Recent content by jaybee76

Hi Brodie, yes, I should have plenty. Just give me a shout nearer the time and I'll get you sorted.

I have some overwintered nucs for sale this coming spring. Very easy to handle bees, but with an additional guarantee that I will replace the queen if you are unhappy with them in any way. Five frame nucs (£175-200) available for collection from Southwell, Nottinghamshire or can be delivered as...

I agree entirely that beekeepers ideally shouldn't run low such that they need things immediately, but criticising others that they are being critical at having to wait over four weeks is ummmm.... pretty hypocritical. Just as in the case of the beekeeper not running low on stock, perhaps the...

Placed 26th June at 0950 so fairly early on in the sale (less than 10h in out of 72 and I'm guessing not a huge rush in the first 7 hours). I think that suggests there isn't really a queue as such unless it's reverse order. Not had anything to update me on the delay. Pretty disappointed really...

I think there are 10 endemic to the UK. Near me (East Midlands) we have a lot of rosebay willowherb (tall, purple thin trumpet shaped flowers clustered on a tall spikes), greater willowherb (as in your picture), broad leafed (pale pink flowers) and fringed willowherb (small, delicate flowers...

That last picture is greater willowherb rather than broad leaf willowherb although i imagine you will have both flowering on the Clee, as well as rosebay willowherb.

I don't really wish to inflame this any further. You are entitled to your opinion and you make keep your bees in a very different manner to many others, however..... swarm management i.e. preventing the bee colony from its natural means of reproduction is unnatural. Hive inspection is...

I make sure that the food compartment is full so that there is no room for them to cluster in there or at other times I've blocked it off with insulation tape and left some fondant in the brood area sufficient to last for the period of confinement.

I've been through a similar process to you but a little but further on. I've separated the two enterprises completely with one apiary solely for breeding and nuc production, and the others for production only (around 20 hives). I did have them mixed in the past but found it less easy to manage...

I would stick a frame of eggs/larvae in from the Q+ hive and see what happens. If they are Q- they will raise a queen, and if you've just missed her on inspection then you'll also know. I wouldn't be worrying too much about them being on four frames. It's only mid-April - in many years you...

I placed an order for four queens back in June and due to my work commitments agreed a despatch date of 22 July. Had an email confirming their despatch date with shipping code last week. Sent Monday, delivered Friday all healthy and well - not even a dead attendant.

My last batch (and first batch of the year), it took me three or four days to notice that I'd obviously lent it to someone to hatch chicken eggs since using it the previous year and it was set to 37. It might have had some impact but still had >75% emergence so I suspect that it isn't that...

I entirely agree that making no effort to prevent swarms is irresponsible. I think we'd all agree that if I was a beef farmer, leaving a gate open and just letting my bull go for a wander would be irresponsible. It is irresponsible just to take my dog for a walk and not pick up any mess - I worm...

I think they might surprise you - the OSR near me in the midlands is either in flower or just breaking, and the blackthorn is out too so there is forage just starting. I'd say you have done the right thing by moving them into something a little smaller and feeding them. Be careful not to just...

So in short summary, the word "profit" is present in the third sentence of the paragraph referring to property and trading income allowances.