Hi, I'm a from Belgium. Started beekeeping from februari 2018 with a 6 frame Nuc.
I split the Nuc I got twice to get my apiary going.
I also did two trapouts, and caught a Swarm.
I've bought two Hives with bees (and 3 empty ones) from a BK that was allergic to beestings and had to quit the hobby.
I also caught a late season mini-swarm I think came from a queen breeder that left the queen in a small hive for mating to long.
The swarm I caught lost it's queen in a draught, I used part of it to strengthen one split and part to strengthen that late "queenswarm".
The two Hives I bought didn't make it and got robbed out within 2 weeks after moving them.
The split I didn't add bees to absconded after I introduced a queen I caught from the trap-out. The owners of the tree the bees I was trapping out from saw her abscond.
In short: now I've sent 2 nucs en 3 Hives into winter and am hoping for the best!
Apart from feeding on occasion ans using bees that are queenless to strenghten weaker colonies or splits I'm not planning on using treatments ever.
Not even for the upcoming problem looking at us in Belgium with the asian hornet. I can only hope the balance of nature comes quickly and doesn't take away my hives each year. I must admit I am tempted to go out hunting hornets, but I am convinced the hornet will eventually have to be overcome by the apis mellifera itself.
I'm also a father of two and if you want more info, feel free to ask!
I'd like to thank Solomon for all the work he has done for the (treatment free) beekeeping community.
I do apologize for any spelling mistakes, even though I like to think my english is pretty ok, it is not my native language! I'll try to keep in mind it's 'hobbyist' when I want to use that word ;-)
I sometimes go by Bob (the Builder) - that is due to having a wife that's an architects assitant, and she's called Wendy. Bob the builder has an assitant called Wendy... so hence Bob.
Bob is easier to pronounce and I don't mind, so feel free.
Greetings and Bob Out
I split the Nuc I got twice to get my apiary going.
I also did two trapouts, and caught a Swarm.
I've bought two Hives with bees (and 3 empty ones) from a BK that was allergic to beestings and had to quit the hobby.
I also caught a late season mini-swarm I think came from a queen breeder that left the queen in a small hive for mating to long.
The swarm I caught lost it's queen in a draught, I used part of it to strengthen one split and part to strengthen that late "queenswarm".
The two Hives I bought didn't make it and got robbed out within 2 weeks after moving them.
The split I didn't add bees to absconded after I introduced a queen I caught from the trap-out. The owners of the tree the bees I was trapping out from saw her abscond.
In short: now I've sent 2 nucs en 3 Hives into winter and am hoping for the best!
Apart from feeding on occasion ans using bees that are queenless to strenghten weaker colonies or splits I'm not planning on using treatments ever.
Not even for the upcoming problem looking at us in Belgium with the asian hornet. I can only hope the balance of nature comes quickly and doesn't take away my hives each year. I must admit I am tempted to go out hunting hornets, but I am convinced the hornet will eventually have to be overcome by the apis mellifera itself.
I'm also a father of two and if you want more info, feel free to ask!
I'd like to thank Solomon for all the work he has done for the (treatment free) beekeeping community.
I do apologize for any spelling mistakes, even though I like to think my english is pretty ok, it is not my native language! I'll try to keep in mind it's 'hobbyist' when I want to use that word ;-)
I sometimes go by Bob (the Builder) - that is due to having a wife that's an architects assitant, and she's called Wendy. Bob the builder has an assitant called Wendy... so hence Bob.
Bob is easier to pronounce and I don't mind, so feel free.
Greetings and Bob Out
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