Alex Standing by a Fence
I am a thirty-something software developer who works for a local university. I program (or have programmed – past tense) in languages with names like java, ruby, php, python and a host of other names. I enjoy programming/coding; it provides mental stimulation and also pays the bills.
This is the first blog I’ve ever read and, fantasically, it’s about bees! Excellent!Nicks quite cecrort; the less you interfere with bees, the better the results. I have two National Hives but am looking to move the bees over to Warres as the concept appears to be far more sustainable, a lot less traumatic for the bees and a lot less time consuming for me. As there is considerably less manipulation (opening of the hive) with a Warre it means the bees are not having the roof taken off their house, and the furniture inside moved around, every week which must surely strss them out.Therefore, a Warre will be a much better hive to keep in your garden; it’s relaxing to watch the bees, helps the plants, may result in some honey and is a great talking point with friends.I’d fully recommend beekeeping; it’s a fabulous hobby and costs me a lot less than my dog! If you have a club, or someone with whom you can team up, then that gives you greater confidence and knowledge. An excellent beginners book is called, Bees at the Bottom of my Garden . It’s funny, informative and written in an easy-to-understand way which just encourages you to keep readingGo for it.Best wishes,Tim.New Forest, Hampshire, England (the little guys across the water!)
Verry much interested to know a beekeeper from Japan. Ishall be verry happy to be in touch from time to time.
I am living in Tanzania and iam working with the Goverment as a District Beekeeping officer in Kilwa District.
Welcome to Tanzania.
Your’s sincely
Abushiri Mbwana
Abushiri – thanks for the kind words. I apologize for taking such a long time to get back to you. The beekeepers I met in Japan all had a similar problem of sorts (unrelated to beekeeping): they did not speak English. I would be more than happy to put you in contact with them, but I fear that you would not hear back from them. It was not until I enlisted the help of native speakers that I started a very long, and slow back and forth “conversation” with them.
Hi Alex,Thank you Alex for all your extra teachings. Alex makes some great pntios. I am also wary about getting used equipment due to fears about American Foulbrood, a nasty disease.Also, if your hive, like Alex’s, are not conveniently located, you might also have to think about getting additional equipment the bees might need to keep them happy, secure, and safe, i.e. larger feeder , a bear-proofing device, or even hive branding equipment.I also recommend that you get a live mentor because you can use their tools which will help you make finer distinctions between the equipment you like and will use as opposed to not. Finally, Alex gives a good tip in that you should decide how much you want to spend first, rather than later, like I did.
Thanks So the cells you are seeing are drone cells. They are very slaiimr in appearance to the real queen cells. But you can recognise them by the way they are sticking out of an ordinary worker cell. The capping’s are slightly higher then worker cells. Around quarter of an inch about 7mm. Another cell that can be slaiimr is the emergency Queen cell. It is also made from worker eggs and their cells. But they tend to be more like an egg. let me know if you have any more questions