http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php British Beekeepers Association discussion forum en Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:54:17 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=167 Sun, 16 Nov 2008 23:34:58 GMT Been working on putting the boxes together. Skills only marginally improved. Husband sayings like, "Why don't you hold the hammer at the end and swing it" and "I think you would find it easier if you hammered the nails in straight - can't you see that they are not straight?" and "There is no kind of thing as, more or less square, it either is square or it isn't Karin!". I was glad for his help anyway.

This lot of boxes not as good as the last lot I got. Quite of few of them not cut quite correctly, warped or with big knot holes. Same price, but got these sent direct from Maisemore and the others I went down to Bluebell Hill Apiaries to get.

Now on the look out for some cheap Cuprinol. Not sure I'll have time to have fun doing fancy designs on this lot. ]]> Karin http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=167 http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=166 Sun, 16 Nov 2008 21:39:44 GMT Well, its another sad one, this entry.
Hubby been to out apiary to check hives after the last few days awful weather - we've lost 3 hives out of six. Drowned in over thrown hives.
Am gutted and disheartened.

Feeling increasingly 'removed' from the bees - due to work, Hubby has been visiting them more often than not without me in tow - hoping in the spring, to schedule my days/evenings better to get to spend time with them - thats if we have any left of course! ]]> Citrine http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=166 http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=165 Mon, 10 Nov 2008 22:09:08 GMT It is raining so much it is coming through the wall of the house. Are the bees dry enough? Am trying on new beards for Winter to keep warm. The... It is raining so much it is coming through the wall of the house. Are the bees dry enough? Am trying on new beards for Winter to keep warm.

The vicious bees that have the queen that mated late September are still flying whilst the others are tucked up. My theory is that the winter bees are emerging at last and want just to stretch their wings a little.

Yuk,yuk, yuk ! There was a disgusting big leopard slug coming out of one of the hives this morning. I killed it in the water butt. Bees weren't bothered.

Getting excited about my flat pack hives arriving soon. ]]> Karin http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=165 http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=164 Sat, 08 Nov 2008 12:43:11 GMT Cold and raining. Have been looking on internet to buy some more kit. Want to make sure I am ready for the Spring and have enough to do swarm... Cold and raining.

Have been looking on internet to buy some more kit. Want to make sure I am ready for the Spring and have enough to do swarm control. (Last year not wholly successful) I'm thinking that the problem might be that all the hives will be ready to swarm at the same time. Can't afford to have twice the number of brood bodies, roofs and floors.

Maisemore were the cheapest. Have ordered another flat pack hive and more flat pack supers and frames and foundation.

Husband still refusing to show me how to use the router saying I wouldn't be safe. I wonder if it would be much cheaper making my own anyway. He says that he will make me some when he has finished the DIY. On current rate of progress that could be some time off.:rolleyes: ]]> Karin http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=164 http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=163 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:40:02 GMT Mead can take a long time to ferment out (1 year plus) and with this in mind I have made 2 types of homebrew this year. The first is a straight... Mead can take a long time to ferment out (1 year plus) and with this in mind I have made 2 types of homebrew this year.

The first is a straight mead the second I think you would call a Melomel that should be finished and ready to drink within 8 weeks.


For both recipes I have used a glass demijohn.

The number one trick is to get everything sterile using Camden tablets or your preferred cleaning product for wine making.

Straight mead:

I started by measuring out just over half the capacity of the demijohn in to a saucepan and heated to just before boiling point.

After removing from the stove I added my Honey (I used 4lb) and stirred until dissolved.

Once cooled I added the mixture to the demijohn and added 1 teaspoon of yeast nutrient (You need to add this because honey has very little nutrient for yeast to thrive) top up the demijohn until your mead is I inch from the neckline.

I then poured dry onto the top of the liquid my packet of dry yeast, I always use a Champagne yeast but some use a sweet mead yeast.

Put a rubber bung in and give it a bloody good shake to aireate(spelling) everything.

Put a bung and airlock in the top and you’re done.

After a couple of months when the dead yeast and crud at the bottom is around one to one and a half inches thick rack off to a clean demijohn and put away again after having a little taste.



My fast mead method:

Take one orange and remove the rind leaving the pith behind, I just use a cheese grater by hand.

Cut the orange in half and squeeze all the juice out.

Dissolve the honey and water the same as you do for the recipe above.

Once added to your demijohn tip in the orange peel and juice.

Add one or two cloves and two sticks of cinnamon.

Get a handful of raisons and cut them in half then add these as well.

Add your yeast as above put a bung in and shake like mad (I have been told that you can even use a packet of dried bread yeast for this recipe instead).

Take out the bung and have a sniff, you can tell already that this stuff is going to be good!

Pop the bung and airlock in and you’re done.

Once fermented out you can just rack because it will clear on its own, no need to rack off.

This is my first attempt at mead making and I await the Mead police comments. ]]> Hampshire Honey http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=163 http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=162 Wed, 05 Nov 2008 17:37:37 GMT The show had a warm cosy feel as everything was close together. The combination of natural and artificial lights showed the competition exhibits off... The show had a warm cosy feel as everything was close together. The combination of natural and artificial lights showed the competition exhibits off well. The main advantage of this venue is the availability of classrooms for the many workshops held this year. The lecture theatre might need more seats as some of the popular lectures did have a large number of people standing out the door. The onsite catering was excellent not the London prices we are used to paying. Our best venue ever! ]]> admin http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=162 http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=161 Sun, 02 Nov 2008 12:38:06 GMT Hives one and two now throwing out brood. Very cold this week. Have posted in Beginner's forum asking for advice.

Having avatar problems... seem to have 2 or 3 now:)

National Honey Show yesterday was fun. Definitely going to enter next year. Managed to buy more stuff that I possibly don't need and talk to lots more beekeepers. ]]> Karin http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=161 http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=160 Sat, 25 Oct 2008 19:54:43 GMT At present my hives are varroa mite free but the mites are slowly coming down the South Island What is the best control strips, foggers, etc At present my hives are varroa mite free but the mites are slowly coming down the South Island
What is the best control strips, foggers, etc ]]> vyvyan1 http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=160 http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=159 Sat, 25 Oct 2008 14:39:12 GMT Hive three, the one with the super mean bees was true to form. They were all clumping on my neck and ears and stung me on the neck through the veil.... Hive three, the one with the super mean bees was true to form. They were all clumping on my neck and ears and stung me on the neck through the veil.

The good news is that there were lots of eggs. Have to wait to see whether they are drone.... they are in worker cells anyway. The queen only emerged about a month ago, so she may not have had a chance to mate properly. (Took the frame to create her emergency queen cell from the slightly less aggressive hive so fingers crossed.)

Put the other hives down to just one brood box. Messed about trying to get mouse excluders on. Couldn't get them on the poly hives due to the shape of the landing board and entrance. Couldn't get it on the wooden hive with the super mean bees either because they were going mad attacking me and were frothing out the front of the hive.

Wonder if that would be a job that was easier to do at night, although am super wary of touching them at night now after they went wild when I looked at them the night I came back from a festival.

Bees foraging a lot today. Lots of new bees doing their back and forth acrobatics in front of hives. ]]> Karin http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=159 http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=158 Sun, 19 Oct 2008 19:55:41 GMT Went for a run and mooched past Paul's hives. He's got his mouseguards all on and very restricted entrances (made narrow with thin slips of plywood) on solid floors. The biggest colony were making a traffic jam getting in and out.

Found some honey fungus for tea, and some lactarius, but not the delicious ones.

My hive that I am worried about still has no eggs, but still polished cells. They were meaner than ever. They seemed to particularly want to sting my face and ears and they managed to get up my sleeves. Following a lot. They have collected lots of dark brown nectar that smells a bit resinous... ivy?....surprising how much.

Took the block out that was restricting the entrance.... they are plenty defensive enough

Did not touch the colonies I'm not worried about. There is an ivy flow on and it's getting cold, so I hope they will sort themselves out and reduce the size of the brood nest.

Will think about mouseguards.... my hives are on slippery plastic crates... they look less vulnerable that Paul's, but i know they are not. ]]> Karin http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=158 http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=157 Fri, 17 Oct 2008 18:11:38 GMT Went through the hive with the newly marked queen today as it was such a nice sunny day. mentor said last week when he found and marked the queen... Went through the hive with the newly marked queen today as it was such a nice sunny day. mentor said last week when he found and marked the queen that she had stopped laying and I was to feed with a jam jar and then check them again in a week - today. Found the queen sauntering about, but only a handful of capped brood and absolutely no young or even eggs, I would like to say I saw 1 egg, but even that was doubtful. I put everything back together and refilled the jam jar, then I went off to potter round the field. I was bending over picking mushrooms when a bee zoomed into my hair. . . with much high pitched whining, me head shaking and running my fingers through it we finally parted company, then it had a go at my arm so I flicked it off with a finger and removed myself. Rang mentor. . . he has two small colonies he is going to unite so I may be able to have the spare queen. Bless him.
The nicer weather has encouraged the hens to lay a bit more and a week or so ago two of my meat growers were limping, one very badly so I put them in the sick bay. The bad one had a broken leg, the other just bruised, I think the pony has trodden on them as they do like to rummage for insects where he is eating. The broken one didn't apear to be in too much discomfort apart from not putting any weight on it, it is broken near the foot so impossible to splint, so I thought I'd give it a few days to see what happens, today it is using it a bit to walk and the other one is better but staying put to keep each other company ]]> itsybitsy http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=157 http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=156 Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:40:44 GMT She told me that she had joined as a member of the forum.... that she was really interested......that she had been reading my blog and it was... She told me that she had joined as a member of the forum.... that she was really interested......that she had been reading my blog and it was fascinating.

Obviously I believed her.

Sue you are a sly dog.

I looked for you. You were fibbing! ]]> Karin http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=156 http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=155 Sat, 11 Oct 2008 14:31:02 GMT Sunny day and lots of foraging. Now can see the pollen and smell the characteristic nectar of the ivy. Seems to have come into flower quite late, and... Sunny day and lots of foraging. Now can see the pollen and smell the characteristic nectar of the ivy. Seems to have come into flower quite late, and quite a lot of it is still not out yet.

Am still keen to mark queen in hive 2. They were roaring but not stinging today. Brood nest covering 7 frames and full, including lots of eggs....not that many stores although quite a lot of new pollen being stored. Gave some syrup. I think it would be good for the queen to slow down now.... this colony will never manage to feed all those mouths otherwise.

Maybe one of my bee buddies will help me look again next weekend if it is still warm. ]]> Karin http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=155 http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=154 Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:03:31 GMT Got the chance for a quick look at just this colony... still just warm enough and the bees still flying as I got home from work early. It has been... Got the chance for a quick look at just this colony... still just warm enough and the bees still flying as I got home from work early. It has been 18C today. Didn't shake off all the frames, to avoid any unnecessary unpleasantness.

The bad news... still very bad tempered, roaring and stinging.... am starting to imagine they don't like me!

The good news... they are still drawing foundation, collecting stores and capping them. No eggs, but they have been polishing cells in the brood nest and they definitely have not filled it up with stores. The QCs I saw previously have been torn down... which makes me think they think there is one who is a goer in there. Am still hopeful. Not sure how many more days it will be warm enough even to have a quick look. ]]> Karin http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=154 http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=153 Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:03:34 GMT Well it's been a mixed week weather wise, torrential rain on Saturday saw the river nearly bursting it's banks on Monday, fortunately it didn't as it's no fun trying to rescue chickens from the flooded field, it gets fast flowing and deep in places. The road flooded partway between my house and field which is a bit of a bind, it comes off the fields onto the road and then can't get away, the road is then closed for days, although I usually get through . . . . slowly and carefully and hoping some idiot doesn't come barging through from the other direction creating a bow wave :eek:.
I rang up my mentor today hoping he would come out and play for a while and help me find the queen in OEO hive, but unfortunately he was busy, it's the first warm day we've had for well over a week, the temperature was down to 8c in the day but today was 16c. I was on my way home thinking what a nice warm day it was, but as I got nearer a big black cloud appeared, which is just typical. Anyway I rang him, no joy . . but I did get a useful 10 minute lecture on winter feeding :) He has an observation hive at home which he's kept through at least one winter and he says it's a useful indicator to what's going on. Well the upshot of that was I ended up making more syrup to feed through home-made jam jar contact feeders.
The rain and now the warm has made the mushrooms grow again and I picked a good handful of nice buttons this morning, with more looking promising for tomorrow. ]]> itsybitsy http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=153