Recent content by NickBrown

Thank you both for your replies, I will add thymol crystals and isopropyl alcohol to the shopping list. Got to check the hives later, so will add a super and might even have to get another one depending on how they are filling the one they've got. Might even try 9 Manley frames this time, as...

I have a 3 part question regarding my two new hives, one of which started as a large nuc and the smaller one is 2 combined cast swarms. The first have filled out the brood box and are making a start on the super, the smaller lot have 2 1/2 frames still to fill in the brood box but are catching...

Dishmop, do you still have a nuc for sale ? My captured swarm has re-swarmed and I'm now sat here with an empty hive.

Pargyle, it is a newly captured swarm so as yet there are no stores in the hive, but as they are largely ignoring the sugar syrup now and collecting for themselves I have removed it, but will get a rapid feeder to use later in the year when I collect the other bits sometime this week...

Thanks for the info Swarm. So just to get this clear in my head, when I can get a spacer for the brood box I should take out an unused frame and foundation and leave them with the 11 to brood on, but in a super I can over-space the hoffmanns to fill it up with the 10 I've already got and on the...

I will add dummy board to my shopping list. I am using Hoffmann frames, only because they were the only option at short notice, and was told that they're self spacing at the correct space to stop the bees building bridges between frames and locking everything together. After a search in the...

Until the correct size crown board arrives I have a plant pot saucer with a cut down sponge cloth floating on top of some 1:1 sugar solution, which is on a board next to the hive. The most local bee supplies place is only open for 2 hours a day and I'm working all weekend, otherwise I would...

Ratcatcher, the swarm when clumped up was about rugby ball size and shape. When I opened the hive last night to get the branch bits out they had stuck 3 pieces of comb about the size of a side plate and one almost dinner plate size to the roof and had filled some with "honey" I'm guessing. Some...

I was told the 20 minute rule was the maximum time to have the lid off, because the bees have it at their precise temperature and you will either chill or overheat the whole thing if you are busy rummaging about for too long. As this was still a newly captured swarm there was also the chance...

Oliver, I have ended up with all Hoffman frames as they were all that was available to pick up at short notice, so there are 12 in the brood box. I was told not to leave any large gaps bigger than 8mm or the bees will try to build wax bridges and the whole hive will become a nightmare to keep...

Thanks for the replies. Redwood, paperwork already submitted for Tunbridge Wells Bee keepers, and busy consuming beekeeping books. Bought a veil and gloves, bee brush and hive tool so far, full suit is on the list when funds allow, and as all the boxes take 12 frames but you can only buy packs...

Super is not quite full of frames, as the super needs 12 but the frames only come in 10's for reasons known only to retailers, so they are bunched to the front until I can afford some more. I was told that it is easier for the bees to control their environment if they had more than just the...

Having only started beekeeping on sunday morning, after a swarm decided to take up residence in the garden on saturday I have a question. Is it possible that I have the most relaxed bees in the country ? Not only did I unwittingly move the freshly assembled hive some 15 metres the night after...

Evening all, just starting out on my beekeeping adventures after I had a swarm in the garden. I rushed out saturday afternoon and bought a National hive (no supers yet) and finally got them in the box yesterday morning. After a day at work with fingers crossed they are still in residence, so...