| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| gardening-girl |
I`ve got my bee suit.From a company in Somerset called Buzz.Full suit with fencing mask,made of good quality cotton cost me £56. Ordered Tuesday, arrived this morning,well sized. www.buzzbeekeepingsupplies.co.uk Hive is all put together,stand is made,just need some good weather and some bees. |
| Sally Too |
Yay! So exciting.... |
| gythagirl |
Our 'smallest' colony has died  Pete checked last week as no activity detected in fine weather. Lots of activity from the other 2 so fingers crossed.
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| joanne |
I've lost my bee's over winter - I went to check them last week and they'd all gone, suspect Nosema as there was plenty of stores but it's been so damp this winter they didn't stand a chance
I have got chance of a nuc later in the year but I've got to pluck up courage to go and deal with the dead hive |
| Cathryn |
What a good price.
I have to find a badger proof place for my next lot of bees. I think in one of the old buildings. A rather good idea from one of my bee mentors. |
| Nick |
Cab suggested using a flat roof. He had some daft ideas, but I thought this one might have merit. |
| Cathryn |
Hmm,there is a flat roof that is a sun trap in the summer. Wonder if it would give enough protection from the wind in the winter. Thank you. |
| Nick |
Live to serve. |
| mochasidamo |
Sorry to hear that Joanne. We're hearing of quite a lot of losses down this way - as expected. Certainly the clusters are often on the small side. Have you checked for Nosema. Easily done.
I will put a plug in for locally-adapted bees here. There is no way that imported queens can miraculously head colonies that can cope with all that our climate will chuck at them: climate change is real but still many choose not to believe
Cathryn, have you had badger issues with the bees? There is a possibility we've had a young one chewing the insulation around a nuc and we have tracks straight through the main apiary but no damage (unlike what they've done in the past to chickens and their houses). |