We have been experimenting with foundation less frames and getting the bees to create their own foundation. The problem with doing this on brood frames is that the bees tend to create more drone comb and we would rather their build this in our drone management frames. So we can keep varroa numbers lower. Drone [...]
Posts Tagged ‘kiwimana’
Foundation less frames no good for brood frames
28 January 2012Keeping nine frames in a ten frame box
24 January 2012I found this clever tip on the beebehavior.com site to keep nine frames easily spaced in a ten frame box. Using only nine frames causes the bees to build out the wax further, and surprisingly you will get more honey than if you used ten frames. Also as the wax extends out further, it’s easier [...]
Working in the shop at the Auckland Bee Club
14 January 2012I went along to Auckland bee club today, and spent most of the time helping Sue in the shop. It was a very busy day and I enjoyed meeting and talking to everyone that came in. I managed to sneak out during the talks. The topics today were:- Harvesting honey Tips on entering the honey [...]
Inspecting Hives and Sending Bees in the post?
11 January 2012It was time to inspect hives today in between painting bee hive boxes and dodging the ever-present rain in Auckland. Isn’t it meant to be summer here? These are some notes from the inspections today:- Taupaki 1 Hive is very strong and doing very well, loads of bees in the brood area and their have [...]
Our Varroa mite plan this season
10 January 2012This was a question posted in by one of our readers, Sophie asks:- How can a New Zealand bee-keeper keep their bees alive every year? Well this is a good question, over recent times bee-keepers are having trouble keeping bees alive. Due to Varroa mites and pesticides in the environment. Last year our plan failed [...]
The tale of the Pool Side Bees
18 December 2011Day One Got a call from Mary in Glen Eden, a swarm of bees had taken up residence on the side of her pool house. It was into the Kiwimana mobile after work, with a spare hive that I had gathered together from parts found in the workshop. Mary said she thinks the bees had [...]
Franklin Bee Club and Tana Umaga?
11 December 2011We got up late today after a late night at an engagement party last night congrats to Ben and Lorelle. Anyway we stopped off at a cafe on the way and who should we run into but Tana Umaga the famous New Zealand All Black. We asked if we could take a photo with him, [...]
Picking up the Hawthorn swarm – Part 2
12 November 2011Second visit to this Remuera hive, we texted the house owner “Nick” this morning and he advised us that the bees had returned to the hedge despite our efforts last night. The bees are clustered in a middle of hedge and a wire fence to boot, so it’s not a simple group of ladies to [...]
Swarms Swarms EveryWhere!!! Swanson 1!!!
12 November 2011Got another call from a kind member of the public “Terry” yesterday morning while we were getting reading to tackle the Hawthorn Swarm again. A swarm had arrived yesterday and was in a tree. It turned out that Terry knows Tom Dixon from the Bee Club, so small world indeed. Luckily for us the swarm [...]
