[steve_in_devon]

Hi,
I would love to keep a hive of bees, but can't believe how expensive it is to buy a swarm. Surely with the decline in bees we should be encouraging more people to have hives in there gardens

Why are they so expensive and is there any way to get them a little cheaper.

[Olly398]

Hello! I'm doing a beginners course and ponedring the same questions.
Two things I'm looking at:
Top Bar hive (I've just written about one on my blog, link below), easy and cheap to make your own and some other benefits.
Capturing, or helping my local club guys capture, a swarm and rehoming it. Might not get honey this year, but what's the rush?
Cheers
Oliver
 

[steve_in_devon]

Hey Olly
I was thinking of making a hive myself. I love trying to make things and there is alot of advice online about it.

I also thought about capturing or luring a passing swarm, but whats the likelihood that one would pass my way.

hows the course going, are you finding it worthwhile?

[Bionic]

Steve, are you a member of a local bee keeping club?  Most of them keep lists of those wanting swarms. Each time a swarm comes up it goes to the next person on the list. So its worth a try.

[Olly398]

Yep, loving the course. Naturally its with my local beekeeping club (Grantham) which I've joined (good point Bionic).
 
I'll be having a go at making a top bar hive imminently so will post in this sub-forum as and when.
Cheers

[darkbrowneggs]

http://www.biobees.com/forum/


I think the guy who set up this forum is in Devon and he is really nice and helpful.  When I had bees (before they succumbed to the spray one spring) I got a lot of knowledge from it, and they will help out with hives other than top bar


I know it goes against everything everyone says, but if you can get a second hand hive or bait hive you have a much better chance of attracting a swarm, the other thing which is quite good is lemon grass oil, which seems just like queen bee pheremone.


Bees hate new hives by the way, and even if you install a swarm they will often decamp, so if you are making new then do plenty of rubbing round it with beeswax and propolis to make it smell bee friendly - a bit of comb with honey in it is a good attractant as well


I was on the beekeepers swarm list for a couple of years but never got a call, even though I was a  member withoug any bees at the time.  Once I got my own swarm arrive I was up to 8 hives in quite a short time, and the produced me some honey as well.

[hughesy]

The reason nucs or established colonies are so expensive is simply down to supply and demand. A lot of beekeepers have lost a lot of colonies over this last winter and those that have spare will have no trouble at all selling, even for the high prices being asked now.

[ZacB]

The reason nucs or established colonies are so expensive is simply down to supply and demand. A lot of beekeepers have lost a lot of colonies over this last winter and those that have spare will have no trouble at all selling, even for the high prices being asked now.

Quite true about supply and demand. If somebody is willing to pay for it then price's will be high. If you are after bee's and keen to get involved then join your local club and attend meetings etc Not only will this be a great source of information (hopefully) but it will give you a less expensive entry into beekeeping. Our local association sold off two hives inc of bee's for £50 each last year, yes old equipment but great for a beginner to have a go with. We also do run a swarm list and members usually help each other out. Same as most things really, the more you put in, hopefully the more you get out. Good luck with your beekeeping Olly398 and steve_in_devon

[OhLaLa]

How fast times change. Anyone remember the 'old days' when it was considered bad luck to pay for bees?
 
Free  = 
 
 

[ZacB]

By any chance any one want some    in the Suffolk area who also happen's to have a few spare  's
 
As you say OhLaLa.....how times have changed. At least there is some good will and free advice still to be found on the likes of this site.
Sunny today so hoping it warms up enough for me to go into our hives 

[steve_in_devon]

Zac pity you not closer to Devon as I would take them.

[Plantoid]

You can some times set up a neuc box or a fuly ready to go brood box hive and use an attractant in it . If there are any nests likely to swarm in your area there is a fair chance that tehy wil find the neuc/ brood hive .
U your chances by spraying a bit of cooled  honey well diluted with boiling water ove the frames before you put the attractant in the hive .
 
 You can also ask a keeper on here if they will send you two cups of bees with their old queen .
A simple glued up cube frame covered in bee proof nylon netting and packed out well in a thick carboard box  using next working day delivery £ 8 ish ?  is one way fo getting them .
Don't forget the small patty of home made fondant in a net bag sewn to the inside of the cube

[steve_in_devon]

No idea if there are any nest near by, but I like the idea of gettinh a cup of bees and an old queen.
Went to the library today and got some books out so time to do some reading.

Anyone have an old queen and cup of bees they willing to part with.

[Plantoid]

Make four ounces of sugar and water syrup up by boiling it , stir till fully disolved ,don't let it caramelise
 When it is cool pour a few dessert spoons of it in a saucer ande place it  on a sunny ( that's a laugh ) sheltered part of the garden  near some fliowers and sit a couple of hours and observe what comes to drink the syrup . If you see honey bees not mortar solitary bees put the bait neuc/hive close to it .
 You used to be able to buy the attractants from the likes of Thornes of Wragby Lincolnshire
 Keep the syrup left over in case you do get a swarm & use it as a feed in a simple top feeder or slip a pre sourced  shallow lid inside the hive on the base board and fill it with the syrup .