Giselle Burningham

It’s now March.. autumn… Update regarding flow hive and wheelchair use. It’s actually working perfectly. I can go behind the bees and take the honey by turning a tap!!! (only two frames each session) without a suit! Mind you it’s also been extremely hot here. I would actually still recommending wearing a hat with netting and long sleeves clothes… but I don’t bother with gloves.. I always talk to my bees before I go behind and they’re completely unbothered. I always listen to my bees before I go anywhere near them so if they sound annoyed, I walk away.So far I’ve had a ridiculous amount of honey the way I planned my hive was one brood box at the bottom then their honey to help them through winter then the flow hive on top that I pinch. All seems to be going well at the moment so so far I’ve had 12 kg of honey and it tastes absolutely delicious. I’m actually selling mine in 30 g teddy bears which are so cute… it’s raspberry jam in the jars.. yummmm

I live in the land where everything wants to eat chickens! ( Australia)We created our own coop with a solid concrete floor and have extended it and what I’ve learnt is that we should’ve made it higher so you can stand up without banging your head. I’ve also found that even if you provide two roosting spots, the chickens will typically only choose one. I’ve also found that nesting boxes will end up with at least four chickens in it even though they’ve got plenty of spaces in the others I have 20 chickens and four nesting boxes. What has been a godsend is an automatic water feeder. I actually use a trough feeder. They seem to prefer it and I used 2 water butts to supply the water to the chickens. I occasionally put vinegar into the actual trough just to keep it pH balanced… Also I put a large piece of copper piping into the water butts to stop algae. It actually works. I also have an automatic door so I don’t have to worry about letting them in and out and I have put corrugated on around the base of the coop to stop wind. The rest is all netted with very fine netting and very strong.  I have noticed that it is useful to have hanging points in in the coup if I have to to keep the chickens in there for any time that way I can hang veggie from the ceiling which allows them to pack upwards. Giving them entertainment.. I’ve also found that mirrors don’t work and nor do musical instruments. Well, I’ve got silly one day.. or I’ve got dumb chickens. … oh my feeding system is actually an old children’s collapsible rubber bath. I’ve tried every food feeding system going and oddly enough they love this one. It lasts about two weeks for food and really easy system..
Hope this helps.

I do also have problems growing carrots. I have Sandy soil and I water regularly so how come farmers can grow carrots without covering them and grow them on mass, and the birds don’t eat all the seeds, and I’m sure that they don’t water the carrots every day. I’m in zone 9.

So that’s what wrong with me… lol. “ I have a brain the size of a planet.. and all they want me to do is” … cook and clean.. I love learning new and WIERD things whilst multitasking.

Update: well the beehive (flowhive) has been installed.. learning about insulation has been interesting.. Tasmania’s weather is unlike mainland Australia. It’s a lot damper and colder.. winter winds are cold!.. but we tend not to go below -2C. ..I’m concerned about mould and condensation.. so I will see how we go.

I also purchased a flow hive lifter.. I have tried it out.. without bees.. works beautifully!

I leave mine dirty.. put them in the fridge.. then once a week I get them out, wipe them with a damp tea towel and then put them in clean packaging.. and sell them. .. I have a LOT of eggs. .. if they are truely filthy.. then I wiped them.. and use them for personal use. .. I’ve had eggs for two months with no problems in the fridge. .. BUT if you wipe them it removes the protection on the shell.. and they go off quicker.

I noticed that some of your posts are over nine years old but you need to be aware that in Australia the varroa virus has just arrived here in small pockets! So your information is invaluable. could you give us an update on how you’ve coped on what you’ve done?  And any tips to help us all out. Thankyou. From Tasmania,Australia.

Hi guys.. I thought I would take you on my journey for my first bee hive… and yes I’m disabled.
I use a powered wheelchair and I have poor grip in my hands..so this will be interesting.

I already have a massive walled garden with raised vegetable beds, and lots of young fruit trees and bantam chickens (20). (We are fairly self sufficient)

Basically I started with two choices.. a traditional bee hive .. the white ones with stacked boxes.. or a flat long hive.. but I couldn’t find anywhere to buy the later...l so I ended up with a flow hive with the special lifter. .. but I still think a long hive might be easier.. we will see.. but i definitely prefer the flow hive method of harvesting. A hybrid may be on the books after next year.. I will see how I go.

My local bee keeper won’t give me bees until I had a year of learning.. tough love! But worth it. .. so after numerous videos, books, learning about all kinds of diseases etc..I’m awaiting my first nuc in spring.

So I now have the hive.. all painted and looking pretty.. currently off gassing in the shed awaiting the end of winter.. it took me ages to find the right spot in the garden. I had to take into consideration access.. also not being bombarded every time I entered the garden.

As for the bee suit.. chose a xxl suit.. you need more room for your bum when sitting lol. .. so let the adventure begin!!

John.. thank you for the fantastic document from Slovenia on bee keeping for people with a disability.. very informative! Thank you.

Yes silkies will be eaten by predators first.. I think it’s because they are soo fluffy they can’t see properly.. also they can be real greedy guts for food.. and concentrate on food and not the eagles over head! That’s why I moved to bantam Sussex and bantam English game hens.. very smart birds.

We have 4 sea eagles in our woods and numerous crows, hawks etc... Only lost 3 birds in
5 years.