The Poultry Keeper

nigel · Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 6:00 am Post subject:

You're right Summayah, I think the traditional cedar look, and smell, wonderful. Beekeeping is a traditional art and these things fit with the image.

Here though, they have a better winter survival rate with the insulating polystyrene. They've also found they are easier to clean etc and have adopted them wholeheartedly.

Here is a picture of the polystyrene hives of the type I'll be getting

Heather · Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 7:43 am Post subject:

Oh they don't look too bad - I was imagining the white stufff !

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

Can you paint it, to be sort of wooden looking? It does look very 'functional' ~ and no doubt easy to clean, but......

Itsybitsy · Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Posts: 1358 Location: Leicestershire

They look okay actually, at least they won't go rotten, I have a friend who is an ex bee keeper and she offered me some of her stuff, with the proviso that I return it to her when she retires (she's a dairy farmer so not much chance of that happening) I went and collected it from the corner of the field she directed me to, there was:- 3 brood boxes - all rotting, 1 super - okay, 2 crown boards - 1 doesn't fit a national, 1 roof - falling apart, 3 feeders & 1 porter bee escape - rusty. I think the next time I visit I will take a bag of wood chips with me in lieu Laughing

You're thinking of the WBC hives Summayah that look like a "traditional" bee hive, mine are Nationals like the plastic ones in the picture but in varying shades of green mould Laughing

Another friend gave me 2 Nationals which are not rotten but are green, one of them had been wood preservative treated at some time, but I gave it a quick rub down before I did it only to discover it had been painted over the mould Shocked

How much are the plastic ones Nigel and are what size are they?

Itsybitsy Wink

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

I don't know what I'm thinking of ~ I just know they look nice, sort of little lips over each other all the way up. But I've also seen some similar to Nigel's pic, but not so box looking and they were wooden.

Itsybitsy · Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Posts: 1358 Location: Leicestershire

Yeah - that's right, little lips, couldn't think how to describe them but that's perfect, well anyway they're WBC hives, they're like double skinned the lips being the outside, you get garden compost bins that look like them. Mine are boring old square boxes, covered in green mould or brown wood preservative. The plastic ones are exaggeratingly tall and it's got 2 supers on top of the broodbox with a very shallow roof - so it looks taller than you usually see.

I gratefully recieved what was given to me, the bee class hasn't got any WBC's so I don't know anything about them. We had the test last week and get our certificates of competence this week(or not Laughing

)

One rather dry old beekeeper said we would be better being given our certificates in the spring if we had managed to overwinter a nucleus. Rolling Eyes

Itsybitsy

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

Hopefully you'll get your certificate ~ you certainly sound like you know what you're talking about. I on the other hand am just sitting here nodding my head.

There's always one wants to make it harder, isn't there. You prove to him you can do it.

nigel · Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 7:36 am Post subject:

lilly the pink · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 78 Location: Wiltshire

Sorry to bust into this thread a little late on but I just wanted to add that I have got bees too!!

Itsybitsy · Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Posts: 1358 Location: Leicestershire

Hi

I'm all new to it, done my first proper hive inspection today, got my certificate of competence (beginners) trouble is I don't know where to hang it so the bees can read it but not chew it. Laughing

Itsybitsy

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

Congratulations, itsybitsy ~ do you get to put letters after your name as well like BKE ~ Bee Keeper Extraordinaire?

Itsybitsy · Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Posts: 1358 Location: Leicestershire

Thanks

I have many letters after my name, none of which can be repeated here Shocked

Itsybitsy

rubychik · Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 9:24 am Post subject:

congrats Itsybitsy....hoping to get some bees too when we move, so I know where to come for advice! Wink