Recent content by Baggyone

Just in the area I think.

got a visit on thursday from the seasonal man. only 2 days notice and he was quite rude to the wife. bit late in the year too imho. does anyone know how late they usually work?

I have queens ordered and spoke to him a couple of weeks ago. Having a bit of a torrid time by the sounds of it. He's a great guy and works damn hard for his punters but just have to understand how he works.

5 out of 12 hives gone south so far. I have been invited by the local newspaper for an interview regarding this years situation. Insufficient bee's is my situation. Nosema checks have been done on all hives. Not that. They have even been sitting right on top of stores. Sad winter and we have...

I'm a strong boy but having to lug a 70lb super off a stack is too much weight. Be sensible about your back otherwise you won't be a beekeeper too long. Baggy (still waiting for spring)

I'm in for 100kg of sugar this year so there's no way I'm gonna buy that in kg bags! Bookers in the big bags for me regardless of the price. Plus its beet and that may be grown just round the corner. I do like messing up the whole stock thing for supermarkets though. LOL.

I use copilot for android on my cheapy phone, very cheap and been very good. Worked nicely in Canada but of course there are really only two or three map suppliers so for instance Tom Tom supply Apple with the base data but it's then used by Apple for their new iphone sat nav. Can't blame tomtom...

There is good research that shows thymol in syrup works against nosema. Just do a search on the forum and it makes it a no brainer. baggy

Dont underestimate the power of money in getting in other countries. Buying a business helps so much!

It will be poly for new stuff from now on in. But my opinion has not changed on that. Baggy

Deffo heather. Enjoy it. Don't get it here so am a little jealous. Baggy

Finished the year off at 520lb from 7 producing hives. Must update my hive numbers. Been a hard bloody year. And no one should read these figures and think "mine were rubbish, I only got 20lb!". I'm lucky to live where I do where the weather is so much drier than the rest of the country and...

correct on the introduction method. Assuming you get the nuc boxes up to strength quick enough and get it well fed there is no reason that a nuc won't make it through winter. Open up early in the year, see how you want to go and you have a choice on running more hives or selling off colonies...

The only thing I can think of is that the old queens pheromone was still there and the bees kill the new queen. Let them be queenless for a few days, cut out the queen cells making them hopelessly queenless then introduce the queen cage. baggy

Which is me, as I raise my own queens. And I'm in the centre of Boston. But I'm a game beekeeper who does flood the area with own drones to ensure good mating in both apiaries. Another question that I have is as the OP has the queens in mating hives whats the plan once the original queens have...