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chez



Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35934
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset
PostPosted: Thu Aug 16, 07 5:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Mrs Fiddlesticks wrote:
Chez wrote:

Are you going to pop apigard trays in there once you've taken the supers off?


was wondering about that. We've only had them since April when they were only nuc sized and we popped an Apigard tray in then just to start them off clean (as suggested by the bee keeper we got them off) Are we at risk of overdosing them if we put one on for the autumn?

Not sure - perhaps check with someone at your association, or the DEFRA people? I'd say better to be safe than sorry - but equally, not sure what dosage is considered safe!

lottie



Joined: 11 Aug 2005
Posts: 5059
Location: ceredigion
PostPosted: Thu Aug 16, 07 6:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Chez wrote:
Someone suggested a hot-air paint stripper to get the cap off the hunny - you just sort of waft it over the frame for ten seconds and Bob, as they say, is your uncle - rather than muddling about with uncapping tools.

Are you going to pop apigard trays in there once you've taken the supers off?


Anybody tried this?---anything has to be better than fiddling with the uncapping knife.
If you are going to a sale or big honey convention before next years harvest you can often get a much better deal or show special on extractors----we saved a fair bit on ours a few years ago like that----don't have to wait to borrow the club one now.

chez



Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35934
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset
PostPosted: Thu Aug 16, 07 6:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

lottie wrote:
Chez wrote:
Someone suggested a hot-air paint stripper to get the cap off the hunny - you just sort of waft it over the frame for ten seconds and Bob, as they say, is your uncle - rather than muddling about with uncapping tools.


Anybody tried this?---anything has to be better than fiddling with the uncapping knife.

The chap I heard it from swears by it ... but haven't tried it ourselves - I am trying to borrow one to give it a go.

joanne



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7100
Location: Morecambe, Lancashire
PostPosted: Fri Aug 17, 07 8:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Mrs Fiddlesticks wrote:
Chez wrote:

Are you going to pop apigard trays in there once you've taken the supers off?


was wondering about that. We've only had them since April when they were only nuc sized and we popped an Apigard tray in then just to start them off clean (as suggested by the bee keeper we got them off) Are we at risk of overdosing them if we put one on for the autumn?


I wouldn't put them on yet - I've been told to leave it until the end of September because we may get an Indian Summer and you may get an extra super of honey off - If you use Apigard too early - the Thymol may taint the honey.

My bee's are still filling their supers - I've got one almost capped off and another that they've drawn out from foundation and started filling in a week

Also did you know that you shouldn't now be using Icing Sugar as part of your IPM regime - The Bee Inspector told us that trials have found that although its fine for adult bee's - It can suffocate unsealed brood and they think its a cause of Chalk Brood

Also you are not allowed to store empty supers with paradichlorobenzene in them to prevent Wax Moth - this is not approved for food use - the recommended method if you only have a few hives is to store them dry on top of the hive over the top of a ventilated but sealed crown board (ie the bees can't get into them)- so that the natural ventilation from the bee's will keep them clear

chez



Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35934
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset
PostPosted: Fri Aug 17, 07 9:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Really useful stuff jocorless, thanks. My issue is that if I don't do it all pre-baby it's unlikely to happen post-baby - I think if they make any honey for themselves during September then I'll just leave it on for them .

Re the wax-moth - you can also get rid of that by putting supers and frames in the freezer, can't you?

joanne



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7100
Location: Morecambe, Lancashire
PostPosted: Fri Aug 17, 07 9:25 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Yes - I think you can but to be honest I simply don't have room for 24 super frames in the freezer - I've got far too much other stuff in there - see the freezer confession thread for details

Has anyone used Oxalic Acid treatment for Varroa ? I know its quite controversial at the moment although I don't really understand the politics or the reasoning behind yet - The Lancaster branch of the BBKA is treating the hive's of those in the branch who want it in December -

Last edited by joanne on Fri Aug 17, 07 9:29 am; edited 1 time in total

Mrs Fiddlesticks



Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 10460

PostPosted: Fri Aug 17, 07 9:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

we've got a Bee Bag, that you can seal to prevent wax moth getting in. We've taken to storing a few things in our greenhouse which is unheated in winter so hopefully that's also helpful.

joanne



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7100
Location: Morecambe, Lancashire
PostPosted: Fri Aug 17, 07 9:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

What's a bee bag and where do I get one ?

chez



Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35934
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset
PostPosted: Fri Aug 17, 07 9:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

jocorless wrote:
Yes - I think you can but to be honest I simply don't have room for 24 super frames in the freezer


Well, I was thinking about putting them in one at a time and storing them somewhere else ... .

Re Oxalic acid, no, I haven't - but the DEFRA chappie who came to lecture us a couple of months ago was pro it, if necessary, if I remember rightly - ie, only if needed.

Mrs Fiddlesticks



Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 10460

PostPosted: Fri Aug 17, 07 9:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

can't find it in Thornes catalogue on line; our bee supplier gave it to us. A thick polythene bag that's sealable and you can put a drop of acetic acid in to ward off wax moth.

Will have a better look later.

alison
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 12918
Location: North Devon
PostPosted: Fri Aug 17, 07 10:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

We don't use oxalic acid, we use hive clean, which has the added bonus of being food approaved, so you can still take off the honey.

If you go to an aquatic centre, and ask for the polystyrene boxes that the pond weed comes in a super of frames fits in there perfectly for future protection and storage.

Lorrainelovesplants



Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 6521
Location: Dordogne
PostPosted: Fri Aug 17, 07 10:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Re your list for things to buy...I got a SECOND HAND EXTRACTOR, and Im very pleased with it. Dont use a decapping fork, i use a breadknife, dipped in hot water. Dont use strainers - I use...POPSOCKS! seriously, they are great..20 denier will filter your honey really clear. We do our extraction in the conservatory on top of a plastic sheet. The honey is spun out about 2pm when the room is hot, and strained right away. Filled jars are left to settle in a cooler room to let the air bubbles disappear and thats it. Cleaning up is the worst bit, but im really happy with my cheap and cheerful method. Cleared 2 supers in a day.
Lorraine

FiddlesticksTim



Joined: 28 Dec 2004
Posts: 104
Location: West Oxfordshire
PostPosted: Fri Aug 17, 07 1:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Mrs Fiddlesticks wrote:
can't find it in Thornes catalogue on line; our bee supplier gave it to us. A thick polythene bag that's sealable and you can put a drop of acetic acid in to ward off wax moth.

Will have a better look later.


I think James said it was something he'd produced himself. You can find James at www.thehivehoneyshop.co.uk

London prices, I'm afraid - but he's a good guy.

Tim

Mrs Fiddlesticks



Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 10460

PostPosted: Fri Aug 17, 07 1:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

FiddlesticksTim wrote:
Mrs Fiddlesticks wrote:
can't find it in Thornes catalogue on line; our bee supplier gave it to us. A thick polythene bag that's sealable and you can put a drop of acetic acid in to ward off wax moth.

Will have a better look later.


I think James said it was something he'd produced himself. You can find James at www.thehivehoneyshop.co.uk

London prices, I'm afraid - but he's a good guy.

Tim


thanx Darling

Here's the link to the bee bag page

https://www.thehivehoneyshop.co.uk/products.asp?category=23

he's the guy we did our course with so a useful contact.

joanne



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7100
Location: Morecambe, Lancashire
PostPosted: Fri Aug 17, 07 2:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Excellent thank you - I'll pass that on tomorrow at the Bee meeting (going to a Skep Making workshop)

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