Eglu Go With 2m Run For Sale

[Scotty]

Hi chaps

 

Hubby is very keen on trying his hand at bee keeping. His birthday is September is that a good time to buy and start or should we wait till the spring? ie get the beehaus and then the colony later?

 

Scotty

[Guest]

Has he been on a course? Is it a passing fad? Has he read loads of books?

 

Not the best time unless a full colony is going to be installed.

 

Fact of life that some colonies do not survive the winter. Not sure what the statistics are re beehauses, but I have found that generally a strong colony in a Dartington have as good or better chance than some of my other hive variants have in the past.

 

Maybe ask beesrob (if that was his screen name on this forum) how he managed last winter - started late and needed a lot of assistance to even get them into the winter....Googling Roblynmouth on videos will come up with his video 'gems'.

 

Other things to consider might be location of the hive(s), future plans (one colony or multiple), type of beekeeping operation (migratory, productive, hands 'on' or 'off'), even hive format, etc.

 

As you put it 'trying his hand' does not give a permanent feeling about this new hobby. I would be encouraging him to be helping at the local apiary before deciding whether the world of beekeeping is for him. Jumping in, without some level of experience is often a recipe for trouble ahead. Spending 650 quid on a new hobby to 'try it out' might be 'chicken feed' to some but to others it may be a huge outlay.

 

So, late, but not impossible. Waiting until spring (perhaps order a nuc now for early spring delivery) to make an early-season start would be preferable (especially if the birthday is late September!). Your choice, but spring starts, with a chance of honey from the colony in the first season is my recommendation for a new beek in September.

 

Regards, RAB

[Olly]

I think I'd buy him a book, maybe a Beehaus voucher, or book him a place on a course with your local group, but wait till spring to get a colony. There isn't a lot to do over the winter, to be honest, once the hive has been 'shut down' for winter there won't be any inspecting to do, and the chances of a colony doing well are much better if it starts in the spring. It's good to plan and possibly even order now, because if it's anything like this year, there will be a big demand for all of the above - courses, equipment and bees.

[chickenanne]

I can understand that it seems like a great present, because beekeeping is a fascinating thing! I think you're right in hesitating about buying in September, as really then you're taking the risk of overwintering them - it's a gentler start to let someone else (who will be more experienced and potentially whose business it is) to take this risk.

 

However, more importantly, I also totally agree with the posts above. It is much much better to start out with bees with a good idea of what you're letting yourself in for, with local support, and some knowledge /skills. Otherwise what should be a brillinat experience /part of your life could become a stress-filled nightmare. Can you find a course to book him onto? For preference, a local-association run evening course (which is likely to be in late winter) or failing that - or as well as that - some kind of weekend /one day "taster" thingummy. It mightn't seem as exciting as a birthday present, but if he does start with bees it will be one of the most useful things you could give him! I would even hesitate in booking a nuc or ordering a hive until he's been on the course just in case he decides it's not for him.

 

I'm sure this isn't what you wanted to hear, in that I know when I think of a great present idea for my impossible-to-buy-for OH to be told it's a not a great plan after all is frustrating, but honestly I do think the advice from RAB is spot-on.

[Scotty]

Thanks Guys,

 

It all makes total sense, I was also a little hesitant when he first said "wouldn't it be great..... blah blah blah! - thinking oh god! the children, the cost, the bee's etc... you're all spot on taking little steps first is totally the best route here. I'll investigate some local courses and see where that gets us!

 

Once again, Thanks chaps!

 

Vicky

[Guest]

If you are thinking of the cost (as you say:thinking... the children, the cost, the bee's etc), I presume you are aware there are other far less expensive alternatives to the beehaus.

 

Perhaps not the correct forum to be advancing these formats, but I have used in the past or am using : WBC, Standard National, 14 x 12 National, Dartington, Beehaus.

 

I have considerd the TBH (for extremely low cost, and ease of build, as an alternative, but not as a serious alternative to my framed hives) and the Warre (too much hands off operation, so not for me - disease, pests and swarm control much more difficult!).

 

I am just trying Langstroth jumbo polynucs, converted to my favoured 14 x 12 format, with a view to possible future change to polyhive format.

 

So lots of alternatives. Perhaps hubby is a DIY enthusiast or has the capability to make his own beetainer from scratch (with appropriate plans), or maybe just from 'flat-pack'. I usually make my wooden hives, or at least some parts (built both my Dartingtons which are/were the wooden 'ancestors' of the beehaus), or modifications to them (more amenable to this, with wood as the hive material) and just buy in the cheaper, but fiddly, parts when on special offer - usually as in 'winter sale'.

 

Hoe this helps further.

 

Regards, RAB

[Scotty]

Actually thats a very good idea and I hadn't thought of it... thank you!

[Old Speckled Hen]

Agree 100% with Olly and Good idea RAB.

Also now (or shortly) is the time for county shows and many of these have "bee stalls" with local BKAs offering lots of info. Up here Furness take a large tent round where you can get suited and look inside a hive. It's very popular. I have wondered on more than one occasion how the chap gets all his bees back into the hive. Perhaps he waits till dark?

 

'winter sale'.

 

Do you think there will be any?

I have been waiting ages for kit from T*****s and their excuse is that they can't keep up with demand

BUT maybe there will be lots second hand in the spring

[Olly]

I reckon there might be some second-hand stuff around next year, I can't help feeling that a lot of people have seen publicity about bees declining and have rushed into getting a hive, and may decide it's not for them.

 

Thornes have not been able to keep up with demand all year, I understand they are moving into new premises and I don't know if that's affected supply. I know people who've been waiting ages for orders.

[Lesley]

We waited almost a month for our feeders and some hive parts - I wouldn't have minded the wait if they'd just emailed to say there was a delay

[Sookie]

Agree 100% with Olly and Good idea RAB.

Up here Furness take a large tent round where you can get suited and look inside a hive. It's very popular. I have wondered on more than one occasion how the chap gets all his bees back into the hive. Perhaps he waits till dark?

 

We do the same thing down here (South Wales) and we vacuum them all back into the have at the end of the day with a handheld mini vac

 

 

Also Thorne's sometimes do online sales where their "Seconds" are very reasonable - that is where I have got alot of my stuff from before. They are classed as seconds mainly because of the grain of the wood but I haven't found problems with them and the bees don't seem to mind