Recent content by DaveG23

My wife tells me a story of when this happened to her father, knowing him he was probably tackling a swarm in his underwear, but at any rate he never used to wear a full suit. Apparently he came running in to the Kitchen dropped all the clothing on his lower half and demanded that his wife pull...

Well my wife is Irish with very pale skin and they seem to love her.

Today has been catching up day. Donated a double nuc to a friend at the weekend, went round and hived them today. He is over the moon at having well behaved bees. he started keeping bees the same time as I did, but he took a swarm in a bait hive who were the most murderous bees you can imagine...

Definitely had swarms arrive in one site and then hang out on a tree that were not from my hives. I wonder if it's more common with small swarms or casts?

It doesnt feel like it, but better than last year, now I just need to buy an uncapping tray and a proper extractor and I will be able to get this all done much faster. Extracting with the clubs 4 frame tangential, driven by a drill has become more than tedious.

Glad to be of service.

Topped up the feeders on my nucs and the hives in my home apiary. I Have now run out of time, patience and honey buckets so the last 5 supers will have to wait until I get back from a holiday. My wife has endless patience at this time of year and allows me to take over the dining room. Just...

I should get in to small cell bee keeping...

Looks about the same as mine.

I ordered 100 second brood frames from an Irish supplier, was a bit surprised to fit 12 in the box and have room left over. Same issue with the side bars. Also had quite a lot of dodgy bottom bars.

Was planning on a quick check at the home apiary, went through the nucs, all ok and as expected. The splits promoted to hives have been going great and are working on a super. Was just about to inspect a hive when I noticed a queen struggling in the long grass. She was struggling to fly but...

Finally got above 15 degrees for more than an hour a day at the weekend. Tbf some of the hives have been busy anyway, June splits promoted to hives needed supering. But finally a proper flow this weekend. Won't last but at least they can make something of the bramble before it goes over.

Also that must be the best named bee I have heard off.

Same here, cordylines in full bloom and too much wind, weekend looks better so the bees will be all over it.

Saw one bramble flower, the rest have well developed buds, wonder if the predicted warm weekend here will be enough to see more start flowering, seems very early.