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Search found 30 matches |
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Cosmicwillow Replies: 0 Views: 6406 |
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There's been quite a bit of activity especially in the afternoon lately, been watching for emerging drones, one or two the other day but many more today, by end of day there are between 30/40 dead or ... | |
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Cosmicwillow Replies: 4 Views: 7550 |
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Lots of info there thanks, though I saw a dead drone the other day and have kept looking but not seen any. Going out to listen to them now but there was a distinct sweet smell oh honey late afternoon, ... | |
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Cosmicwillow Replies: 4 Views: 7550 |
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Thanks for that, had one that was very simple but will get the calculator out if needed, by the amount of 🐝 Traffic I'd say there are loads! There seems to be great activity mid afternoon at t ... | |
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Cosmicwillow Replies: 4 Views: 7550 |
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I was given a simple formula for rough idea of bees in colony by counting returning or leaving bees then multiplying by a number, what number escapes me, any ideas? | |
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Cosmicwillow Replies: 1 Views: 5554 |
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One of my two hives appears to be working 'like there's no tomorrow', the hive seems to be filling up at a 'rate'.
The hive will eventually swarm or at least want to, is it likely early in the season ... |
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Cosmicwillow Replies: 8 Views: 10905 |
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With thoughts about foundation size and varying sizes available is something we don't need to think about as from the offset we opted for TBhives wanting to just keep bees for bees sake, so much to fi ... | |
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Cosmicwillow Replies: 8 Views: 10905 |
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Thanks for that, thought my memory was going. In passing, if there are varying sizes of workers does it follow that the cells they emerge from are of minute variation. I know there is a difference bet ... | |
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Cosmicwillow Replies: 8 Views: 10905 |
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In has taken a few weeks from colony swarming ( 3 times in space of couple of weeks ) to actually seeing new brood, which I must admit I thought was not going to happen. The bees continued to be very ... | |
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Cosmicwillow Replies: 4 Views: 10326 |
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Thanks for advice, we have two TBhives and and certainly not thinking about any harvest yet, just getting the thought processes going for the forthcoming season | |
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Cosmicwillow Replies: 4 Views: 10326 |
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Can we extract from comb without destroying it | |
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Cosmicwillow Replies: 4 Views: 10326 |
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Not that we decided to keep bees for honey or that we are about to attempt it now....but when and how do you extract some honey, can it be done in a 'non destructive' way? Just preparing for our first ... | |
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Cosmicwillow Replies: 9 Views: 12929 |
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Thanks for your thoughts, I understand your reasons. I have two tbhives with colonies collected as swarms late last season, both are still active so they are, at moment surviving their/my first winter ... | |
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Cosmicwillow Replies: 9 Views: 12929 |
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bees are becoming active (uk Gainsborough area), not looked inside hive but should i feed them or just let things play out. if advice is feed what ratio of sugar to water. will they mange to forage a ... | |
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Cosmicwillow Replies: 7 Views: 12050 |
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Thanks for that. I thought syrup was most likely not a good idea but there is a block of fondant in there. This is our first year with the bees and both colonies where collected as swarms fairly late ... | |
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Cosmicwillow Replies: 7 Views: 12050 |
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7th Dec north Notts/south Yorks and the bees are acting like it's summer, lots of activity around entrance, bees coming and going, no pollen collection (that I can see), is a good sign or bad? Or just ... | |
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Cosmicwillow Replies: 2 Views: 6372 |
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I'm trying home made wire 'basket' a little like the square suet bird feeders, then threading thin wire through top and up through a top bar and letting it hang free as the next 'comb' along | |
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Cosmicwillow Replies: 7 Views: 10772 |
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So recipe is slightly wrong then, am I missing the ingredient ' glucose syrup', think maybe I am. What does anyone think about melting down marshmallows, organic ones possibly. | |
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Cosmicwillow Replies: 7 Views: 10772 |
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Yes I did whisk and whisk, it looked good then we got sweet concrete. Have chopped it up in smoothymaker, added bit more water and managed an amount for the hive but will need to get jackhammer to wha ... | |
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Cosmicwillow Replies: 7 Views: 10772 |
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Have just attempted to produce a quantity of fondant. 4kilo to 1ltr water, boiled to 240, left for so long, it is now cooling at same time as being stirred. Think I've kept it at 240 for too long, it' ... | |
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Cosmicwillow Replies: 11 Views: 17266 |
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Thanks for comments Barbara, didn't realise that up rate of pollen, and it certainly is, may mean brood increase. My two colonies are small as collected as swarms late summer, am I likely to have prob ... | |
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Cosmicwillow Replies: 11 Views: 17266 |
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Quick last check other day, bees have built completely new comb even at this time of year. I am now leaving them undisturbed as they are bringing in loads of pollen in this very unseasonable weather f ... | |
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Cosmicwillow Replies: 4 Views: 8124 |
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Thanks for the extra details CeeBee, still thinking about my next hive design. Wanting to mount on outside of conservatory with window side made from 10/20mm acrylic with cover on inside of conservato ... | |
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Cosmicwillow Replies: 11 Views: 17266 |
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Thanks colobeekeep/garret, was putting spacer between two bars, on advice, as bees had extended combs and they had begun to join. The colony is quite small as acquired as swarm late in year, have been ... | |
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Cosmicwillow Replies: 11 Views: 17266 |
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Thanks for that, thought I'd leave things to the bees. I expect they may clean up the honey and repack it. | |
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Cosmicwillow Replies: 11 Views: 17266 |
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In the process of putting in spaces part of a comb with just honey in has split off and is now on mesh floor ( horz TBhive), not any bigger than palm of hand, seems a little fiddly to retrieve. Leave ... | |
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Cosmicwillow Replies: 4 Views: 8124 |
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Thanks for that, so you are saying the colony weighs about 30kg (4.5st+), that's some weight. Is your hive TBhive Chandler style. May have to think carefully about design. | |
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Cosmicwillow Replies: 2 Views: 6211 |
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Just checked hive today several combs away from brood combs are full of honey but the bees are starting to join across (just!), should spacers be placed in-between, if so, suggested width please. | |
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Cosmicwillow Replies: 3 Views: 7207 |
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ok, will use your idea of 'pillowcase' filled with woodshavings/sawdust in direct contact with the bars | |
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Cosmicwillow Replies: 3 Views: 7207 |
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Thinking of using expanding foam from can to fill top third or so in apex on inside of pitched roof as insulation. Obviously installed and cured before using on active hive. Anyone have thoughts about ... | |
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Cosmicwillow Replies: 4 Views: 8124 |
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just started keeping, have 2 colonies in 2 TBHs, collect late in year but appear to be doing ok. thinking of installing a hive on garden wall next season and would appreciate any thoughts on general w ... | |
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Conserving wild beesResearch suggests that bumble bee boxes have a very low success rate in actually attracting bees into them. We find that if you create an environment where first of all you can attract mice inside, such as a pile of stones, a drystone wall, paving slabs with intentionally made cavities underneath, this will increase the success rate. Most bumble bee species need a dry space about the size a football, with a narrow entrance tunnel approximately 2cm in diameter and 20 cm long. Most species nest underground along the base of a linear feature such as a hedge or wall. Sites need to be sheltered and out of direct sunlight. There is a spectacular display of wild bee hotels here More about bumblebees and solitary bees here Information about the Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum)
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