| Author |
Message |
 Topic: Dead drones |
Cosmicwillow
Replies: 0
Views: 6406
|
 Forum: Beginners start here Posted: Mon May 01, 2017 4:58 pm Subject: Dead drones |
| 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 ... |
| Topic: Estimate colony size |
Cosmicwillow
Replies: 4
Views: 7550
|
Forum: Beginners start here Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2017 7:20 pm Subject: Estimate colony size |
| 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, ... |
| Topic: Estimate colony size |
Cosmicwillow
Replies: 4
Views: 7550
|
Forum: Beginners start here Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2017 2:04 pm Subject: Estimate colony size |
| 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 ... |
| Topic: Estimate colony size |
Cosmicwillow
Replies: 4
Views: 7550
|
Forum: Beginners start here Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2017 1:06 pm Subject: Estimate colony size |
| 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? |
| Topic: Life after winter |
Cosmicwillow
Replies: 1
Views: 5554
|
Forum: Beginners start here Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2017 8:03 pm Subject: Life after winter |
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 ... |
| Topic: Worker size |
Cosmicwillow
Replies: 8
Views: 10905
|
Forum: Beginners start here Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2016 6:13 pm Subject: Worker size |
| 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 ... |
| Topic: Worker size |
Cosmicwillow
Replies: 8
Views: 10905
|
Forum: Beginners start here Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2016 3:50 pm Subject: Worker size |
| 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 ... |
| Topic: Worker size |
Cosmicwillow
Replies: 8
Views: 10905
|
Forum: Beginners start here Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2016 11:58 am Subject: Worker size |
| 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 ... |
| Topic: Honey collection |
Cosmicwillow
Replies: 4
Views: 10326
|
Forum: Beginners start here Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2016 3:50 pm Subject: Honey collection |
| 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 |
| Topic: Honey collection |
Cosmicwillow
Replies: 4
Views: 10326
|
Forum: Beginners start here Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2016 10:32 am Subject: Honey collection |
| Can we extract from comb without destroying it |
| Topic: Honey collection |
Cosmicwillow
Replies: 4
Views: 10326
|
Forum: Beginners start here Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2016 12:05 am Subject: Honey collection |
| 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 ... |
| Topic: waking bees |
Cosmicwillow
Replies: 9
Views: 12929
|
Forum: Beginners start here Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2016 6:34 pm Subject: waking bees |
| 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 ... |
| Topic: waking bees |
Cosmicwillow
Replies: 9
Views: 12929
|
Forum: Beginners start here Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2016 2:02 pm Subject: waking bees |
| 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 ... |
| Topic: December activity |
Cosmicwillow
Replies: 7
Views: 12050
|
Forum: Beginners start here Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2015 12:26 am Subject: December activity |
| 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 ... |
| Topic: December activity |
Cosmicwillow
Replies: 7
Views: 12050
|
Forum: Beginners start here Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2015 12:45 pm Subject: December activity |
| 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 ... |
| Topic: Feeding fondant |
Cosmicwillow
Replies: 2
Views: 6372
|
Forum: Beginners start here Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2015 9:24 am Subject: Fondant |
| 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 |
| Topic: Fondant |
Cosmicwillow
Replies: 7
Views: 10772
|
Forum: Beginners start here Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2015 9:01 pm Subject: Fondant |
| 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. |
| Topic: Fondant |
Cosmicwillow
Replies: 7
Views: 10772
|
Forum: Beginners start here Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2015 7:47 pm Subject: Fondant |
| 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 ... |
| Topic: Fondant |
Cosmicwillow
Replies: 7
Views: 10772
|
Forum: Beginners start here Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2015 1:45 pm Subject: Fondant |
| 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' ... |
| Topic: Fallen comb |
Cosmicwillow
Replies: 11
Views: 17266
|
Forum: Beginners start here Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2015 2:40 pm Subject: Fallen comb |
| 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 ... |
| Topic: Fallen comb |
Cosmicwillow
Replies: 11
Views: 17266
|
Forum: Beginners start here Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2015 9:31 pm Subject: Fallen comb |
| 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 ... |
| Topic: weight of strong colony |
Cosmicwillow
Replies: 4
Views: 8124
|
Forum: Beginners start here Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2015 8:38 pm Subject: weight of strong colony |
| 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 ... |
| Topic: Fallen comb |
Cosmicwillow
Replies: 11
Views: 17266
|
Forum: Beginners start here Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2015 6:47 am Subject: Fallen comb |
| 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 ... |
| Topic: Fallen comb |
Cosmicwillow
Replies: 11
Views: 17266
|
Forum: Beginners start here Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2015 9:54 pm Subject: Fallen comb |
| Thanks for that, thought I'd leave things to the bees. I expect they may clean up the honey and repack it. |
| Topic: Fallen comb |
Cosmicwillow
Replies: 11
Views: 17266
|
Forum: Beginners start here Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2015 3:08 pm Subject: Fallen comb |
| 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 ... |
| Topic: weight of strong colony |
Cosmicwillow
Replies: 4
Views: 8124
|
Forum: Beginners start here Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2015 7:52 pm Subject: weight of strong colony |
| 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. |
| Topic: Gap between top bars |
Cosmicwillow
Replies: 2
Views: 6211
|
Forum: Beginners start here Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2015 7:29 pm Subject: Gap between top bars |
| 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. |
| Topic: TBH roof insulation |
Cosmicwillow
Replies: 3
Views: 7207
|
Forum: Horizontal top bar hives Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2015 9:36 am Subject: TBH roof insulation |
| ok, will use your idea of 'pillowcase' filled with woodshavings/sawdust in direct contact with the bars |
| Topic: TBH roof insulation |
Cosmicwillow
Replies: 3
Views: 7207
|
Forum: Horizontal top bar hives Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2015 8:41 pm Subject: TBH roof insulation |
| 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 ... |
| Topic: weight of strong colony |
Cosmicwillow
Replies: 4
Views: 8124
|
Forum: Beginners start here Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2015 8:55 am Subject: weight of strong colony |
| 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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