Fondant Check

Checked my 3 hives today for fondant use. Le-Pige not used any Le-Chai taken the lot , replaced with new . Monsieur Antoine not used any The hive Le-chai taken fondant is i think the weakest hive so hopefully it will go through the winter.

Complacency in Beekeeping

COMPLACINCEY BEEKEEPER I started Beekeeping and obtained my first hive in 2011 then second in 2012, I was and am fortunate to have been put on to an established and well recommended beekeeper by the name of Lincs Bee owned by Mike. Mike has become my bee mentor and himself and his knowledge of beekeeping I hold in the highest regard hence buying another hive for 2013. My Story of Complacency. I can manage my bees quite well since starting and I all ways remember the golden rule from Mike, when checking hives all ways be fully suited in bee clothing, well I all ways have adhered to this until Monday 12th November 2012. I had to go to one of my hives outside the home garden apiary to add fondant, but also to move the brood box on top of the super, I had removed the queen excluder few weeks before, so I got all my equipment and bee suit ready and left to the hive, after arriving I suited up but realised I forgot my bee trousers and was only wearing jogging bottoms. I thought I will be ok with the bee suit top half, jogging bottoms tucked in wellingtons, and basically could not be bothered to go back to the house which would take 10 minute round trip as I knew better, even though my Bee mentors advice ringing in my ears all ways go suited and booted properly I opened the hive , removed roof , all calm, removed crown board bit of activity no problems, took the super off to move to bottom and brood box to top, oh my god Armageddon, within seconds my jogging bottoms were covered in bees, my bee suit top head gear fine, I then felt the first sting rapidly followed by several more, I looked at my jogging bottoms and in my stupidity brushed them of straight in to my wellingtons, band more stings on me ankles and feet, I vacated the hive and ran to my car, on the way bang , bang several hits, I made it to the car and drove home, arriving at the driveway I fell out of the car in agony, my neighbour saw me and bravely helped me remove my clothes, I knew I had to go back to sort the hive, so changed my jogging bottoms and put new on and grabbed my bee suit trousers, as I got in the car, I did not check the car seat and sat on 3 bees, bang stung in the backside. I made it to the hive and sorted it while in agony, I got home got sorted, and through my stupidity of not fully suiting up It transpired I got stung x 2 on the bottom, x11 in the groin and thigh area, x1 in the crown jewels, and x3 in the ankle and foot. I was in agony for 5 days suffering burning, itching, throbbing with pain and swelling, I took anti histamine tablets every day and also anti histamine cream, even after 5 days I know it will take time for everything to calm down and be pain free. The crunch of the matter is that at no time was it the bees fault, it was me being so stupid over confident and not listening to what I had been told, so for all budding new beekeepers you will all find your own paths, but through my stupidity caused all this pain to myself, were if fully suited it would have been a pain free 10 minute max operation. Stupid Beekeeper Steve, but I love my bees

All my hives have had there queen excluder's removed,and the brood boxes placed on top of the super,s Hope they all come through the winter.

Woodpecker blocker

Placed woodpecker deterrent on one of my hives, should keep the woodpeckers from any wood work lol.

DAY IN MY APIARY

Its been a lovely day so decided to do some apiary work. Started of by building frames to go over the Monsieur Antoine hive this is to keep the woodpeckers from deciding to drill it. I shall construct it Sunday morning. At the garden apiary i used new smoker it seems to be bit volatile lol, I then took of the autumn feeders , next feed will be fondant. I hefted the supers and it looks as if they are full of food for winter which is good, also the bees in both hives are doing well, still bringing stuff in, probably ivy. All in all had a good day in the Apiary, just few pictures posted of today's work.

Thankyou Lincsbee and France

JUST a update and thanks. This is our second year in bee keeping, we now have 3 hives, Le-Pige, Le-Chai and Antoine, these were named after our visit to friends in France 3 years ago were our interest started. I have obtained all my bees from Lincsbee (Mike), and I am so pleased I contacted Lincsbee through a work make Simon who keeps bees. I am glad we took this route and after visiting Lincsbee apiary a couple times that’s how I came to purchase calm bees highly recommended for rookie bee keepers, I have also adopted Mike as my bee buddy and yes I ring regular and he probably pulls his hair out with my questions but his fountain of knowledge has made Linda and I become not to bad bee keepers which is improving every day. We have had good days, panic days especially experiencing our 1, 2, times swarming 2012. It’s a learning curve every day. So to finish we would like to thank Lincsbee from Lincolnshire and Rachael and Chris from France for getting us started. THANKS

Autumn Feed

Checked on of my hives today Monsieur Antoine , needs a feed, think because the weather been so bad they need a little help. Autumn feed i have made up two batches as i don't have big enough saucepan lol. used 2 pints of water to 4.4 to 4.4ilbs sugar

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Seasonal Bee Inspection

Had my first hive inspections from the seasonal bee keeper, pleased to say that the hives passed with flying colours, i was shocked to see that they only interested in checking the brood and shake the bees violently to get them of in one go as i check mine with love and care, but i understand the short time they have as they visit many apiaries. I have never seen my bees aggressive the whole hive was like it for about 30 mins after inspection, but my girls did sting the bee inspector twice which even made him smart. Off to ring my Bee Buddy in Lincs after the trauma.

Extraction

Well i decided to check my hives and all doing well, i extracted a super of the main hive Le-Pige and estimate about 30 pounds of honey, cracking hive as she gave me 46 pounds in spring. The other two hives doing well in brood etc. but super not used hardly so I took 5 each of the frames 10 in total,i extracted and put them on the two hives 5 each give them some help. Wednesday 15Th August i am getting a visit from the Seasonal inspector of bees, will post later how we got on.

Bees and Me

Well i do not know , i thought bees should sting you when your messing with the hive, but no one told mine, having never been stung at the hives, mine get me later. No its a wet old day today Saturday and i was in my shed cleaning it out no problems, went to greenhouse next to hives no problems. I decided to paint a log with cupronal clear. happy painting away when bang stung straight on the chin. i think it was the smell of the paint that upset them but I thought I was ok. Oh well at least i think i know why so not my lady's fault. After she stung me i think she felt like this lol.

Queen

Checked the hive down my new place, working well and even better after the bad weather we been having, any way this is my new queen she is doing well, and such a pretty queen. The other picture is one of the bees coming back from foraging.

LE_BUMP

Just congrats to my friends in France on there new addition, hope she will get into bees lol, Nice on Chris and Rachel. Ellie Florence Jones AKA Le Bump

Time with my Apiary

Just sitting by my shed in the garden watching my hives, despite the weather they doing real well, just few pics were bees on the Lavender.

Sad Week

I am posting here to say i lost my dear brother Paul who went peacefully in hospital, I was told by some allotment holders old guys that I must tell my bees of my sad loss otherwise if I did not tell them they would clear off. I don't know if its a old wives tale but I have done it So Sunday 17 Th June 2012 I went to the bottom of my garden were I spent time with the two hives to tell them. I went then to my third hive in a secret location and told them. R.I.P Paul..

New Bee Hive With Full Brood

These are few pictures of my new hive and a full brood of bees; they are now in place in a secluded location in Huntingdonshire. I went down to add a super on and the bees are getting orientated to their new location. This is my second hive which I purchased from Lincsbee in Lincolnshire, my first being last year, both hives were purchased because as a new bee keeper I wanted calm bees and the strain I brought from Lincsbee do just that they are great for first time bee keepers, I will tempt fate but to-date I have never been stung by my apiary’s. All my bees are Carniolan x Bucfast and would recommend them to new beekeepers. I was fortunate to speake to a work college who keeps bees, in 2010 and he introduced me to Lincsbee which was the best move I ever made, there was never any pressure to buy but after my first hive purchased I went back for 2nd in 2012.

Lincsbee

Had a good day today, went with the wife to Lincolnshire to see my Bee Buddy and mentor and his good lady , we went to pick some spares up and yes chat about bees. This is one location were my mate keeps some of his apiary. Was a good day out

Plastic Frames

Plastic national super frames on a super, It is the first time I have used this type so will give some feedback when appropriate. Assembly seemed straight forward and snapped together very well. I have made up a full super with these

STOLEN HIVES

Stolen Hives Sometime last night, Wed 30th May. my good friend in Lincolnshire had two nucleus hives stolen from a farm complex on Holbeach Fen. The boxes were brand new. How ever my mate said that the bees in it were very aggressive so hopefully the thieving bastards will get there reward. My own opinion is when hives are stolen it can only be people who handle or know about handling bees.

French Bee Connection

Well had a great week in France with our good friends, I went up in to there apiary to help extract there hives, also my mates French bee mentor arrived, hes a fantastic guy, he speaks no English but my friends do so it was okay. Weather was great very hot, think that's why the French bees are bit jumpy with people being around when robbing the honey. There honey produce is far more then in England again its down to the weather and a constant flow of flowers, rape seed oil, chestnut, sunflower etc.. I got home and checked my apiary and extracted two supers, there was a total of 42pounds big increase from my first year when it was only 10pounds, i think watching how the French way of bee keeping is basically same as English, but they do not use queen excluders Here are a few pictures. 1. French Bee Mentor 2. French Extraction 3. Cleaning the equipment 4. Tom,Dick and Harry

What A Weekend

Well Saturday 12th May, collected my swarm, then in the afternoon i went to neighbours and collected a swarm which settled in the guttering and down the wall, Sunday 13th went to a house were i got call to get a swarm, but when i got there they had got into the attic and there was so much clutter in there I could not get to them, and the attic had only beams so was not safe and i was not insured had to decline. Then 12pm went and collected another swarm but i had to make a second hive up quickly and put that in my garden next to Le~Pige meant movingLe~ pige 45 degrees so both entrance face same way, its worked. Now my stress levels were sky high, any way the new hive Le~Chai i i put queen in this brood box with only three frames, so Monday and Tuesday i will build seven more. I put a thick syrup feed on new hive, and will leave them a couple of weeks then check to see if its worked. mean while in all amongs my hive swarming, i went to help a lady who has a WBC hive, nightmare to work, but she had a small neuc and we went through the basics, like brood, stores, brood, brood caping and adding a super, so buy Sunday night i was creamed knackered. I still waiting for my 3rd full hive which i brought from my Bee Buddy in Lincolnshire so hopefully weather permitting they will turn up in couple of weeks, so basically after the swarming of mine i will have 3 hives, I BLAME THE FENCH, my friends in Le~Paynau will know what i mean. Just a picture of my hive Le~Pige Starting there swarming.

Le~Pige getting ready to Swarm

This was the Le~Pige building up to Swarm on Saturday 12th May 2012

My First Swarm

After coming back from allotment,Linda said to me which was about 10am that the bees were everywhere, and from the house there was a very loud buzzing, \Linda said it was like a black cloud , then about 20 mins later it was all what seemed back to normal. It was about 2pm when i returned from my allotment and i happen to go to the top of the garden and in a bush about 5 ft of the ground was a swarm, my swarm,oh no my babies have gone. I was not geared up to deal with the swarm as i did not have the right equipment, so called my mate who was on holiday, so called second mate John. Swarm collected safely and placed in his new hive which was empty, i did not mind as i knew my second hive of bees will be here soon, but we have learnt what to do with a swarm. I now just have to wait and see if my hive will re-queen and pick up.

Good Day

Got up to 18 degrees so just checked hive, Found queen, but not much brood there is new and grubs and capping but all is ok, Had to put second super on as first is 3/4full but full of bees so second super on brood box and old super on top Chuffed to bits By the way bees so calm no smoker used. It's been a year nearly and to date I have not been stung by my bees fantastic

Holding in the Pattern at Le-Pige

Just couple of pictures i took today Sunday 22nd April. First one looks like an airport, they are in a holding pattern lol, second one is just trying different setting on my camera.

Le-Pige Full Hive Check

Checked the hive Le_Pige and the temperature was 13 Centigrade and time was 11:45am so I managed to go through the whole hive. Checked the super and stores coming in probably ½ the super with stores. Started on the brood box , 11 frames all showing brood, capped and stores I located the queen on frame 10 which I was pleased to see even though I have brood and knew she was about. Well the bees were really calm so no need to smoke them though I had smoker nearby, but just as I was finishing they did get the ump but that was my fault as one of the brood frames fell out of me hand and hit the brood box so apart from that well pleased with the day.

Honey Extracter

Brought meself a Honey Extracter saves asking to borrow as usually every one wants to use one at same time.
well pleased.

Le-Pige Hive

Weather hit and miss again but my Bees at Le-Pige doing well,

Reversed the Brood Box and Super and put the queen excluder on, apart from that did nothing else to hive.

Next big event is my second hive and bees will be here soon cannot wait, I have ordered from
LincsBee again ,
the bees are so calm but I will do a update later on my first years’ experience with my first hive.

Hive Checked

Saturday 10/03/2012 did a check on the Le-Pige Hive.

Looks like they got through the winter, checked brood box and there is pollen and nectar coming in.

On frame 5 I have seen young brood so I know the queen is laying, this is a great sign that the queen made it through the winter.

So had a good morning.

:) :)

Monday 09st January 2012

Checked Hive today and the colony was out and about, weather all to pot, but bees look health which is main thing.

Strange Season

Well the weather has been very good but not want i wanted for bees, they are so confused, last few days they have been all out i think, even saw some bringing pollen back, not much but they should be in bed for winter lol