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Diary of an Irish Beekeeper
Ireland
Registrace 11. 01. 2017
I'm a part time Beekeeper from Ireland, mainly involved in honey production. I also do Queen rearing on a self sustaining level. Currently we maintain around 50 colonies at various apiary sites, but we do have plans for expansion.
I decided for 2024 that I'd start this channel, covering the trials and tribulations of beekeeping and being a beekeeper in Ireland. I hope to give beekeeping tips along the way from my own experiences and I will also have discussions and reviews on some of the equipment I use.
Please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and COMMENT
Let me know through the comments if there is anything in particular you would like covered through my videos. I don't intend to do 'how to' or instructional type videos nor will my beekeeping practices always follow a textbook approach, but rather I hope to show how I do things; which may not always be considered the best way, but which I find works for me - most of the time! It's real life, week to week beekeeping, the good, the bad and the ugly!
I decided for 2024 that I'd start this channel, covering the trials and tribulations of beekeeping and being a beekeeper in Ireland. I hope to give beekeeping tips along the way from my own experiences and I will also have discussions and reviews on some of the equipment I use.
Please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and COMMENT
Let me know through the comments if there is anything in particular you would like covered through my videos. I don't intend to do 'how to' or instructional type videos nor will my beekeeping practices always follow a textbook approach, but rather I hope to show how I do things; which may not always be considered the best way, but which I find works for me - most of the time! It's real life, week to week beekeeping, the good, the bad and the ugly!
My beekeeper error leads to swarms! #swarming #beekeeping101 #beekeeper #irishbeekeeping
My beekeeper error leads to swarms! #swarming #beekeeping101 #beekeeper #irishbeekeeping
Yes, even though I have been beekeeping a long time, I still have slip ups from time to time. I think all beekeepers do, even the most experienced. At the end of the day, we're working with a wild and at times unpredictable insect.
I'm a part time Beekeeper from Ireland, mainly involved in honey production. I also do Queen rearing on a self sustaining level. Currently we maintain around 50 colonies at various apiary sites, but we do have plans for expansion.
I decided for 2024 that I'd start this channel, covering the trials and tribulations of beekeeping and being a beekeeper in Ireland. I hope to give beekeeping tips along the way from my own experiences and I will also have discussions and reviews on some of the equipment I use.
Please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and COMMENT
Let me know through the comments if there is anything in particular you would like covered through my videos. I don't intend to do 'how to' or instructional type videos nor will my beekeeping practices always follow a textbook approach, but rather I hope to show how I do things; which may not always be considered the best way, but which I find works for me - most of the time! It's real life, week to week beekeeping, the good, the bad and the ugly!
Yes, even though I have been beekeeping a long time, I still have slip ups from time to time. I think all beekeepers do, even the most experienced. At the end of the day, we're working with a wild and at times unpredictable insect.
I'm a part time Beekeeper from Ireland, mainly involved in honey production. I also do Queen rearing on a self sustaining level. Currently we maintain around 50 colonies at various apiary sites, but we do have plans for expansion.
I decided for 2024 that I'd start this channel, covering the trials and tribulations of beekeeping and being a beekeeper in Ireland. I hope to give beekeeping tips along the way from my own experiences and I will also have discussions and reviews on some of the equipment I use.
Please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and COMMENT
Let me know through the comments if there is anything in particular you would like covered through my videos. I don't intend to do 'how to' or instructional type videos nor will my beekeeping practices always follow a textbook approach, but rather I hope to show how I do things; which may not always be considered the best way, but which I find works for me - most of the time! It's real life, week to week beekeeping, the good, the bad and the ugly!
zhlédnutí: 804
Video
Grafting Day #beekeeping101 #beekeepinginireland #queenrearing
zhlédnutí 917Před 21 dnem
Grafting Day #beekeeping101 #beekeepinginireland #queenrearing It's two days after I set up my queen less cell builder colony. It's now time to get my grafts in. Grafting larva into cups is not too difficult in itself, it's just a case of being careful to choose the right age larva. But for successful queen rearing, it's the preparation beforehand that's the key. Setting up the cell builder and...
Queen Rearing: Creating a Cell Builder - Part II #beekeeping #beekeeping101 #queenrearing
zhlédnutí 550Před měsícem
Queen Rearing: Creating a Cell Builder - Part II #beekeeping #beekeeping101 #queenrearing This is the way I make up cell builders for raising queen cells. Originally planned this as one video, but was ending up too long so have divided into two parts. Make sure to watch the first part! czcams.com/video/kGQpKILWkPY/video.html I'm a part time Beekeeper from Ireland, mainly involved in honey produ...
Queen Rearing: Creating a Cell Builder - Part I #beekeeping #beekeeping101 #queenrearing
zhlédnutí 796Před měsícem
Queen Rearing: Creating a Cell Builder - Part I #beekeeping #beekeeping101 #queenrearing This is the way I create my cell builders. Originally intended on putting this out as one video, but it was working out too long, so split into two parts. Make sure to watch the second part! czcams.com/video/BKl77dgKRqc/video.html I'm a part time Beekeeper from Ireland, mainly involved in honey production. ...
Adapting my plans - Using Nucs as BROOD FACTORIES for splits #beekeeping101 #irishbeekeeper
zhlédnutí 810Před měsícem
Adapting my plans - Using Nucs as BROOD FACTORIES for splits #beekeeping101 #irishbeekeeper #beekeeping #beekeeperlife Some footage taken over the last fortnight put together to discuss the progress with the Nucs and my decision to use some of them as brood factories to provide me with brood (and bees) to make early splits as the production colonies just haven't yet built up in population. I'm ...
Progress - Transferring Nucs into Full Size Hive Boxes #beekeepinginireland #beekeeping101 #bees
zhlédnutí 787Před 2 měsíci
Progress - Transferring Nucs into Full Size Hive Boxes #beekeepinginireland #beekeeping101 #bees #beekeeping #beekeeperlife #beekeepinglife Although it has been a very slow start to the season, we are finally starting to see some progress. Some of the Nucs have expanded nicely over the last week or so ant it is now time to transfer them into full sized boxes. A little break in the what has been...
Overwintered Nucs: First Look AND The Smallest colonies I've ever overwintered! #beekeeping #bees
zhlédnutí 2,7KPřed 2 měsíci
Overwintered Nucs: First Look AND The Smallest colonies I've ever overwintered! #beekeeping #bees #beekeeperlife #beekeeper #lyson This is a long video on account of missing putting out a video last week. Finally getting a chance to take a look into the overwintered nucs. Some good, some a little behind, and one loss. I also take a look at two of the smallest colonies I've overwintered purposef...
Despite bad weather it's time to add supers - My preferred method of adding foundation in my supers
zhlédnutí 3,3KPřed 2 měsíci
Despite bad weather it's time to add supers - My preferred method of adding foundation in my supers
Are we finally seeing an uptake in the weather - Beekeeping in Ireland #beekeeping
zhlédnutí 513Před 3 měsíci
Are we finally seeing an uptake in the weather - Beekeeping in Ireland #beekeeping
Vermin attack and more Feeding - Beekeeping in Ireland
zhlédnutí 1,1KPřed 3 měsíci
Vermin attack and more Feeding - Beekeeping in Ireland
1st March Snow and Feeding Colonies Sugar Blocks - Beekeeping in Ireland
zhlédnutí 363Před 3 měsíci
1st March Snow and Feeding Colonies Sugar Blocks - Beekeeping in Ireland
Apiary Maintenance and Colony Loss #BeekeepingIreland
zhlédnutí 199Před 4 měsíci
Apiary Maintenance and Colony Loss #BeekeepingIreland
A walk among hives & chat about starter strips #beekeepingIreland #beekeeping101 #beekeepingtips
zhlédnutí 228Před 4 měsíci
A walk among hives & chat about starter strips #beekeepingIreland #beekeeping101 #beekeepingtips
Making thousands of frames efficiently with this simple device #beekeepingtips #beekeepinginireland
zhlédnutí 500Před 4 měsíci
Making thousands of frames efficiently with this simple device #beekeepingtips #beekeepinginireland
An in depth look at the Abelo/Lyson Twelve Frame Poly Hive - Polystyrene Beehives
zhlédnutí 392Před 5 měsíci
An in depth look at the Abelo/Lyson Twelve Frame Poly Hive - Polystyrene Beehives
WATCH - The moment a wasp is trying to enter a beehive #SHORTS
zhlédnutí 36Před 5 měsíci
WATCH - The moment a wasp is trying to enter a beehive #SHORTS
IRISH BEEKEEPER makes coffee and gets to work
zhlédnutí 42Před 5 měsíci
IRISH BEEKEEPER makes coffee and gets to work
A look around my workshop space and the jobs I need to get done ASAP - Irish Beekeeper
zhlédnutí 252Před 5 měsíci
A look around my workshop space and the jobs I need to get done ASAP - Irish Beekeeper
A look back over 2023 - Irish Beekeeper, Beekeeping in Ireland
zhlédnutí 118Před 5 měsíci
A look back over 2023 - Irish Beekeeper, Beekeeping in Ireland
Close up entrance activity, 10th July 2016
zhlédnutí 24Před 7 lety
Close up entrance activity, 10th July 2016
Really interesting, thanks for showing your mistake, always nice when experienced beekeepers show mistakes and how to rectify
Thanks for the comment and glad you found it interesting 😊.
Great content , Thanks for sharing , much appreciated
Glad you enjoyed it 😃
Hello. Do you have any queens for sale? Thank you. Peter
Are those black bees or some other strain?
Hi I am from Nepal. And I am also trying be a beekeeper and your video is so inspiring thank you.
Thank you. Best of luck with your beekeeping.
Great video, really enjoyed your process. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks 👍😊
What process do you use please for 1st and 2nd rendering
I use the steam melter to melt cappings and comb into blocks. There's always a lot of dirt at this stage, a good bit of which settles as the wax is cooling and can be scraped off the blocks. For second rendering, I bag the blocks in cotton pillow cases and melt again. It also goes through a standard kitchen strainer as it leaves the melter. There will still be a layer of fine dirt on the bottom of the blocks, which again is scraped off. This leaves the wax reasonably clean for wax exchange purposes, but it would have to go through further clarification for candle making etc.
Your smoker has lost its Mojo. lol
😂😂
Omg my yt channel
No problem. Probably easiest to contact me through FB messenger. Search Kildallon Apiaries in FB.
How can I contact u about buying a queen ? I am in Co Luimneach.
👍👍👍
Looking forward to the grafting video!
What do you use to paint them?
And which exactly queen excluder works best?
Personally, I usually paint them with Ronseal Garden Paint because of the colour choice. Cuprinol do something similar, but I haven't tried it. Any water based gloss usually goes on ok. A cheaper alternative is to just paint with masonry paint and it works fine. Do paint though, because UV from the sun degrades the poly if it's not painted.
I use standard sized national wired excluders; the unframed ones. Works fine for me.
how do you manage to store "wet" drawn comb? I thought that the comb moth would eat it?
I store them in my shed, covered down. The moth isn't too keen on going at wet comb so I don't have much problems.
copying michael palmer who is the brood factory wizard
Looking Great
Thank you for this reminder. 😍
Can i ask what part of the country are you from?
Mullingar
@@diaryofanirishbeekeeper that you from sligo
Great work, well played. Where do you buy the foil your using up top?
I buy rolls of it and I cut to size....most hardware stores usually have it, although the quality of the foil can vary. The German retailers get it in from time to time and the quality is usually very good.
As well as the content, I love the music, keep up the good work.
Very much appreciate the comment 👍
Whats your opinon on 3 frame nucs..
I haven't tried the three frame nucs out but I hear that they work great for getting Queens mated. But I would think that a 3 frame nuc is not really of benefit, over 5 and 6 frame versions, if you are looking to get a production colony out of it. Overwintering success as a 3 frame nuc also might not be great. I generally make my splits 2 or 3 frame....with the remaining frames made up of foundation or drawn comb, if I have it. This gives the colony room to grow and then when they fill that you have a well established colony, usually with 3 to 4 full frames of brood, to transfer in to a full size box, which you are not going to have with a 3 frame nuc.
looking good
Thanks 👍
Thanks for the advice 👍
Good day! I am a beekeeper from Ukraine, I also run a CZcams channel. I came to visit you in Ireland this month with my family. The war forced them to leave everything and go. We are from the city of Zaporizhia, our front line is 40 km from the city, constant missile and drone attacks forced us to leave Ukraine. I wanted to ask you if it is possible to buy a small colony of bees from you? because I can't do without bees, I'm very used to them. Thank you!
Hello. Thanks for your comment. Message me on our Facebook page (in channel description) and we'll try and work something out.
Great information thanks. What style of queen excluder works best? I have wire wooden framed ones at the moment but just thinking due to the rebate joints on the poly they might not lock in? What do you think?
Unframed wire excluders are best for this hive. Plastic or other flimsy type excluders would likely sag down and framed wire excluders will double the top bee space leading to the bees building brace comb.
The double stack by the wood pile, looks like they been robbed by the loose capping's on the bottom board?
Nice calm bees. Looks like it is verry good genetic. My bees are agresive and verry stingy.
Oh, I have bees like that too! I tend to ship them out to the out apiaries.
Will you be have gueens for sale? Thinking to change my ones. I leave in Edgeworthstown. Peter
Maybe later in the summer....depending on how organised I am and the weather!
Really appreciate the local content, but the red text is hard to see for me. 👍
Totally agree regarding the red text.
Thanks for the feedback. I'll bear that in mind for future.
Nice content. What beekeeping association are you in?
What type queens do you buy ?
Watching from the Pennsylvania
👋 Thanks for watching
😊👍👍👍
Thanks 😊
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Thanks
Last year was our first colony loss in around 5 years i was devastated, this year we're facing possibly 2 losses 😢
Great video, thanks for sharing and hello from Louisiana 👋🏻
Thanks 👍👋
Sorry about the losses, I think we are also facing 2 possibly 3 losses 😢
Yes, the last number of weeks has really taken a toll on any colonies that were in any way on the weaker side. Hopefully the weather improves soon and your bees hang in there and then the bad start to the season will soon be forgotten about.
Thks for that..
Any tips for super is you dont have drawn comb..
My answer very much depends on your location and whether you have a flow on or not. If you are experiencing similar weather conditions to what I have going on currently and which has basically stymied any flow but your colonies are growing, a suitable approach is to place the super box with foundation underneath the brood chamber. That way the cluster has room to expand and by default some work, even if it's just housekeeping, will take place. Just remember to switch the super up top as soon as your flow does start. It will then be a little more attractive to the bees as they've already been working on it. If you do have a full flow on or it's about to start, just place the box up top without queen excluder....pop QE on as soon as you see them starting to draw the foundation.
Would it be slower overall if you add the foundations before the bottom bar? I assemble mine all at once but for the moment i don't even use a jig. Just wondering as i need to get a jig built sooner than later. Nice looking frames.
I suppose you could try fitting the foundation before bottom bars, especially if you're using plastic foundation. I have never tried but I use wax foundation and I prefer not to fit it until right before I need it.....the frames I am making up to have a bank of assembled frames ready for later in the season when I will need them.
@diaryofanirishbeekeeper Makes sense. I haven't been able to get ahead enough to put any back yet. Panic building today infact..
Just what i need , thankyou.😊😊😊
You might try applying glue to your end bars stacked wide side together prior to placing the end bars in your assembly jig. Much quicker if you're fast enough on assembly to get the top bars on prior to the glue drying. Cheers from Colorado USA.
Sounds reasonable.
Indeed I might try that 👍
Do you use queen excluder? Great video. I will try this season. Good idea to put drawn comb on the outside in the second box.
Thanks for the comment. Yes I do use queen excluders.
Well explained. Yes , it was useful information. I will pass this along. Cheers... Near Toronto, Canada
Thanks very much for the comment.
Many thanks
Thanks for the video. Beekeeping in California, USA. What was your floral source at the end of your filming with the bee collecting light pollen on her leg baskets? I have a guess, Heather?The bell shaped flowers look a lot like the Manzanita bloom here that yields a nice water white very mild and delicious honey if the weather permits for the honeybees to fly. Let me know your main nectar sources there in your country. Blackberry is coming up soon this next month. 🐝
Thanks for the comment. You're correct.... it's an ornamental heather which flowers during the winter and into early spring. Good early forage plant, but is not the yielder of the famous heather honey!
Thank you x Same weather down here in the south of England. I am just beginning, I have one hive so appreciate your Bee Diary, I learn a lot.
Many thanks. Best wishes for your first year...
well done , good video
Thank you very much!
I put my super on last week. And completely by accident I have ordered the frames as you describe. I can confirm (as I've peeked through my perspex crownboard) that within a day the bees have been consistently over the central frames. I'm hoping to give them plenty of work to do - weather permitting ofc - in drawing out the comb to slow down the drive towards swarm season.
Excellent 👍. Thanks for the comment.
Where are ya based ?
Based in Westmeath
What ever it was ,it will come back. You need some traps. camera would be interesting too. Good luck I hope you get him soon.