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  1. I

    Queen mating times

    For production colonies in the UK at the moment it's feeling desperately slow, but we've had a cold wet spring. Only this last two weeks has the weather been good enough, and things are starting to get moving...I've had a couple of colonies are onto week 4, so cutting it fine, and six frame...
  2. I

    Queen mating times

    That’s interesting; I’d not heard that before. I don’t suppose you know which study or where it was published do you?
  3. I

    Queen mating times

    I've heard it said that the time taken for queens to get mated is proportional to the size of the colony; so queens in a mini mating nuc would mate more quickly than those in a standard sized nuc, which in turn would be faster than those in full-sized colonies. Does anyone know whether this has...
  4. I

    Stings, immunity, and NSAIDS

    I'm twelve months into a course of venom immunotherapy. Having originally had 'normal' sting reactions, and the occasional Mr Michelin forearm, I developed bad systemic response. At that time I was taking ibuprofen (!). I've not taken any NSAIDs At all since that time; my sting reactions are now...
  5. I

    How long might a queen be off lay?

    Yes, when I did an MAQS treatment last year, most of the queens stopped laying for a spell, but it was brief, and they all restarted after a couple of weeks. This one, I think is different. Looking at the dates, it may be 4-5 weeks. It may be time to do the deed. :eek: L.
  6. I

    How long might a queen be off lay?

    Hi everyone - Does anyone know how long it is typical for queens to stay off lay if they decide to 'take a break'? I have a nuc with this year's queen. She emerged in the third week of April, took a while to get mated, but since then has had a perfect laying pattern, and all was going well...
  7. I

    What bee's are these

    Yep, look like tree bumblebees, (bombus hypnorum). (Do a google search, lots of pix on line) As others say, leave them be and enjoy. They will be gone by late autumn. L.
  8. I

    What is happening at your bait hives?

    A second hit on my bait hive on Sunday, just as I was about to take it down as I've run out of kit. Looked in this morning and HM is laying already. So that's two in the bait hive and three in the hedge in the space of a week, only one of which was from my colonies. Everyone in my locality...
  9. I

    Who's lost a swarm then...........

    Hmmmm. Suspect I may have tempted fate. Absolute whopper collected from a neighbours garden tonight, and I have a feeling that I may find a familiar looking red marked queen in their midst...after AS too, so epic fail somewhere along the line. So...search for hidden QCs tomorrow before the...
  10. I

    Who's lost a swarm then...........

    Not lost one yet, but only a matter of time the way things are going. Of 9 colonies brought through the winter, 8 have been split or AS and the last one will be tomorrow (if I get to it in time; 21 QC in there all put up in the last 5 days, and discovered at branch apiary meeting. Great girls...
  11. I

    What is happening at your bait hives?

    Nice big swarm moved into my 14x12 bait hive this afternoon. it's on a first floor roof, small entrance and solid floor. Grotty bit of brood comb inside. There have been scouts about for a couple of days. Only problem is...I fear a neighbour's bees are about to go, and they are just the psycho...
  12. I

    Cut-out

    :cheers2: Here here
  13. I

    Out apiary for someone?

    PM sent. LJ
  14. I

    combined bee and beek reviver.

    No doubt the time of year! I went to put on the mouse guards a few days ago and one colony (ok...so they have been a bit tetchy in the past) emerged literally in their thousands to fend me off. They were not in the least impressed with the mouseguard and hung about on the front of the hive for...
  15. I

    Beekeeping Bag

    :iagree: I have one of these too. It has a shoulder strap, so I can carry it at the same time as an armful of other bits and pieces. Useful pockets to keep bits and pieces, and internal webbing straps so that some of the other stuff doesn't get hopelessly lost in the bottom of the bag. There's...
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