by Hilary Kearney 2 min read
In the height of summer, when temperatures are soaring, it's important to remember that bees (and all wildlife) need access to safe drinking water.
Honey bees need water but may drown while trying to collect it. Keep bees from drowning in your pool or pet's water bowl by providing a safe place for them to drink.
If given a choice, bees will always choose to drink โdirtyโ water. They appear to favour water that has become murky with algae. So, grant them their wish and set up a bee pond. It doesnโt have to be a big, fancy pond โ create a simple water garden with half wine barrels or a similar container.
You just need a barrel, mosquito fish and some floating plants (like water lettuce or water hyacinth). Sometimes these types of ponds do better with a small amount of water circulation, like a small solar fountain. Once a pond is established, it can be very low maintenance.
Clean decaying organic matter from the bottom of the pond so the water is not robbed of its oxygen.
No matter what type of water source you provide, make sure the water current isnโt too strong. Bees like trickling water because there is less of a drowning risk. I often see them hovering or even landing on fountains that have a gentle trickling function. Or fountains that drain into a rock-filled grate.
A simple way to give bees water is just to fill your bird bath with stones. If you already have a bird bath, you can make it attractive to bees by adding these additional landing areas.
You may find that you need two bird baths! One for the bees and one for the birds, because bees can sometimes deter birds from using that same bath.
The downside to bird baths is that they need to be refilled often.
Some beekeepers simply use buckets. Add a sponge in a bucket for a simple landing pad or hang a rag halfway in so the bees can take water directly from the rag, or float corks in the water. Any non-toxic floatation device will work!
Make sure you refill your bucket and check it often for mosquito larvae.
Thanks to Beekeeping Like a Girl, Hillary Kearney for permission to republish her blog. Hilary Kearney is a full-time beekeeper in her hometown of San Diego, California. Her business Girl Next Door Honey educates hundreds of new beekeepers each year. She is the author of the Beekeeping Like A Girl blog and maintains popular Instagram, Facebook and Twitter accounts. When sheโs not rescuing bees, teaching about bees, photographing bees or managing one of her 60 colonies, sheโs sleeping and dreaming of bees.
by Flow Hive 4 min read
by Flow Hive 3 min read
Harvest 21ย kg (46ย lb) of honey when your Flow Super is full
More room in the brood box for the queen to lay, which can lead to a bee colony of greater numbers.
Recommended for beekeeping in cold climates
10 frame Langstroth sizing
Harvest 18ย kg (40ย lb) of honey when your Flow Super is full
Our most popular Flow Hive size around the world
8 frame Langstroth sizing
Control the height and level of your hive perfectly, even on uneven ground, ensuring the ultimate slope for honey harvesting.
Keep your hive level to aid in straight foundationless brood comb formation
Keep your hive dry and off the ground, preventing ground dwelling pests from gaining easy access.
Simply add the coupon FREEHIVESTAND at checkout to save $90!
Offer available until midnight September 27th or until sold out. T&Cs apply.
Control the height and level of your hive perfectly, even on uneven ground, ensuring the ultimate slope for honey harvesting.
Keep your hive level to aid in straight foundationless brood comb formation
Keep your hive dry and off the ground, preventing ground dwelling pests from gaining easy access.
Flow Hive 2+ โ 6 Frame
Flow Hive 2 โ 6 Frame
8 frame Langstroth beehives
Flow Hive 2+ โ 7 Frame
Flow Hive 2 โ 7 Frame
10 frame Langstroth beehives
Bee suits are designed to be worn slightly baggy over your normal clothing, so itโs best to choose a slightly larger size than you would normally wear.
Be sure to give yourself plenty of room to move around with additional length for movement โ ankles and wrists need to remain covered when youโre crouching, bending or stretching.
You do not want the suit to be tight fitting โ itโs this loose fitting material that offers sting prevention.
If in doubt or between sizes, go up to the next size:
Height (cm) | Weight (kg) | ||||||||||
50 | 56 | 62 | 68 | 74 | 80 | 86 | 92 | 98 | 104 | 110 | |
145 - 150 | 2XS | 2XS | XS | S | |||||||
150 - 155 | 2XS | 2XS | XS | S | S | M | M | M | |||
155 - 160 | 2XS | 2XS | XS | S | S | M | M | M | L | ||
160 - 166 | XS | XS | XS | S | M | M | M | L | XL | XL | |
166 - 171 | XS | S | S | M | M | L | L | L | XL | XL | 2XL |
171 - 176 | M | M | M | M | L | L | L | L | XL | 2XL | 2XL |
176 - 181 | L | L | L | L | L | L | XL | XL | 2XL | 2XL | 3XL |
181 - 186 | L | L | L | L | XL | XL | XL | 2XL | 3XL | 4XL | |
186 - 191 | L | L | L | XL | XL | XL | 2XL | 3XL | 4XL | 5XL | |
191 - 197 | XL | XL | XL | 2XL | 2XL | 2XL | 3XL | 4XL | 5XL | ||
197 - 204 | 2XL | 2XL | 2XL | 3XL | 3XL | 4XL | 5XL | 5XL |
Height (feet) | Weight (lbs) | ||||||||||
110 | 123 | 137 | 150 | 163 | 176 | 190 | 203 | 216 | 229 | 243 | |
4'9" - 4'11" | 2XS | 2XS | XS | S | |||||||
4'11" - 5'1" | 2XS | 2XS | XS | S | S | M | M | M | |||
5'1" - 5'3" | 2XS | 2XS | XS | S | S | M | M | M | L | ||
5'3" - 5'5" | XS | XS | XS | S | M | M | M | L | XL | XL | |
5'5" - 5'7" | XS | S | S | M | M | L | L | L | XL | XL | 2XL |
5'7" - 5'9" | M | M | M | M | L | L | L | L | XL | 2XL | 2XL |
5'9" - 5'11" | L | L | L | L | L | L | XL | XL | 2XL | 2XL | 3XL |
5'11" - 6'1" | L | L | L | L | XL | XL | XL | 2XL | 3XL | 4XL | |
6'1" - 6'3" | L | L | L | XL | XL | XL | 2XL | 3XL | 4XL | 5XL | |
6'3" - 6'5" | XL | XL | XL | 2XL | 2XL | 2XL | 3XL | 4XL | 5XL | ||
6'5" - 6' 7" | 2XL | 2XL | 2XL | 3XL | 3XL | 4XL | 5XL | 5XL |
Your bundle will ship when all items in order are in stock, please check below for any for any possible delays.
Hive
Flow Hive 2 - 6 Frames โ Dispatches in 1-2 working days
Flow Hive 2 - 7 Frames โ Dispatches in 1-2 working days
Bee Suit
Flow Bee Suit โ Organic Cotton - 2XS โ Dispatches in 1-2 working days
Flow Bee Suit โ Organic Cotton - XS โ Dispatches in 1-2 working days
Flow Bee Suit โ Organic Cotton - S โ Early December
Flow Bee Suit โ Organic Cotton - M โ Dispatches in 1-2 working days
Flow Bee Suit โ Organic Cotton - L โ Early December
Flow Bee Suit โ Organic Cotton - XL โ Early December
Flow Bee Suit โ Organic Cotton - 2XL โ Dispatches in 1-2 working days
Flow Bee Suit โ Organic Cotton - 3XL โ Dispatches in 1-2 working days
Flow Bee Suit โ Organic Cotton - 4XL โ Dispatches in 1-2 working days
Flow Bee Suit โ Organic Cotton - 5XL โ Dispatches in 1-2 working days
Flow Smoker
Flow Smoker โ Dispatches in 1-2 working days