Bee Keeping

Been doing it for 30 years now and the last thing I will give up in life will be my beloved bees.

Anyone else have the same interest?

PH

 

I have been reading about bees on and off the the past few years and really want to get myself a hive.

Maybe you can answer my question with all your experience....are they ok to leave say if going on holiday for 2-3 weeks?

And what do you think about the Omlet BEEHAUS as a beginner hive?
Beehaus | Modern Plastic Beehive for Easy Beekeeping

 

In a word. Rubbish. Badly made ill thought out and faddish. So what would I recommend?

A Swienty Poly Hive and they can be bought direct from Swienty or from Jones. Web links here:

Swienty A/S - Alt til biavl - Alles für Imker und Ihre Imkerei- Beekeeping supplies
National Polystyrene Hive Parts : C. Wynne Jones, Bottles, Jars, Bee Keeping Equipment

Sorry missed the bit about holidays. Depends really on when you go. They will swarm in late Spring unless being well managed so timing is critical.

PH

 

Thanks @Poly Hive I'll definitely be looking into the hive type you have recommended. Always good to get a recommendation. Thought the beehaus might have been good as a lot of people like the Omlet hen houses.

Still trying to find the right location to put a hive before getting more involved. I have a dog (called Bea lol) who is obsessed with bees and worry about her eating them/getting stung etc. Need to think this through carefully!

 

I had a little chat with the chap selling the Beehaus. I pointed out as he didn't seem to know a lot that whilst hens can peck an ankle bees can kill. Not on the same playing field at all. He was rather taken aback!

PH

 

Hi PolyHive,

Is it really safe to use a small National in an urban area with small to medium back gardens ?

Read some web suggestions its ok, but do wonder ?

 

Hi @Poly Hive got another question for you lol

Turns out one of my neighbours and my other neighbour (farmer/small holder with 40 acres) are interested in bee keeping too! One said she had seen this hive (
Honey On Tap From Your Own Beehive - Flow Hive ) and likes the idea of it not being too invasive on the bees. Have u seen this ine before? I just wondered that as it wasn't so invasive, is it more likely that the hive could have problems/infections etc and we could miss it. That was just a thought I had.

Like the idea of the poly hive...got a bit confused when looking at what bits you need. Am I right in think it'd cost about £300 to get a hive up and running?

 

Hi, PH nice to see you have more than one hobby!
Curly..

 

Please don't burn me because of necromancy.
I just have to say I really admire beekeepers.

I try to plan my garden to be a banquet for bees and feed them whatever they desire, but keeping a whole stock alive is something I probably couldn't ever do. That, and my wife would probably kill me if I ever put a beehive on the lawn