Elisabeth in Kitsap County, Washington. I have 2 hives, one started from a nuc last spring and one from a package this spring. Package bees are doing great, and I will be adding a super this weekend. Original hive is, unfortunately, very weak due to my ineptitude earlier this season. They are making a new queen, so I hope they will build up in time for winter. It’s like a ghost town in there right now. Learning every day.
Hi Elisabeth, consider combining your hives into one if the weak hive does not have enough numbers to get through the winter. Its better than losing the whole lot and you can split next spring if all is going well. Best of luck.
Hi guys
We are a family of 6 also living in Auckland and can’t wait for the flow give to arrive. We should see if we can set up an AKL Flowhive section in the forum and keep in touch
Thank you, Rodderick. I have considered combining, but am giving the hive time to recover. Are you in the PNW? If ao, you will know that we’re in for a long summer, which I hope will work to their advantage. I’m about to add a super to my newer hive, as they seem ready for it and the flow is on. They are already two deeps with the top one almost built. This week’s inspection ahould tell me more. Thanks for the advice and encouragement 
1 Like
Hi Elizabeth, another option I’d be certainly doing is move a frame of brood from the strong hive & add it to the weak hive. Replace that frame with foundation or freshly drawn comb. You can repeat that process say every ten days. As long as the weak hive has the population to look after the brood, you’ll be right. If you pick a frame that is fairly full of brood, especially sealed brood, you’ll add around 4k bees to the weak hive in the coming 2 weeks. Also make sure there’s some worker eggs on the frame in case there’s no queen. Check for disease. With your long summer ahead, your strong hive will cope well with one frame of brood being taken away every 10 days. You’ll be amazed at the progress of the previous frame you put in after 10 days. You’ll also be amazed at the increase in population of the weak hive. You will have one queen doing the work of two for a short while but you’ll end up with 2 strong hives. cheers
Hi
I’m based just outside of Melbourne Australia, and we are small migratory bee keepers. My passion is saving bees from pest controllers, as thousands of hives are killed in capital cities each year - when they just dont need to be!!!
You can remove and recycle a hive from almost anywhere (except double brick veneer houses/chimneys). Some of these recycled hives will be ready in the new spring season for new beekeepers who have just received a new flow hive. At the moment there’s a short waiting list and further info is on www.BeeRescue.com.au
thanks and cheers Frankie
1 Like
Hi All,
Iam selva from India, the land of Agriculture. It is the backbone for the Indian economy. I am an urban farmer with interest in bee keeping. Excited to know about honeyflow and eagar to use this in my country and help people to get into honey farming.
2 Likes
Hi Frankie, well done mate, I’m sure there’ll be a huge call for your services later on in the year. You can get them out of cavity brick houses & chimneys using a bee escape. You probably already knew that. It can be time consuming. good luck & cheers
Hi Brian,
I’m looking forward to my flow hive arriving soon. I’m based out in Woodinville, Washington so will be looking for community members around the area.
Have you been enjoying your flow hive?
Decided not to be too greedy and extracted 14kg, left the rest with the girls for winter. Happy to report we are coming out the other side of winter and there are still several kilos in the super.
1 Like
Hi everyone! I am totally completely new aspiring beekeeper! I’m very excited to learn from all of you! I just bought the book “backyard beekeeping”. Any and all information is welcome!! I’m wanting to buy a flow hive before the 25th to get the free upgrade and then learn as much as possible before adding my bees. I do not have anything to speak of for beekeeping. So do I just need to order the complete full flow hive?
Oh, and I’m from a small town just north of Nashville, TN.
Welcome Chantel, there are no silly questions here so feel free to ask anything. There is a lot to know but that is entirely up to you. The full hive will get you just that, a hive. You will then need a veil or suit, gloves, a hive tool, smoker, hive stand and of course bees. Have a look through the following posts in Beekeeping basics, this might help explain a few things.
http://forum.honeyflow.com/t/beekeeping-basic-essentials-what-do-you-need/1479
http://forum.honeyflow.com/t/beehive-stands-are-they-necessary/1484
http://forum.honeyflow.com/t/building-a-langstroth-hive-preparing-for-bees/1481
http://forum.honeyflow.com/t/installing-package-bees-without-shaking-or-smoke/1508
http://forum.honeyflow.com/t/bee-diseases-and-pests-a-summary/1570
Thanks Rodderick! I have been reading some and already learning a lot!! I am beginning to understand that it still takes quite a bit of work to take care of bees. But I’m up for it!
Hi Dragonfly
Pete in Jindabyne a few hrs away but maybe swap some stories .
Cheers
@gullieshighlander What a wonderful place to live I love Jindabyne - spent many a summer walking up Kosi - Happy memories!
Oh wow an now where do u live.
I love it here last 12 years been great
1 Like
I’m in UK now but when at home I used to go there Christmas/New Year - I still remember getting water form a stream in the morning on Kosi, cracking the ice off and boiling the Trangia and wondering what the “crunchie” bits were. Turned out they were Taddies in the water. Fond memories. We would camp on the lake At Jindi before going up.
1 Like
Hello and welcome to Tennessee! I am also in West Tennessee but have purchased property in northern middle Tennessee where I will be keeping my bees. I have not started yet as I am awaiting on my full flow to arrive in December. I plan on getting started in the Spring.
1 Like
Welcome to Flow Hive Forum Jenni - Would love to see pictures of you building your Hives.
Thanks for the welcome Valli,
I’m from sunny Monbulk Victoria Aus. And have wanted bees for a long time, today I am starting off building my hive.
2 Likes