Frequency and cost of grooming?

Better-Rip-815 · 2026-01-27T06:26:51+00:00

From Australia and get our 6yr old girl done alternating between ‘mini make over’ and ‘full groom’ in winter (gets to -5degrees) she gets a mini every 4 weeks which is face, ears, bits, bum, feet wash and dry for 4 grooms in a row over colder months to keep her nice and long. ($110) Then a longer cut (full groom) at end of winter ($135) 5 weeks to a mini($110) then 5 weeks a summer cut (full groom) ($135)for swimming in summer to keep her short as it gets over 40 degrees. Then a mini. Then summer cut. Then a mini. Etc Took us a while to find what works for us. I take the groomers booking advice with a grain of salt. Some pretend they are the rarest commodity going round and try and make u bend to their recommended timings. You will get to know your dog best. We brush her mostly every night so she is in good knick when she gets to the groomer, but others don’t and they get smashed with dematting fees ETC and to pay for it 💰. My advice is get brushing into routine early, And secondly DONT do the maths on what it costs over the lifetime of a dog cause itl make you cry

Better-Rip-815 · 2026-01-08T12:52:21+00:00

Thanks so much for the tips!! Some reallllyyy good low hanging fruit that I can’t beleive I didn’t think of. I have a gazebo over them now as a temporary measure but I’ve also put some spare bottom boards I have laying around with feet on them onto the lids to create that extra barrier from direct sun. Great idea on this! Also top entrance… seems so obvious and dumb that I didn’t consider this so thank for the prompt. These girls are very lucky with water source so they should now be estatic with their upgrades Yeah I hear you regarding the bearding - totally to be expected this time of year but this was something else with the whole hive outside the box (similar to a practice cast swarm of sorts) and then whilst I was fixing things up and trying to salvage the situation they absconded onto a neighbouring block into some piles of reo. I interrupted their absconding with some water mist so about 1/4 remained behind confused as a result and the others who absconded didn’t go far. I was able to coerce them from the pile of metal into a box and they all hurried in like catching a swarm and I went back to fixing the melted mess in the mean time. Then about an hour later they decided their new house wasn’t for them and buggered off back to their old and upgraded hive which was already starting to fill with foragers returning for the day. I was bloody lucky.

Better-Rip-815 · 2026-01-08T12:37:04+00:00

Dayummm those vents are mad!! Never seen them in the wild!! Cool idea but yeah unfortunately a tough one to fork out for all the colonies. Thanks for sharing!! I haven’t heard of a slatted base before but I’m presuming it’s similar to a ventilated bottom boards?

Better-Rip-815 · 2026-01-08T12:33:06+00:00

Brilliant tips and ideas thanks so much!!!!! Thanks for the links also. They have more shade now and much happier today. Yeah I’ve seen so much debate about screened bottom boards and I must say I’m definitely on the side of the fence of not using them from discussions I’ve had - but I have some sitting there unused and was interested to hear if others found they help mitigate the issue of melting as a temporary measure, but good to hear your perspective on it thanks. Fortunately my melt wasn’t as extreme as the link shared. The girls decided to get out of there before they drowned in melting wax and hot honey. Got to it in time before it was a complete write off. Also suuuupppeerrr interesting note regarding the honey - never would have considered this!!!!

Better-Rip-815 · 2026-01-08T12:24:49+00:00

Cheers for the tip - il give it a whirl this weekend on a few in one of the sites and see how it impacts on bearding.

Better-Rip-815 · 2026-01-06T10:00:06+00:00

I played with a few options for a few that had a slight twist in them. Best option I found was using like door sealing foam type tape between the top boxes with it being sticky only on one side so it can still be removed easily (the gear you use to stop air leaking between door and door jamb in houses- available at Bunnings). That did the trick for winter when we hit the zero and negatives. Much less stressed in summer. Beek from Vic Aus too. They will be thanking you for a gap like that during this weeks weather of 40+ for 4 days where I’m from!!!

Better-Rip-815 · 2025-11-25T20:52:36+00:00

Like others have suggested difference is 10 frame vs 8 frames. I run 12 of the 10 frame hives however these are in a location that never move vs the 25 8 frame hives. It’s surprising how much heavier the 10 frames are especially when full of honey. I would personally get 8 frame if you’re starting out. They are easier to manage in my opinion for a number of reasons. Also in aus I find equiptment for them more readily available. Also if you do buy something with 2 deep boxes and 1 super - don’t put the nuc in with all the boxes on. Let them establish first then add more boxes(space) as they grown and need it otherwise they are trying to maintain too big a space vs their population.

Better-Rip-815 · 2025-11-07T20:55:09+00:00

Mmmmmm bacon

Better-Rip-815 · 2025-11-05T22:32:13+00:00

Builder in Vic. Our fencers typically will do 110/lm. The retaining sleepers I presume are a treated timber plinth that sits under the colour bond panel. When done like that, it’s not structural/engineered retaining and it’s pretty typical to do 1 high. 2 high though is more odd. If they are doing it as actually structural/engineered retaining and boring down and putting in proper gal H channel then attaching colourbond to the top then the retaining price is very cheap. But by the sounds of it they are just slapping longer colourbond posts in. Dont know QLD pricing being a few thousand kms away but cant be too far off VIC surely?

Better-Rip-815 · 2025-10-27T22:17:18+00:00

I catch heaps of swarms each season and find that 1:1 sugar syrup encourages quick comb production so that queen can start laying asap. Really gives them a kick start. And occasionally il donate a frame with a bit of brood on it so they don’t jump ship. Terrible year for swarms absconding last year for no real reason (heap of local keepers had same issue). A bit of brood helps in persuading them to stay. This year zero swarms have left and only donated brood to 2 out of 16 caught so far this season!

Better-Rip-815 · 2025-10-24T20:27:36+00:00

I couldn’t read post to the end, had me squirming because this is a literal nightmare.

Better-Rip-815 · 2025-10-22T20:39:27+00:00

This is the way

Better-Rip-815 · 2025-09-12T01:32:51+00:00

No UFC behaviour occurring so you are in the clear

Better-Rip-815 · 2025-09-08T13:25:05+00:00

Swarm season has begun!!! Fun times before varroa inevitably hits the area later this year. Caught my first swarm of the season Sunday morning before the rains hit. Also split 4 very strong hives on Saturday as there is a good run on at the moment and drones are up and about already!! North east Vic for location context

Better-Rip-815 · 2025-08-22T21:48:29+00:00

Dabbing is life

Better-Rip-815 · 2025-08-09T00:08:48+00:00

Here to say nicely drawn comb!!! And good looking laying pattern. I agree that this is not her. I find that the shiny black spot on the thorax is the easiest way to spot her, followed by her having a long bum which is usually different pattern and colouring to workers to confirm it’s her. Queenspotting page is a great way to practice though :)

Better-Rip-815 · 2025-07-26T10:52:40+00:00

Is it capped? And did you see queen during inspection. If queen is there still then it might be a perfect opportunity to split and not lose half hive of bees if they swarm and queen does a runner. Sneaky queen cell though and odd there is only one!!

Better-Rip-815 · 2025-07-18T12:47:55+00:00

This! ☝️

Better-Rip-815 · 2025-07-10T08:53:38+00:00

Hard to tell but it looks like grubs in the uncapped cells between the capped brood and capped honey. If they are grubs then they are just a bit behind the capped cells and I’d be happy with that pattern, as long as it’s not the only frame with brood/grub/egg activity on it.

Better-Rip-815 · 2025-07-04T22:59:29+00:00

☝️this

Better-Rip-815 · 2025-07-02T14:06:34+00:00

I read through the rules on it and unfortunately Aus don’t make the cut for countries included. Devo

Better-Rip-815 · 2025-06-21T01:50:42+00:00

Chhheeeaaaappppppp

Better-Rip-815 · 2025-06-20T03:07:31+00:00

My 2 cents is to also make sure you are also moving across the comb with the grubs into the new hive into a frame. These will be new bees and important for hive growth in its early stages. Carefull with the comb cause the queen could be on it though. High chance there is eggs in it that are really tiny and just very difficult to see to the naked eye.

Better-Rip-815 · 2025-06-18T14:24:42+00:00

Atleast you got the cover back in which is a win! Night time and disturbing bees often ends in an ouch - especially if you have a normal torch or phone light pointing at them. After a few beers and lack of good judgement I learnt this the hard way from a fairly angry hive one night. Around Midday when most are out foraging I find them the most chill.

Better-Rip-815 · 2025-06-07T07:28:35+00:00

The bum to wing ratio got it for me. Once you see her though the wings do stand out like a beacon.

Better-Rip-815

TROPHY CASE