Recent content by Beeyonce

Did a little happy jig as the virgin that emerged on the 16th of August on my 'challenging' colony is laying. Long may she reign (or at please, please, make it through the winter!).:hurray:

Do love a happy ending! Hope they're not 'magic' mushrooms, that would be interesting...

It depends on the way you learn really but although Ted Hooper's book is brilliant it can be a bit daunting to the complete novice. I'd suggest 'Bees at the Bottom of the Garden' to give the basics, make contact with your local association and get signed up to a winter study course if one is...

I have a small hand-cranked model now but borrowed my local association's one for a couple of years to start with. My biceps are bloomin impressive now, no need to feel guilty about the lack of gym visits for a fortnight!

Can't offer any advice I'm afraid but just words of comfort. I had a queen who mated after 7 weeks, laid up 7 frames (when I turned my back and went on holiday, lol!) and then was superseded. From replies I've had to posts on here (thanks, peeps) I am working on the theory that she didn't get...

Mine are in someone else's garden! My local associaton keeps a list of local people who want to host hives and this is how I found this site. There were all sorts on the list from small gardens to farms.

I keep mine in the spare room and that's pretty foolproof....I have a very understanding husband, fortunately.

I've increased the time between inspections and I'm getting withdrawal symptoms already. Goodness knows what it'll be like in the winter. A nice thought though is that I'm part of my bees' annual cycle, just like the weather!

Thanks for your responses chaps. Fingers crossed!

Here we again, talk about a rollercoaster and sorry to ask but I could do with a bit of advice. My new queen in my 'problem' hive has emerged (would have been about the 16th of August) and this was clear when I checked yesterday. There are no eggs at present and I know it's early days but how...

I had 62lbs from two hives; thrilled with that as it's been such a difficult year. My 'trouble' colony produced two thirds of that without a mated queen for 2 - 3 months; the other ladies stocked up the brood box and kept alot for themselves, lol! Has been really interesting to see the...

I had a virgin take 7 weeks to lay this year, only to be superseded 2 or 3 weeks after she started......new virgin pops out tomorrow or the day after. Hopefully. Fingers crossed with this one!

I think I'm in the same boat. Newly mated queen (just started laying 3 weeks ago), 7 really well laid up frames, 6 queen cells.

I'll own up....believed my bee book when it said that if a virgin isn't mated within 10 days forget it because it'll never happen. Then came on here and found out that was utter codswallop. Am finding this site hugely informative and supportive.

I need to find the existing queen first and three runs through on Sunday was a failure. She's unmarked and even though the brood is essentially only over one set of frames there's a shed load of bees in there. I'm going to check later to see if giving them the newer frames has helped (wishful...