BeeHive

Gardening to 'grow your own food' from square foot to half an acre !!
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p.penn
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Post by p.penn »

Hi Citrine. Can't believe that. And you were doing so well........... :shock:

Bee keeping appears to have kept you on your toes judging by your earlier adventures. Hopefully, in a while, you will look back on this as just another challenge as successfully dealt with as all the others.

Good luck. I will 'bee keeping' my fingers crossed!!! )j;
Helen xx

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Citrine
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Bee Diary 14

Post by Citrine »

Phew!!!

Set Hubby the task of ringing round local farmers who are 3 miles away - luck!
Tonight, we are going to meet one of them, he has apples, plums and cherries, and is most excited about having bees on his land. He has had them before, but his brother no longer has bees.
The farmer also suggested we keep them out of the apple orchards, due to spraying - he sounds like a decent chap!!

Big raspberries to the paddock lady!!! :razz: :razz: :razz:
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chickenchaser
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Post by chickenchaser »

Any updates on the bees Citrine?

I've been off-line for a while but I'm back now.

I was looking forward to the next thrilling instalment :oops:

Hope everything's OK.
Jackie xx
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Post by TURFEY21 »

Just read this entire post with delight & interest.

How are the bees coming along Citrine, how many hives have you got now?

I would love to keep bees one day but one step at a time - get settled with my chickens coming soon first I think :-)
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Citrine
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Update...

Post by Citrine »

Thanks for asking everyone, its been a right roller coaster ride this beekeeping lark!!!

Will transfer my Blog over from the Beekeeping Forum, so you can share my misadventures!!
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Citrine
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Bee Diary 13

Post by Citrine »

Well, with much regret, and with a sad heart, Hubby took the colony deep into the woods and said farewell to them. It seems an egg laying worker colony is far too dodgy to try and re-queen without making matters worse.

Ordered 3 queens, to re-queen two colonys, and to give a queen to another when Mentor gives us some frames of brood.
Now, all we have to do is some research on how to do it!!!
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Citrine
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Post by Citrine »

Sunday 13th July

Up early this morning, to take the Hives to their new site.
Got some very strange looks from other vehicle drivers, and pedestrians - also wonder what they are doing up and about, as I thought it would be quieter! We were veiled up in the car, as we had a couple of escapees. Hope our 'Bees in Transit' sign gave them a clue, and set their minds at rest.......
Got there about 08:30, did some preliminary cutting back of the hedge, so we didnt get our veils ripped (...lesson learnt!!!).
Levelled the earth, so that the hives, once sited, wouldnt wobble about.
Ate some cherries...mmmm, its amazing how a fresh cherry just melts in the mouth....
Got the beer crates and put them out in the new positions. Next get hives out of car and place them very gently in their new home.
Once done, take straps off, and the foam entrance blocks. Quick inspection, to make sure all is well.
Back home, for a cuppa and bacon sandwich!!!
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saint-spoon
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Post by saint-spoon »

good morning Citrine, nice to see you back. we were missing the ongoing saga of the bees.
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Citrine
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Post by Citrine »

Thank you SS!! Got a bit busy, hence the no -show on here! (Tend to do my surfing at work!) Now im back in the office and out of the warehouse, I seem to have some spare time on my hands! )t'
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Post by saint-spoon »

We took some photo’s of some old bee baskets whilst on our hols last year which I fully intended to post but forgot; now that you’re back I’ll try and remember to dig them out.
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Citrine
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Re: BeeHive

Post by Citrine »

Blimey, keep getting binned off of the forum - something to do with a roaming server - so Id given up updating this.

However, we've now taken delivery of the new and VERY controversial omlet beehaus, and will be running basic beekeeping courses very soon!
Anyone fancy booking themselves up on one? :-D

We've done so much this year, its been a real rollercoaster. Started the year with no bees - lost 6 colonies last winter. Now have 12 colonies, and have just installed a wild colony at Howletts - thats going to be a real learning curve!

When my employers stop giving me work to do, I will try and come on and add a bit more!! Cheek of it, anyone would think I came here to work....

;)
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p.penn
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Re: BeeHive

Post by p.penn »

Really good to see you Citrine! Sorry you lost some bees last winter - is that usual?

It will be interesting to see how you get on with the omlet hive - have you got a piccy please for us?

Good luck!
Helen xx

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Re: BeeHive

Post by wendy »

Hello,
Long time no see.
I am glad you are well and keeping up with your bee keeping.
I agree some photo's of your 'omlet' hive would be nice.
Wendy
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you will just have to be a horrible warning
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Citrine
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Re: BeeHive

Post by Citrine »

got thrown off again!

cant send pics, cos im not technically minded - but if I may, I can direct you to Omlet's site, where there are pics etc

http://www.omlet.co.uk/products_service ... ?view=Bees

My sister said it looked like a coolbox! Ha ha!! Oh, and mine is green....!
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Citrine
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Re: BeeHive

Post by Citrine »

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3rd August 2008
"Happy Birthday to Me!!"
Well this is going to be a bit of a long one, so settle down with a cup of tea and a nice Bourbon Biscuit or something....

Since the last update, we've re-queened a couple of hives. One died, as we believe it didnt get out of the cage in time. Had to order another one, (...which made her £50, if you think about it!) and place her in. Advised to take a little of the fondant out, so she had a fighting chance of escaping in time. This done, after further inspection, Queen released.
Inspection
Although the 4 hives have new queens, which are laying, there seem to be a fair few Queen playcells.
Added 6 frames of brood to beef up the colonies so that they survive the winter well.
25th July 2008
Collected a swarm, with Queen from Dartford. They are over 3 frames in a Nuc box, and doing really, really well. Loads of pollen going in, of a yellow colour. Fingers crossed this little colony does good.
Other Nuc box over 4 frames, eggs, brood and food. These can be quite defensive, but, we have another place to move them in the spring, once they have built up.
So, our 6 colonies are doing well, and the queens are laying too!

10/08/2008
Bee inspection...amongst the cherries, (yummy!) and earwigs (..not yummy).
We have 4 hives in the cherry orchard, and all of them had millions of Earwigs in the lids and crownboards. The bees werent defending against them, wonder if this is normal.
However, there were a tribe of wasps, chancing their arms. so and so's! Two of the colonies arent particularly big, and have a bit of a time defending. So, hubby helped out, and blow-torched a couple.

Hive one, brood and stores, queen seen. Cant believe how placid they were, I really am toying with the idea of no gloves next time. No bombarding, just gentle, gorgeous bees. I love them, and told them so.
Hive two. The stongest colony we have - again, gentle and placid. Queen seen, loads of eggs, and stores. Blew them kisses, and killed a wasp.
Hive three OHMYGOD as soon as they were opened they were there! Bombarded, stinging, all over my veil - had to take a bit of a walk to deter them. How can they be so different? I told them that I loved them anyway, despite their behaviour, and that they should be used to us by now. Queen seen, not much brood though. Did watch a bee emerge, soooo pleased!
Hive four. Queen seen, very little brood. Workers coming home with bright orangey-yellow pollen. Not bitey bess, but not especially calm. Earwigs everywhere. And wasps.
Wonder if the intruders are making these colonies a bit edgy? Would squished wasp encourage the bees to attack me? Hmm, worth thinking about.

All in all, my bees are lovely, and I told them so.

Hubby did inspection on his own today, so cant really type anything much, other than he administered the Apiguard to all hives and both nucs.
Says he saw all queens, one is still laying quite prolifically - is that normal, this time of year I thought they slowed down?
Said the Bitey Bee's were calmer, and didnt mention Wasps or Earwigs - will grill him later, and add to this.
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