I've not had bees for a few yearsResurrecting this thread...
@bovrill and others, Mrs Danllan has done some beekeeping courses, has experience helping others, and is very keen to start properly in the coming year. We have several resident colonies and so there are regular swarms, one of which she would like to take and start off with. So far so good.
I want to get her the proper set-up, and outfit her to do the necessary, and I'd like it to be a surprise, so the big question is... what type of hive? I've been looking and the obvious choice is between a National, a WBC, a Langstroth and a Commercial. I have learnt that a good qualiy cedar is the best buy, but - to my astonishment - have seen very positive reviews of some 'Poly' hives, despite their looking hideously ugly.
I don't mind forking out for good stuff that will last her well, so please, anyone with a decent knowledge, advise me of the pros and cons.*
Thanks in advance.
*It's just occurred to me that asking beekeepers which is the best hive, may be about as likely to get a simple and unified a response as asking farmers which is the best breed of whatever...
Resurrecting this thread...
@bovrill and others, Mrs Danllan has done some beekeeping courses, has experience helping others, and is very keen to start properly in the coming year. We have several resident colonies and so there are regular swarms, one of which she would like to take and start off with. So far so good.
I want to get her the proper set-up, and outfit her to do the necessary, and I'd like it to be a surprise, so the big question is... what type of hive? I've been looking and the obvious choice is between a National, a WBC, a Langstroth and a Commercial. I have learnt that a good qualiy cedar is the best buy, but - to my astonishment - have seen very positive reviews of some 'Poly' hives, despite their looking hideously ugly.
I don't mind forking out for good stuff that will last her well, so please, anyone with a decent knowledge, advise me of the pros and cons.*
Thanks in advance.
*It's just occurred to me that asking beekeepers which is the best hive, may be about as likely to get a simple and unified a response as asking farmers which is the best breed of whatever...
I've not kept bees for a few years and had a mix of WBC and National. I always found that Nationals were easier to work with and move when necessary.Resurrecting this thread...
@bovrill and others, Mrs Danllan has done some beekeeping courses, has experience helping others, and is very keen to start properly in the coming year. We have several resident colonies and so there are regular swarms, one of which she would like to take and start off with. So far so good.
I want to get her the proper set-up, and outfit her to do the necessary, and I'd like it to be a surprise, so the big question is... what type of hive? I've been looking and the obvious choice is between a National, a WBC, a Langstroth and a Commercial. I have learnt that a good qualiy cedar is the best buy, but - to my astonishment - have seen very positive reviews of some 'Poly' hives, despite their looking hideously ugly.
I don't mind forking out for good stuff that will last her well, so please, anyone with a decent knowledge, advise me of the pros and cons.*
Thanks in advance.
*It's just occurred to me that asking beekeepers which is the best hive, may be about as likely to get a simple and unified a response as asking farmers which is the best breed of whatever...
Resurrecting this thread...
@bovrill and others, Mrs Danllan has done some beekeeping courses, has experience helping others, and is very keen to start properly in the coming year. We have several resident colonies and so there are regular swarms, one of which she would like to take and start off with. So far so good.
I want to get her the proper set-up, and outfit her to do the necessary, and I'd like it to be a surprise, so the big question is... what type of hive? I've been looking and the obvious choice is between a National, a WBC, a Langstroth and a Commercial. I have learnt that a good qualiy cedar is the best buy, but - to my astonishment - have seen very positive reviews of some 'Poly' hives, despite their looking hideously ugly.
I don't mind forking out for good stuff that will last her well, so please, anyone with a decent knowledge, advise me of the pros and cons.*
Thanks in advance.
*It's just occurred to me that asking beekeepers which is the best hive, may be about as likely to get a simple and unified a response as asking farmers which is the best breed of whatever...
Everyone raving over Manuka doesn't help that!Dodgy old game up here in upper North lsland NZ. Bit of a "Wild West" heaps of big companies competing and smaller ones. Lot of jealousy and shananigans going on.
Each year you hear on the news that there's not enough food for bees and they are dieing - it's down to too many hives!!!!
A venom collection unit will hugely raise your profits if you can find a venom buyer.
If you do find a company, PM me at your earliest convenience
For me it is merely a hobby with lots of benefits pollination, health, being the main ones before profit.
That has made my day cheers JohnJust had a conversation about this with my girlfriend. It began with her saying "Wouldn't you have to kill them..........?", and ended with "When we started going out, there wasn't a situation vacant for my conscience".
Thanks Pete
I also run with an empty capture hive. Bees may be busy but there lazy as well. Why make a fresh hive when they can moveinto a ready made hive.We ran a home made National with an extra broad frame and a lot of double broads and dadant and we are doing away with the National slowly and going dadant
also don’t bother with one hive as it is far harder to keep one going if you have a problem compared to having 3 or more
A cedar National.Resurrecting this thread...
@bovrill and others, Mrs Danllan has done some beekeeping courses, has experience helping others, and is very keen to start properly in the coming year. We have several resident colonies and so there are regular swarms, one of which she would like to take and start off with. So far so good.
I want to get her the proper set-up, and outfit her to do the necessary, and I'd like it to be a surprise, so the big question is... what type of hive? I've been looking and the obvious choice is between a National, a WBC, a Langstroth and a Commercial. I have learnt that a good qualiy cedar is the best buy, but - to my astonishment - have seen very positive reviews of some 'Poly' hives, despite their looking hideously ugly.
I don't mind forking out for good stuff that will last her well, so please, anyone with a decent knowledge, advise me of the pros and cons.*
Thanks in advance.
*It's just occurred to me that asking beekeepers which is the best hive, may be about as likely to get a simple and unified a response as asking farmers which is the best breed of whatever...
Get a decent beesuit.We have several resident colonies and so there are regular swarms, one of which she would like to take and start off with.