| Author |
Message |
 Topic: top bar kenyan, linseed on inside of hive too? |
trekmate
Replies: 2
Views: 4930
|
 Forum: Horizontal top bar hives Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2018 8:10 pm Subject: top bar kenyan, linseed on inside of hive too? |
Hi & Welcome.
LINSEED ONLY ON THE OUTSIDE! Bees like only bee products inside.
Floor depends on your aims. If you want to treat for Varroa you need to check Varroa levels, so need a mesh. If you ... |
| Topic: Bee Guardian?Workabel or con |
trekmate
Replies: 5
Views: 9882
|
Forum: Bee health: the treatment (or not) of bee pests and diseases Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2018 6:48 am Subject: Bee Guardian?Workabel or con |
Does it require a power source?
It doesn't need power source. It's powered by piezoelectric effect generated inside the BG.
The "piezo-electric effect" relies on DISTORTION of a crystal t ... |
| Topic: Splitting very full TopBarHive |
trekmate
Replies: 2
Views: 5879
|
Forum: Horizontal top bar hives Posted: Tue May 15, 2018 7:23 am Subject: Splitting very full TopBarHive |
| A prime swarm leaves on or around the day that the first Q cell is capped. I'd suggest you act sooner rather than later! |
| Topic: Reuse comb that bees died in through starvation |
trekmate
Replies: 3
Views: 6460
|
Forum: Horizontal top bar hives Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2018 7:00 am Subject: Reuse comb that bees died in through starvation |
| I can't get the link to work, but starved bees have their heads deep in the cells. If that's the case you should be OK to re-use the combs. The new bees will clean anything out they don't want, so don ... |
| Topic: surprise bees in discarded warre |
trekmate
Replies: 7
Views: 9738
|
Forum: URGENT Help needed now! Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2017 7:04 am Subject: surprise bees in discarded warre |
| Adam - fully agree with you insulation comments, but I'm referring to "maintaining a strong colony" i.e. density of bees. Mid Lothian is not generally an extreme climate, especially with cli ... |
| Topic: surprise bees in discarded warre |
trekmate
Replies: 7
Views: 9738
|
Forum: URGENT Help needed now! Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2017 6:37 am Subject: surprise bees in discarded warre |
| If they are only in the top box it would be best to take the empties away. Less volume means less to patrol and maintain giving the colony a better chance. I had a small colony in a TBH going into las ... |
| Topic: surprise bees in discarded warre |
trekmate
Replies: 7
Views: 9738
|
Forum: URGENT Help needed now! Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2017 7:03 am Subject: surprise bees in discarded warre |
Bees!  So unpredictable...  Congrats on the swarm.
I don't use Warres, but:
How many boxes are they in? It will be simpler to move them as they are, just close in with ventilation and ... |
| Topic: Spacing Between Hives |
trekmate
Replies: 5
Views: 11549
|
Forum: Horizontal top bar hives Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2017 7:17 am Subject: Spacing Between Hives |
| That said, it is not overly unusual for there to be more than one colony occupy chimney stacks in the same building and I read of multiple colonies being cut out of the same "trailer" in par ... |
| Topic: Spacing Between Hives |
trekmate
Replies: 5
Views: 11549
|
Forum: Horizontal top bar hives Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2017 7:12 am Subject: Spacing Between Hives |
I'd like to add (bearing in mind "Natural Beekeeping") that Tom Seeley says that wild colonies are rarely closer than 100 yards apart.
For most of us that is unachievable, but I try to li ... |
| Topic: Buckfast bees in a mixed Apiary |
trekmate
Replies: 3
Views: 10728
|
Forum: Horizontal top bar hives Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2017 7:08 am Subject: Buckfast bees in a mixed Apiary |
| I have no experience with Buckfast, but understand that any first generation cross (F1 hybrid) can be more challenging. I know that to be true of Carniolans. My first hive was pure Carnies and after s ... |
| Topic: Cross combing disaster |
trekmate
Replies: 14
Views: 18781
|
Forum: Horizontal top bar hives Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2017 8:25 pm Subject: Cross combing disaster |
I don't know your climate, but would err on the side of caution.
I'd suggest leaving them until next season, then as the colony build up, move the crossed combs all together towards one side of the ... |
| Topic: Black Comb |
trekmate
Replies: 3
Views: 9407
|
Forum: Horizontal top bar hives Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 7:10 am Subject: Black Comb |
I agree with Barbara, especially that there is no fixed time - it's very dependent on your conditions.
I'd add that some see wax as a hive product (used for candles, cosmetics etc.) and may theref ... |
| Topic: Bumble |
trekmate
Replies: 5
Views: 9677
|
Forum: Beginners start here Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2017 7:22 am Subject: Bumble |
If you have concerns, plant plenty of bee friendly flowers and encourage others to do the same!  |
| Topic: Er... have I had a supersedure? |
trekmate
Replies: 5
Views: 8809
|
Forum: Beginners start here Posted: Sun May 28, 2017 6:49 am Subject: Er... have I had a supersedure? |
Same advice as catchercradle, but I'd suggest the old queens production may have dwindled at such a rate that she has almost sopped laying before the bees react with a suspercedure cell.
I've found ... |
| Topic: Western Red Cedar |
trekmate
Replies: 2
Views: 8345
|
Forum: Horizontal top bar hives Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2017 6:36 am Subject: Western Red Cedar |
I've use 8" +4" with great success, couldn't get 12" to try.
Just be aware of the dangers of dangerous of cedar dust - I learned the hard way and have an inhaler now (although not us ... |
| Topic: icing sugar containing starch |
trekmate
Replies: 2
Views: 6341
|
Forum: Bee health: the treatment (or not) of bee pests and diseases Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2017 8:04 am Subject: icing sugar containing starch |
| Try grinding white granulated sugar to the consistency of icing sugar. A clean coffee grinder or food grinder works well. |
| Topic: Periscope entrance for bait hive? |
trekmate
Replies: 11
Views: 16214
|
Forum: Horizontal top bar hives Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2017 8:00 am Subject: Periscope entrance for bait hive? |
I have baited many swarms into much smaller boxes - between 20 and 35 litres, approximately, so don't take this too literally!
I've also had a swarm move into a full sized hive with the followers set ... |
| Topic: Hive scorching |
trekmate
Replies: 8
Views: 11902
|
Forum: Horizontal top bar hives Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2017 7:45 am Subject: Hive scorching |
.... If you use triangular mouldings as comb guides, you will be coating them with wax anyway, so that seals the wood.
"Coating" is excessive! With triangular guides all you need is to rub ... |
| Topic: Voice Controlled Beekeeping Inspection App in Beta |
trekmate
Replies: 10
Views: 15297
|
Forum: Bright ideas, experiments and projects Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2017 8:25 am Subject: Voice Controlled Beekeeping Inspection App in Beta |
I have been playing with a system of coloured pins on a cork board and that seems to work OK for me.
... and the batteries will never go flat when you need it! |
| Topic: Three nice mice occupied my TBH |
trekmate
Replies: 1
Views: 7036
|
Forum: Horizontal top bar hives Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2017 8:13 am Subject: Three nice mice occupied my TBH |
Hi Michael
I have no experience of this, but bumblebees LOVE the smell of mouse urine. They often nest in used mouse nests. In parts of Africa human urine is used to bait a hive with great success. ... |
| Topic: eco floor |
trekmate
Replies: 5
Views: 10112
|
Forum: Horizontal top bar hives Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2017 7:57 am Subject: eco floor |
Like catchercradle, I've not used an eco-floor, but my understanding is that you should leave the contents, but be prepared to add more if it has settled.
As for the bees on the floor, the aim is t ... |
| Topic: Feeding small amount of sugar cake to wild hive |
trekmate
Replies: 3
Views: 7318
|
Forum: Beginners start here Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2017 7:57 am Subject: Feeding small amount of sugar cake to wild hive |
| If, as you say, they have no combs, feeding would be essential! How have they survived this far with no food stored? Do you see foraging throughout the year? Are you sure they have no combs now? When ... |
| Topic: Encouraging a propolis envelope... |
trekmate
Replies: 5
Views: 10632
|
Forum: Bright ideas, experiments and projects Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2017 7:57 am Subject: Encouraging a propolis envelope... |
In the People's Hive (Warre) the hessian is painted with a flour paste to stop the bees chewing and removing it. You might like to look into something similar?
As long as the cloth is firmly attach ... |
| Topic: FLIR images |
trekmate
Replies: 2
Views: 7934
|
Forum: Photo gallery Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2017 7:43 am Subject: FLIR images |
Thanks for that. Greta photos. On some images it's so obvious where the brood nest is!
Is the insulation polystyrene? Does that cause/worsen any issues with condensation/dampness in the hives?
... |
| Topic: Icing sugar treatment for varroa mites |
trekmate
Replies: 16
Views: 21129
|
Forum: Bee health: the treatment (or not) of bee pests and diseases Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2017 8:01 am Subject: Icing sugar treatment for varroa mites |
So you pour the sugar into the bulb. I can imagine both of these devices can get gummed up with damp or even humidity.
Thanks Trekmate
Yes, I removed the spout, half-filled with powdered sugar and ... |
| Topic: Icing sugar treatment for varroa mites |
trekmate
Replies: 16
Views: 21129
|
Forum: Bee health: the treatment (or not) of bee pests and diseases Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 7:45 am Subject: Icing sugar treatment for varroa mites |
.... Does anyone else make a smaller version?
. . . . BenThis what I have used to good effect - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-AIR-BLOWER-PUFFER-FOR-PROFESSIONAL-CLEANING-DUSTING-/150555856003 |
| Topic: Icing sugar treatment for varroa mites |
trekmate
Replies: 16
Views: 21129
|
Forum: Bee health: the treatment (or not) of bee pests and diseases Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2016 7:43 am Subject: Icing sugar treatment for varroa mites |
| While I realise you've followed the advice on both of the links you posted (125g for each brood box) I agree with Barbara - it's far too much for such a small colony. Looking at your photo, the sugar ... |
| Topic: For lovers of our countryside. |
trekmate
Replies: 2
Views: 7033
|
Forum: Environmental issues, GM, pesticides and campaigning Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2016 5:32 pm Subject: For lovers of our countryside. |
| ... And just over the boarder in North Yorkshire, the Wenningdale Climate Action Network (WeCAN) https://www.facebook.com/We-CAN-360027897676504/ |
| Topic: Entrance size - how do you decide you've made it too small? |
trekmate
Replies: 5
Views: 10816
|
Forum: Beginners start here Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2016 6:40 am Subject: Entrance size - how do you decide you've made it too small? |
| If you have a wasp problem, the entrance is too small when honeybees can't get in! If you're controlling the wasps successfully, I'd leave it as is - the bees will cope as long as they're not losing p ... |
| Topic: Strange strange! |
trekmate
Replies: 4
Views: 8299
|
Forum: Beginners start here Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2016 7:12 am Subject: Strange strange! |
| Posting photos - have a look at http://www.biobees.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=906 |
| |
Forum
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Your Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
