Recent content by nickhodge

I'm second year and toyed with Brood and a half and quickly went back. Inspecting 22 frames is a real pain, especially as my bees have full supers and are agitated anyhow at the minute. I wish I had gone 14x12 (I know I still could but the expense of either Eke + Frames/Foundation and/or new...

Thanks all for the advice, all very valid. The result was I won nothing in the honey classes, but got a first and third in photography ones, which I was chuffed with. Spoke at length with judge and he had made some great comments on back of entry card so that'll make me better next time. My...

All I am shortly (saturday) to enter our local Beekeeping Association (Southampton) Honey Show which is really struggling for entries, having already been amalgamated with the allotment society show (although good synergy) As a novice (2nd year beekeeping). I am hoping someone has tips to just...

As I understand it currently you have to have passed a food hygiene course also if you intend to sell honey via a 3rd party. This does not *currently* apply if you sell honey directly yourself for a random reason??

In which case, I'm encouraged

Maybe the photo is not good? It is definately a cell (along with quite a few others). I was pretty sure none were capped when inspecting AS(ing) Saturday, but maybe this one was. I'm leaving now until Sat/Sun when I'll take a thorough look and if I can see no queen maybe try a test frame from...

Some may have been following my AS happenings on Saturday afternoon. My dilemma is I was pretty sure the QC was uncapped then and if it was it's only 5 days. Maybe it was capped? Went in last night and now have no capped QCs (some have RJ but no sign of larvae) and this one. Has she hatched or...

On that note Oliver90Owner. I did an AS on Saturday afternoon after finding 5 QC in my hive. All went well, new hive with old queen and flying bees still there! The old colony now Q- with remaing 2 QC (I destroyed 3) were uncapped at that point although larvae in pool of RJ present. Obviously...

Well the second would not be out yet anyhow as I believe it is 8 days. You don't give a start with the earlier but i presume sealed on 27th May??? I would say, like any birth it's not an exact science so would wait at least another 4-5 days before giving up. After all, what else is there to do...

Wish I had started with 14x12. I will swap for sure as need brood and a half for sure and inspecting 22 frames instead of 11...well. Not sure weight is too much of an issue. Not too many times you lift the brood box. Wonder if there are any winter concerns with the larger volume. You would...

Currently 20 degrees at lunchtime Wednesday, in Southampton. 22 degrees tomorrow. I'm not holding my breath I'd say (for fear of going blue), but frankly, if it doesn't rain again before September it's not like we weren't due a break. Just waiting for advice on a hosepipe :ban: .... bee-smillie

Thanks Finman. That was the advice I got earlier so i have gone without on the new hive (with old queen) as that was the one I was worried would abscond as they were suddenly given a new 'empty' hive. The old colony, now Q- with two (at the time) uncapped cells I intended to look at this...

My theory, who knows if it's right, is to disturb the hive with brood the least. (The old colony now in position 3). I would not want them bringing up brood on syrup?? There was also little honey in the brood box as it was pretty full of brood and pollen with honey above. Not sure of that's...

I'd advise more than one hive. Mainly as if you lose that in any winter, you are starting from scratch each time and whilst you may not be in it for the honey, it is nice compensation for you. I had two colonies in my first year going into winter and fortunately both came out and are (in one...

Thanks for the advice. I've never clipped queens before. (Not sure I'd want to???). I know that means "well fine, take your chances then!" The AS was done late afternoon Saturday and as of this morning they're still there! Phew. I did notice last night that the entrance was very busy with bees...