The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Introduce yourself => Topic started by: enzyme on February 05, 2010, 07:17:05 pm

Title: Hello from East Yorks, Nr Market weighton (Beekeeper)
Post by: enzyme on February 05, 2010, 07:17:05 pm
Hi

I am new to the forum, but wouldl ike to say hello.

We have a smallplot, where I keep bees (have been doing it for 5 years), and we both look after the hens and grow veg etc.

Looking to expand into pigs.

If anyone local keeps pigs, we would like to learn, can offer back beekeeping advice.

Thanks
Title: Re: Hello from East Yorks, Nr Market weighton (Beekeeper)
Post by: little blue on February 05, 2010, 07:30:42 pm
hello and welcome from Derbyshire.   I have kune kune pigs, and an empty bee hive!  Not that local, but.... !
Title: Re: Hello from East Yorks, Nr Market weighton (Beekeeper)
Post by: MiriMaran on February 05, 2010, 08:04:58 pm
Hi, am also from Derbyshire.  We keep hens and last year fattened 2 pigs for the first time.  My OH is wanting to keep bees.  We have a flat pack National that has been built and is now languishing in the workshop.  We got too caught up in the pigs and the beekeeping fell by the wayside.  Hopefully we will get it up and running this year.

Ruth do you have other bee keeping equipment?
Title: Re: Hello from East Yorks, Nr Market weighton (Beekeeper)
Post by: little blue on February 05, 2010, 08:35:01 pm
yes!  got all the basic gear except bees!
Had a nucleus on order, but was shafted by the company, so we dont mention that!  want them delivered, as they're a rarity round here... or do you know something I dont?!
Title: Re: Hello from East Yorks, Nr Market weighton (Beekeeper)
Post by: enzyme on February 05, 2010, 08:45:23 pm
Blue bell, try setting your empty hive up as abait hive, you stand a good chane of getting a swarm around the time of the OSR (oil seed rape).

Make up your frames with wax, a few drops of lemon grass as a swarm lure phermone (you can buy them), best to locate the hive (as a bait hive) about 10 - 15 foot up facing south. So in a tree or on a flatroof etc.
Title: Re: Hello from East Yorks, Nr Market weighton (Beekeeper)
Post by: little blue on February 06, 2010, 05:31:02 pm
thanks for that,  it wont attract wasps or anything unwanted?
We have the frames made up, but not in the hive.
Title: Re: Hello from East Yorks, Nr Market weighton (Beekeeper)
Post by: pottsie on February 06, 2010, 05:56:48 pm
Hi and welcome from foggy Windmill (Durham), i'm just dipping my toe in to pigs and bees hopefully both coming soon, already started with chickens, goats, sheep even though the plan was originally veg and learning each day, good luck and keep us updated.

Rob  ;D
Title: Re: Hello from East Yorks, Nr Market weighton (Beekeeper)
Post by: MiriMaran on February 07, 2010, 07:35:22 pm
Sorry Ruth, as far as I know swarms are hard to come by.  But like i say its my OHs project so I stay well out of it.
Title: Re: Hello from East Yorks, Nr Market weighton (Beekeeper)
Post by: enzyme on February 07, 2010, 07:50:48 pm
Yes swarms are hard to come by, realy only from beekeepers that have lost them. No real natural bees left in the UK!

But there is no harm in setting a bait hive, either for another keepers loss or getting back your own (COUGH) but of course you NEVER loose swarms..do you!!! LOL

Last year I caught 3 nice swarms.

Swarm season is generaly at the the start of the year (May/june) wasp are more of a problem Aug/Sept.
Title: Re: Hello from East Yorks, Nr Market weighton (Beekeeper)
Post by: Rosemary on February 07, 2010, 09:22:05 pm
Hi and welcome. I've just started a bee keeping course - if we get along, bees and I, I'll try and get some this year.
Title: Re: Hello from East Yorks, Nr Market weighton (Beekeeper)
Post by: daniellestocks on February 08, 2010, 03:17:19 pm
Hello from Pickering, north yorkshire
Danielle   :pig:
Title: Re: Hello from East Yorks, Nr Market weighton (Beekeeper)
Post by: sandy on February 08, 2010, 04:33:47 pm
Hello, welcome to TAS from Clackmannan :D
Title: Re: Hello from East Yorks, Nr Market weighton (Beekeeper)
Post by: SuzyJ on February 08, 2010, 05:50:06 pm
Hello and welcome.

We're many, many miles away (probably about 2500!) but been thinking about keeping bees for a while. Just need to find the time to do something about it.
Title: Re: Hello from East Yorks, Nr Market weighton (Beekeeper)
Post by: Hilarysmum on February 08, 2010, 06:03:57 pm
Hi welcome, we used to keep bees back in Dorset, not really enough flowers around here to do it again, its all arable.  Not too keen on the honey from the oil seed rape, but if the sunflowers and lupins increase locally will certainly be looking on here for advice.
Title: Re: Hello from East Yorks, Nr Market weighton (Beekeeper)
Post by: HappyHippy on February 09, 2010, 09:10:56 am
Hello and welcome from me in South Lanarkshire  ;D
I would love bees, but after having a really bad reaction to a sting when i was young and managing to avoid being stung since - I'm just not brave enough.
Funny how something so small causes me to break out in a sweat, especially when I quite happily get in a field with cows or horses  ???
Look forward to hearing more from you.
Karen x
Title: Re: Hello from East Yorks, Nr Market weighton (Beekeeper)
Post by: sandy on February 11, 2010, 09:01:32 am
Hello from Clackmannan, Welcome to the forum!!
Title: Re: Hello from East Yorks, Nr Market weighton (Beekeeper)
Post by: pedigree porker on February 12, 2010, 03:45:22 pm
Bees, been having a bit of a think about keeping a bees, but i know absolutely nothing!

what the snags, whats the plus points etc . . .

We have a Berkshire gilt, so could be a swap of ideas and tips
Title: Re: Hello from East Yorks, Nr Market weighton (Beekeeper)
Post by: enzyme on February 12, 2010, 07:55:16 pm
Many snags many plus points! anyone that says they know all about beekeeping is not telling the truth!

Without degrading from this forum, might I point you in the direction of a good beekeeping forum?

www.beekeepingforum.co.uk

Where are you based in the UK? Ask on the above forum and I am sure you will find somone local to help you.
Title: Re: Hello from East Yorks, Nr Market weighton (Beekeeper)
Post by: doganjo on February 12, 2010, 08:35:24 pm
Just tried to register on  there and it is asking what is the biggest search engine on the internet - I've tried google and yahoo - what else is there?
Title: Re: Hello from East Yorks, Nr Market weighton (Beekeeper)
Post by: enzyme on February 12, 2010, 09:04:57 pm
did it not work with Google?
Title: Re: Hello from East Yorks, Nr Market weighton (Beekeeper)
Post by: doganjo on February 12, 2010, 09:19:22 pm
after three tries yes ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Hello from East Yorks, Nr Market weighton (Beekeeper)
Post by: sandy on February 12, 2010, 09:34:52 pm
Fingers crossed and you can benifit from all that honey
[move]  :bee:
Title: Re: Hello from East Yorks, Nr Market weighton (Beekeeper)
Post by: hunter001 on February 17, 2010, 06:21:33 pm
Hi

I'm mark from near goole. i keep chickens, two pigs and two goats. getting some ducks when i get round to sorting out they shed. i also have a cpl of bee hives that i will be moving to my allotment in the next few months.
Title: Re: Hello from East Yorks, Nr Market weighton (Beekeeper)
Post by: jameslindsay on February 17, 2010, 06:27:10 pm
Hi Mark ,welcome. What type of goats do you have, get yourslelf some ducks they are great wee charachters?
Title: Re: Hello from East Yorks, Nr Market weighton (Beekeeper)
Post by: hunter001 on February 17, 2010, 06:58:39 pm
two pygmy goats mate. both daft as a brush. what kinda ducks do u suggest?
Title: Re: Hello from East Yorks, Nr Market weighton (Beekeeper)
Post by: jameslindsay on February 17, 2010, 07:06:57 pm
I have 12 goats, 6 of them Pygmy and think they are pure mental. I have a fondness for Aylesbury ducks, I have some of them also Buff Orpingtons, Call ducks, Cayaga and Magpie. They are completely free range and use the river that runs along side the property so have a brilliant life.
Title: Re: Hello from East Yorks, Nr Market weighton (Beekeeper)
Post by: Helencus on February 17, 2010, 08:01:27 pm
Hi welcome fron nw Leicestershire. I don't have the time to keep bees nor really that interested but I did wonder if any local bee keepers would be interestedin having a hive on my land in return for a little honey. Is this something keepers are interested in doing?
Title: Re: Hello from East Yorks, Nr Market weighton (Beekeeper)
Post by: enzyme on February 17, 2010, 08:50:27 pm
Yes beekeepeers are always looking for land, but there are a few points that would have to be ticked to make it a good spot.

Maybe contact your local Beekeeping assocation and offer.

Or post on this forum, www.beekeepingforum.co.uk