The Poultry Keeper

Itsybitsy · Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Posts: 1452 Location: Leicestershire

http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk

Started this weekend, if anyone is interested in beekeeping or already one.

Itsybitsy

nigel · Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 3:31 pm Post subject:

thanks for the link Itsy, somewhere new for beekeeping is definitely welcome. The new BBKA forum is a little too controlling and over moderated for my personal taste I hardly ever visit anymore

Itsybitsy · Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Posts: 1452 Location: Leicestershire

Yes, that's why this one has started, I'm on it as Frisbee.

I don't know what's going on with the other one - I'm not into politics, but there's quite a bit of nastiness from posters and deleting and moderating of posts (bit like pp was Embarassed

) Perhaps you could explain it to me? I've surmised a bit of it.
I put a link to this forum on the new one too, plenty of beeks keep chickens Smile

Itsybitsy

nigel · Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 7:31 am Post subject:

I don't really know the reason and as I haven't been there for a while things may have moved on in my absence but, some of it seems to stem from the whole pesticide/neonicatinoid and whether the BBKA should have a position on the subject. And the ethics of accepting money from pesticide manufacturers and endorsing pesticides. The BBKA seem to want to distance themselves totally from the forum, not answer any difficult or controversial questions and stick to nice safe subjects like what fuel to use in your smoker...

Itsybitsy · Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Posts: 1452 Location: Leicestershire

Oh - well that's about what I'd surmised about the politics.

The lastest was a posting telling newcomers (beginners) to check past posts before they posted their question as it may have been asked before Confused

. I know many questions get asked over and over again but beginners think that no-one else has ever had their particular problem and need a personal reply to reassure them, and that's like telling them "we can't be bothered"

Thanks Nigel

Itsybitsy

nigel · Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 6:51 am Post subject:

Of course many newbies ask the same questions? I know I did when I first came onto forums. I was patiently answered and reassured, I would be doing those who helped me [and the newcomers] a grave disservice if i didn't return the compliment.

To dismiss common questions with please use the search facility is neither welcoming or supportive. Of course beginners worry, that's due to lack of experience and purely natural, but that will change if forum members help, advise and support each other.

Stujan · Joined: 05 Jul 2008 Posts: 465 Location: East Sussex

Its either fate or good fortune I was browsing smallholder animals and low and behold just what I was searching for !!

Many thanks for the link and posting it itsybitsy, or should I say "Frisbee" , I will be signing up right away .

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7424 Location: isle of lewis

might need that might have done something silly now where do you buy bees

Itsybitsy · Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Posts: 1452 Location: Leicestershire

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7424 Location: isle of lewis

well i might have told somebody i might be interested in hives ,think we did have bee keepers ,but nobody keeps them any more so,it might be interesting Wink

,and somebody might have mentioned that i can use some woods if i want to Wink

Itsybitsy · Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Posts: 1452 Location: Leicestershire

By woods - do you mean planned wood to make a hive out of? or growing tree wood to put your bees there for the crop?

Well 1st thing I would suggest is get a good book, look on the bkforum and see what is popular, I think Beekeeping for Dummies is well recommended although it is American. There are lots of new words to learn - super, frames, foundation, drones etc. It's handy to read and then read again till you have the words and their meanings firmly in your mind.

If there are no beekeepers on Lewis you won't be able to go to anybody for practical help, but that's not to say you can't do it on your own.

Finally (for now) beekeeping is certainly not a cheap hobby, setting up is quite expensive really, and the income from honey is fraught with problems however don't let that put you off.

Feel free to speak to me (not that I know what I'm doing Very Happy

) I'll pm you my phone number.

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7424 Location: isle of lewis

by wood i mean across the road there is about 5 acres of woods ,i'm thinking wind protection would this work , i've been told i can use if i want to Cool

,no grazing animals as it's a woodland grant scheme Wink

,thank you for you offer ,i'd love to except Very Happy

i'll ask for the book for christmas Wink

i've heard the words ,but no idea what they mean Embarassed

auntie pauline and uncle paul had 7 hives ,but they were uncle pauls hobby and he died quite a few years ago , remember the taste of the honey though Wink

thank you

Itsybitsy · Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Posts: 1452 Location: Leicestershire

I think tree wood can be quite productive, what about growing crops - rape and beans? Fruit is very good - tree fruit and soft and of course heather and ling which i expect you have. I'll look in my book for more

Itsybitsy