about it studied other beekeepers that use it. ive Tried different types of frames foundation starters.
Fresh comb from starters
Super frames, brood frames, and both types of boxes.
Demarree colonys even, with the Miller frame.
I did plan to graft as my mentor does which I didn't try this season but I'm going for it next season.

To produce queen's on a bigger scale and to a better time scale I need to graft.
This country isnt the most ideal place to use the Miller frame method as you know..
I find this guy very inspiring among some others.Miller frame method.

I wish you luck grafting.
(As I have posted before) I learned this year.
Frequent attempts with checks after 24 hours to see if grafts have taken is the only way I learned. (But I am 73 with varifocals and one weak eye).

Grafting is much the best way to go having tried most other systems.

 

[Curly green finger's]

I wish you luck grafting.
(As I have posted before) I learned this year.
Frequent attempts with checks after 24 hours to see if grafts have taken is the only way I learned. (But I am 73 with varifocals and one weak eye).

Grafting is much the best way to go having tried most other systems.

Thanks madasafish..

 

[Ian123]

Thanks madasafish..

Make use of child Labour I was doing it aged 10 for a beek up the road

 

[ericbeaumont]

I find this guy very inspiring among some others. Miller frame method.

Interesting that Roger uses virgin comb rather than foundation and recommends only two V cuts in a BS frame.

 

[Apple]

Make use of child Labour I was doing it aged 10 for a beek up the road

Grandfather used to make just 2 V cuts using a cut comb cutter... in the 50s!!

Have tried the punched cell system and others but grafting as you can graft so many cell is the way forward
127 NZ Cassette QC incubator + Jenter cups .... up for grabs.. fee a couple of bottles of single malt?
PM if interested

 

[Ian123]

Interesting that Roger uses virgin comb rather than foundation and recommends only two V cuts in a BS frame.

Roger recommends many things the majority I would avoid

 

[Curly green finger's]

Interesting that Roger uses virgin comb rather than foundation and recommends only two V cuts in a BS frame.

Only using two vs makes the Queen have less of an area to lay in..
Obviously virgin comb speeds the process up and is easier to cut
Like Roger I use cut comb frames that haven't been drawn out completely (when available) although you can just cut the two vs even if they are drawn out completely, a bit of a waste in my eyes.
I would rather use full comb for something else like honey supers etc..
I've had comb snap so reverted back to wired drawn virgin comb although unwired comb is more pliable and you don't have to cut the wire.

The Miller frame method was also my grandads way of queen rearing.

I would also advize not to use foundation but use either unwired or wired virgin comb and not be two worried about the shape even if the vs aren't quite v shaped it doesn't really matter. Qcs will get drawn all the same.