Recent content by davidharradine

I have yes, thanks. I’m just covering all the bases :)

Hi everyone. I'm based in east London and need to requeen a colony asap. Does anyone have nucs for sale at the moment? Thanks!

Thanks both (why are there holes in the crown board? Because crown boards have holes in them... I was a bit puzzled by that bit...)

Hi everyone I have a very strong colony, which has a new queen following an unexpected swarm in May. I took off a full super of honey in late July. When I went to inspect at the weekend, expecting to have to feed them, I found instead that the hive was still really packed full of bees, and...

Thanks everyone. It's certainly not because of a lack of space in the brood box - as I said this is a colony a few weeks after an artificial swarm, and most of the foundation in the brood box is undrawn - they have loads of room. I'm not worried about it, was just interested to hear what...

I have a colony that was part of an artificial swarm about a month ago, with last year's queen. After the AS, all was good and she was laying well. Inspecting yesterday, she seems to have been off laying for a while, which I'm assuming is because the weather's been so bad - not much brood...

"Local in London means nothing" You clearly don't live in London, mate.

Hello all I need to re-queen one of my colonies, and I'm just wondering if anyone on the forum has any queens available to buy at the moment? I'm in Hackney, east London, and would prefer to get a locally reared queen. Please get in touch if you can help Thanks a lot David

It's so cold and wet at the moment, can we assume that swarming is less likely, even though strictly speaking we're into swarming season? I can't imagine why any bees would venture out in search of a new home in this weather, but I don't know if the urge to swarm overrides any weather related...

I've also found that if I have to inspect when it's strictly speaking too cold to do it (as it is at the moment) then they get mighty angry. Had a terrible time last week with guard bees flying out at me whenever I walked near the hive after inspecting, even after dusk.

:-( oh bugger. I'll do some research but can anyone tell me the best way to treat chalkbrood? As I said, it's never developed into a problem before. Thanks

Hello I did a mite drop count over the weekend (hardly any - very pleased) but was very surprised to see quite a lot of dead brood (about 40 larvae) on the tray under one of the hives. There's been a little bit of chalkbrood in this hive, which I hadn't been worried about as I always get a...

Thanks all - really helpful & good food for thought.

Hello I am moving from London, where I have 2 hives, to north Yorkshire, and will be taking my colonies with me. Any advice on whether it's best to move them now or later in the spring? And if anyone's moved colonies that far before (about 200 miles) and has any travel tips (I'll be in a car...

@oliver90owner Nothing like a bit of helpful sarcasm.