Recent content by Mabee

🙄 I knew there would be one! Just because it's not what you do doesn't mean it makes no sense. Reasons I do this: Gives the bees a nutritional boost when there still isn't much forage around (instead of syrup/fondant). Keeps the heat where the bees are (up top). Multiple supers will be...

You could always stick them under the brood box to clean then move them up when the flow starts.

I use sheep wool insulation (sold as) in pillowcases above the crownboard as insulation in winter. It fits snugly around a tub of fondant over the hole too. Works well for me, no damp issues.

lots of ways of doing things I guess, I learned this way from av experienced beekeeper and it gets them all cleaned out before the new crop goes in, not worth splitting hairs over really!

If you have wet supers it is great way to get them cleared up ready for use and gives the bees a bit of food.

I tried these last year but I gave up when the local cats (including mine) thought it was a nice new toilet. Then the dandelions took over enforce and didn’t want to remove them as the bees were on them. So this year, I have made this hugelkultur bed instead (i’ve currently got some protection...

I’d imagine pollen would affect the crystallisation of the honey. Pollen also contains yeasts so that also may have an affect on the honey in time. Honey with added pollen isn’t often seen for sale, i’d imagine there are good reasons for that.

Yes, that's him 👍

definitely an elusive wee haggis!

May fly out after a few minutes and there are literally none after half an hour. If it’s v young bees you can simply put them at the entrance if you want, probably easier to spot them than if in the grass.

Yes those things, I tend not to inspect in the rain if possible even in the shed. For me it was a space thing initially. The shed was where I wanted to put the hives in the garden and wasn’t used for much so I started looking into keeping hives in sheds, which brought me to the AZ’s.

Yes basically! Just inspect as normal. I have a window that has an opening, the rest have the blinds closed so they head to the light, or I can leave the door open, and they clear in minutes. I also have a light to help me see what I need to see.

What I found working with AZ hives (my personal experience only, others may have a very different perspective): The frames are fiddly, you can really pee off the bees when you can't quite get it to slot in properly at the back (you can't see into the back easily so have to just get it right)...

However... I do still have a bee shed, but I have changed the entrances to work with national hives.

I sold all my AZ hives 😆 !