Recent content by Jaxxmac

Thank you. I feel foolish but will leave this here as guidance for others in the hope it helps! 😬

Didn't.

Eeep! Sheltered garden, full sun so felt warm enough. 😔

A gorgeous day here in Cornwall, bees active so thought I'd check the hive. This winter I left a super half filled with honey on. (I don't normally but it was a warm autumn and the bees had filled it after I extracted and I didn't have the heart to take it away) Opened the hive with difficulty...

Another misconception blown out of the water! Thanks 😂

Wow! I like the idea of the old girl living out her days in peace. The new Queen is huge by comparison so she wouldn't stand a chance if the other one took her on.

Yep, original red spot and new one. I had a swarm in my first year and it stayed in a neighbours tree for a week before it went off and did it's thing all over town! Am a bit paranoid now. Plus I don't want to lose the bees again so was thinking maybe split and see if they start a supercedure...

I could do with some expertise please. Around mid July I found a lovely Queen cell in my hive. My original red spot queen had been laying but the brood pattern was patchy and there was a lot of drone brood. I left them to their devices for 3 weeks and checked in and there was a lovely new Queen...

Thanks for pointing me in this direction. I have a hive in my chemical free garden and was reluctant to use insecticide on the bees but lacking in confidence and ideas as a newbee. Going to read the article and will be investigating some organic options.

Still not sure why. Got told it was better at killing off varroa. Not going to argue with a life times worth of experience when I'm new and clueless 😉

Thanks 😁

Thanks Ian, not tried oxalic (apart from rhubarb leaves dotted about). Will have to do some research and find out the most cost effective way to manage it for just 2 hives.

Yep, used the thymol trays (apiv Yep, used apiguard first couple years I had bees but mentor said that apivar was needed so used that for last 2 treatments. Might go back to the apiguard 🤷‍♀️

Despite an autumn treatment last year with Amitraz my hive has varroa and DWV. 😔 I'm treating now with Apilife Var and have removed supers but after waiting ages for the temp to be high enough it's now sunny and really hot. I'm worried the bees will have trouble regulating the temp of the brood...