Hello all, My name is Stuart. I live in Australia, Victoria, in a little country town called Kilmore. I am a beginner beekeeper. I have started with only one hive to see how l go. I have done a lot of reading, trying to learn as much as possible. l have had the hive for two weeks and have been inside once during this time. As a beginner there was so much to try and remember whilst going through the hive, with all the bees everywhere, smoking etc, that I forgot all the things I had planned to look for. I even forgot to look for the queen. So this weekend l will be doing it all again but will have a list of things on hand to check off, such finding the queen haha.
It is half way through our summer and l am concerned that the super is a bit light in honey, l was told by the person l recieved the hive from, that they took the honey in December 07, anyways I am going to join a local bee club next week and try to find a mentor and they may suggest to syrup feed.As l dont want to get caught out over Autum and Winter and loss my bees.
Thanks for letting me become a member and hope to learn alot from you all. Talk soon. Stuart.
Welcome Stuart. Reading and studying this forum and some time suited up with a mentor will be time well spent. It is not always necessary to find the queen. It is easier to just look for for eggs and larva. I have found that I see my queens more often by accident than when I try to just look for her.
Good Luck, Steve
Hey, welcome to beemaster, Mick and Geoff are from Australia also, have been talking with them in ventrillo, voice chat. Watch out for those salt water crocs, mate!
......JP
If you intend to find a queen (or even if you don't) don't use more than a puff or two of smoke or you'll scare her around and she'll be running around the hive and not staying still.
Thanks guys
Stuart, glad you forum this forum, welcome. This world of beekeeping, as you are finding, is addictive. You will learn a world of information during your visits here, ask any questions that you want, all questions will get an answer. Have a wonderful day, welcome, Cindi