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Thread: Time to start this one off!

  1. #31
    Senior Member POPZ's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jon View Post
    Popz.
    Didn't mean to be critical. I have to hold my hand up to being a blethering whatnot.
    ...But Doris started it!
    I do intend to build my own TBH this year, out of curiosity more than anything else.
    Ok Jon, so Doris is to blame for all this?? I have obviously got the wrong end of the stick here. Doris is the one person who appeared to me to be entirely sane and willing to discuss all things TBHachly. However, seeing as you intend to go down the righteous path, then great, and all is forgiven!!!

    Doris, regarding the alternative beekeeper here on Mull, yes I am keeping in touch with him and her. They have some really very interesting ideas. They are using the Warre system and appear to be successful with it, if success is measured by getting two out of two colonies through the winter this winter.

    I shall also be looking for 'alternative ' swarms.

  2. #32
    Senior Member Jon's Avatar
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    Popz.
    I am interested in all aspects of beekeeping irrespective of the shape of the box they are housed in.
    I think it is important to avoid a them and us attitude as there are things 'conventional/traditional' beekeepers can learn from TBH ers and vice versa.
    I am categorically not in the anti TBH camp.
    I have my colonies on an allotment 3 miles from my house but I quite fancy the idea of having a TBH in the garden which I could cut a honeycomb from on occasion.
    The plan would be to move the most docile colony I have to a TBH in order to minimise conflict with neighbours. I live in a semi in a built up area.
    I think it is a good way to go for anyone interested in beekeeping on a low budget.
    I do share Gavin's concerns re. checking for foulbrood diseases, as a lot of the alternative beekeeping movement seems to be based around minimal inspections per season rather than 8-10 day checks as I would do.

  3. #33
    Administrator gavin's Avatar
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    Hi Popz and Everyone

    I'm not entirely sure what the problem is here. No-one has written anything anti-TBH as far as I can see, and even if they had, fora like this are places for debate, aren't they?

    I *do* take issue with the tag 'Natural' as that is just trying to hype-up something which is hardly more natural than some variants of framed beekeeping.

    My comments on Warres are also linked to a curiosity about them and a willingness to experiment, one day. Warres in particular are just not appropriate for me here and now, as there is a huge need to inspect comb across Tayside. There is a local guy interested in Warre beekeeping to whom I have promised to show bees this spring. We discussed Warres at length, and it is clear that some of the ideas floating around are rather like a creed and not for questioning debate (not by him I should add! He's a sensible fellow.). Remember, I'm a scientist. Questioning debate is my kind of thing.

    I've enjoyed this thread so far. Gerry is the only one here to have actually tried a TBH in Scotland (or the British Isles) and his contribution is most welcome. Doris with her comments has really made me think (thanks Doris!). I'm just away out in the snow to turn my Nationals upside down to mimic the more natural way ... but that worries me as with this incredible summer we're about to have I'll have to lift a couple of hundreweights of boxes to get the later supers tucked underneath ....



    G.

  4. #34

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    Despite my experiences I would say that I'm also "categorically not in the anti-TBH camp". They didn't particularly work for my style of beekeeping and perhaps weren't best suited for my locale or the bees I put into them. But that doesn't invalidate them as a way to keep bees IMO. Maybe in the rainswept west or the windswept north they'd be just the ticket!

    Seriously though, I think if I were to construct them again I'd make them shorter and work out a way to super them. Unfortunately there's no getting around the difficulty of carrying out an inspection with them and if they tend to cross comb across the bars my opinion is that it's not worth bothering.

    I wish everyone the best of luck with their experiments with TBHs and Warres and hope things turn out better than they did for me.

    Gerry

  5. #35
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    Hi Everyone,

    Newbee here so please excuse me a few stupid questions.

    I have considered keeping a bee for years but never taken the plunge. I am hoping to make a serious start as soon as I consider I have completed sufficient study/research.

    Up until now there has been no mention of KTBH's on this site as far as I am aware and I have been wondering why. I am concerned to learn that a couple of colonies have not survived the winter in TBH's. If I got a colony or two going I would be devastated if they died as a result of me not providing them with suitable accommodation.

    TBH's seem remarkably easy to construct and I am thinking I will construct one or two of thicker timber to provide more protection from the elements. As I understand there are no fundamental differences between TBH's and bait/lure boxes I will use the TBH's for this purpose initially.

    I would be able to construct any bee hive from suitable plans but am fancying the simplicity of the TBH at this stage. Once I have some experience and understanding of the issues I may form different opinions.

    I live in a cold windy location on a farm. All the land on one side of my house is an intensively farmed dairy farm (about 200 milking cows) whereas on the other side of the house is a stream, woodland and grass land. About 1 mile away are the moors. I assume my location although not ideal for bee keeping should be OK? I have an organic garden, strawberries, raspberries, wild flowers, an orchard and a pond. When the garden is in full bloom there are often plenty of busy bees around, it is for this reason I think I might be able to lure a swarm. So far this year I have not seen a bee at home although I have seen a couple on the golf course.

    Ref cross combing across the top bars. I have seen 3 ways that are supposed to ensure the bees know where to build their comb. In the previous post (drumgerry) please could you indicate which method did not work.

    Thanks

    Mike

  6. #36
    Senior Member POPZ's Avatar
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    Mike - welcome to the forum and hope you keep posting awkward questions such as this one. TBH's are a hot (dare I say potatoe?) on this forum at the moment. If no-one comes back with an answer, I will get back to you myself.

    So you are on edge of the moors - is that Helmsley/Thirsk way. From there myself.

    Anyway, I hope you enjoy forum and get some good advice, and keep in touch with how you are getting on.
    POPZ

  7. #37
    Administrator gavin's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by POPZ View Post
    (dare I say potatoe?)
    You can if you like, but you might be accused of being Dan Quayle-like in your spelling ability!

    Mike, it sounds like your garden would provide a useful source of pollen nearby, but the bees will need to forage over a wide area. Woodland could be good, and pasture if it has wild plants in it and especially clover. Bees would fly to the moor in late summer, no problem.

  8. #38

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    Hi Mike - I followed a pretty standard method of getting the bees to build comb on to top bars. I table sawed a slot in the top bar, melted some wax in and attached a starter strip of foundation of about an inch in depth.

    Cross combing - you might get it, you might not. But it's no fun if that's the way the bees prefer to have their nest.

    If it were me starting up with bees I wouldn't be looking at TBHs. I'd be doing some heavy research into what type hive I'd prefer and leave TBH experiments for when I've got a multitude of stocks. But that's just me - everyone will have their own take on it.

    Whatever you choose to do I wish you luck. Life will never be the same once you have bees and you'll wish you'd done it years ago!

    Gerry

  9. #39
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    Thanks for replies,

    POPZ - I originate from Easingwold and worked at Thirsk & Northallerton Golf Club 30 odd years ago. Now live in the Whitby area.

    I do intend to have a period of study before taking the plunge, a bee is not just for christmas. Problem is there are too many choices when it comes to hive designs and too many contrary opinions among experienced bee keepers so how am I supposed to make a decision? A friend knows a bee keeper and is arranging a meeting so I might be able to fit another piece or two into the jigsaw.

    Will be back with more questions in due course.

    Mike

  10. #40
    Senior Member POPZ's Avatar
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    Mike - I left Nawton Towers some 55 years ago (blimey, that seems an awful long time ago!).
    There are just three things I would recommend for you at the moment.
    1) Find yourself a mentor. Someone who is experienced in keeping bees in your area and work with them for a while.
    2) Join your area bee keepers association such as - http://www.hrbka.org.uk/index.php?op...id=7&Itemid=13 I see these guys have an association apaiary which could be very useful for you.
    3) Purchase a great little book 'Bees at the bottom of the garden' by Alan Campion. A simple and really instructive little book.

    Good luck and enjoy - POPZ

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