Honey Bees

[ladycrofter]

Not sure if we have a Bee thread, please move if so. We sell a bit of honey every year so I suppose it counts as livestock! My latest strategy to get more honey is to stop the bloody martins from perching in literally droves on the telegraph wires, sailing about and chowing through my bees as they fly past . Counted 60 one day last summer! A bit more than the few pairs that nest here.

The revelation finally dawned when I realised that the quickest hive in the row to get sun and start flying had the least bees. While the big, very angry, and most productive hive was the last to heat up in the morning. So the martins were full by then.

We now have not one but two flying bird kites off Amazon - the whole kit was cheaper than buying a replacement bird for OH's pole. Martins are so far giving the area the body-swerve and having to content themselves with eating things flying elsewhere on the farm.

Check out this video of a bee from egg to hatching - fascinating.

Bee from egg to hatching

 

[Wood field]

Not sure if we have a Bee thread, please move if so. We sell a bit of honey every year so I suppose it counts as livestock! My latest strategy to get more honey is to stop the bloody martins from perching in literally droves on the telegraph wires, sailing about and chowing through my bees as they fly past . Counted 60 one day last summer! A bit more than the few pairs that nest here.

The revelation finally dawned when I realised that the quickest hive in the row to get sun and start flying had the least bees. While the big, very angry, and most productive hive was the last to heat up in the morning. So the martins were full by then.

We now have not one but two flying bird kites off Amazon - the whole kit was cheaper than buying a replacement bird for OH's pole. Martins are so far giving the area the body-swerve and having to content themselves with eating things flying elsewhere on the farm.

Check out this video of a bee from egg to hatching - fascinating.

Bee from egg to hatching

Sure there was a bee thread, mrs is doing a bee inspection this morning… I keep out of the way ( of bees and mrs)
Her biggest concern are rogue sheep knocking the hives over !

 

[Baker9]

I have just started bee keeping, it is a bit of a learning curve, first lesson make sure the bee suit is properly closed up at the top.

 

[topground]

I have had bees for about 12 years, read all of the available books on the subject, still no closer to completely understanding what is going on. You know why? They are predominantly female!

 

[Baker9]

I have had bees for about 12 years, read all of the available books on the subject, still no closer to completely understanding what is going on. You know why? They are predominantly female!

The real problem with bees is the same one for sheep and cattle, they have not read the books, they just wing it. We read the books and expect them to have read them also.

 

[Bald Rick]

 

[Forkdriver]

Sweet.

 

[Wood field]

One of mrs woodfield shives has swarmed, goodness knows how to get them down !

 

[Lamb's Orchard]

One of mrs woodfield shives has swarmed, goodness knows how to get them down ! View attachment 1114292

Ooops!

 

[Forkdriver]

Wait until the autumn?

 

[Wood field]

They are 30’ up and I don’t do bees ! Mrs checked them Saturday and they decided to swarm this morning

 

[suffolksmallholder]

An empty brood box underneath may tempt the scouts.
ss

 

[Wood field]

An empty brood box underneath may tempt the scouts.
ss

She’s put one on the nearby chicken coup roof
Unfortunately mrs has some sort of decay in her jaw bone and has just had her back teeth out , so she’s not in the mood for bees
On the bright side she’s not saying much

 

[suffolksmallholder]

She’s put one on the nearby chicken coup roof
Unfortunately mrs has some sort of decay in her jaw bone and has just had her back teeth out , so she’s not in the mood for bees
On the bright side she’s not saying much

Wishing her well though
SS

 

[Wood field]

Well being that I hate the stingy little barstewards
I had to try and catch them for mrs W
It’s like a carry on film , two lengths of slate Baton tie wrapped together and a lick bucket tied to the end , it’s blooming heavy and I got stung a few times but the majority of them are now in a nuke box , there’s still a bunch clinging to the tree so wether I got the queen or not I don’t know… watch this space

 

[ladycrofter]

for you!

 

[Kevtherev]

I think @Shovelhands is into bees
Call him the bee sheriff.

 

[Kidds]

Son is hosting half a dozen hives on his land, took some honey off them this week and this was my share.
I told him he was a miserable bee.

 

[Lamb's Orchard]

You do realise that what he's gifted you there is a lifetimes work for about 120 bees? 🫤

 

[Wood field]

Hopefully we’ve caught them ! Nuke box is very busy and the last few that I couldn’t get from the tree are not there !
My sister used to tease me as teenagers saying I looked like sting !!
Thanks for the advise given