Recent content by Norvic_chris

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    Queen cells from nothing? What's going on?

    Do you know what? I left them for several weeks and there seems to be a queen in that colony -- fair brood pattern but she didn't lay for at least 39 days, probably more. I had given up hope and was about to distribute comb and colony into a weaker colony. Just goes to show (not sure what exactly!).
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    Combs stuck together...

    That may well be another good idea, and I should do it if I want to sort out the mess. Although if I want to run on double brood it may be harder next year if I don't sort the mess out! Decisions, decisions...
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    Combs stuck together...

    Thanks Steve -- I was inclined to think that too!
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    Combs stuck together...

    Brilliant! That's me sorted then; consensus among all (as The Poot... says, "this forum must be losing it's edge"!) and double-boxing it will be. And as I can't find the queen I'll leave the excluder off for now (and maybe permanently until next year?). Thank you all :)
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    £1 for 1lb

    I was barely into short trousers in the early 70s, and my hazy memories were that £1 was a huge sum (I remember that I had 2 new pence a week and that allowed me to buy so many gobstoppers at the corner shop that it lasted me to the next week and Warlord comic was only 5p); the point is (oh, do...
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    Combs stuck together...

    Thanks Enrico -- I have plenty of drawn comb. It may also fit with the way I plan to make increase in the spring by over-wintering on double brood and then splitting them. When two beekeepers agree, surely it must be right (or a version of right, anyway!)
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    Combs stuck together...

    That's a pretty good idea, Steve -- much simpler (and more elegant?) than my suggestions!
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    Combs stuck together...

    Hi good folks. I took in another swarm that had already laid down 6 combs before it was spotted; I decided not to waste all that brood/food/wax and proceeded to place the combs in empty frames using wires wrapped around the combs. All good so far, and congratulated myself on a job well done, not...
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    Queen cells from nothing? What's going on?

    Thanks MartinL and Finman -- I probably will leave it another week and if still no queen or evidence of a queen I'll probably do as Finman suggests and combine them with another colony. Tony19 -- did you have a queen originally? Queens are sometimes hard to spot (especially young energetic...
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    Queen cells from nothing? What's going on?

    I collected a smallish swarm 3 weeks ago and have just checked it; there are no eggs or brood, just nicely drawn comb and nectar (no pollen). But there are at least 6 sealed queen cells! No idea what's going on! Normally I'd pop in a frame of brood from another hive to see what's happening but...
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    Would you tolerate naughty bees?

    Personally I would tolerate them if they're not stinging or aggressive, especially if they're as prolific as they sound -- they could be really productive. Olbas oil and water spray are both excellent suggestions. I say this because they sound delightful compared to one of my old colonies --...
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    Rogue queen cell in the "wrong" place...

    Thanks all -- Tom Bick and beeno: I cut the cell out on the basis it might be a bit dodgy (the official beekeeping term, I understand)! Probably overkill on my part if it was going to come to nothing (jenkinsbrynmair). masterBK: I had also read that eggs can be moved (hence my comment) but...
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    Rogue queen cell in the "wrong" place...

    What do you make of this? I’ve just found a well-developed Q cell on a super frame, above the Q excluder. It’s not sealed but is c3.5cm long in the centre of the frame and contains royal jelly. Not checked yet to see if it has a genuine occupant. What’s odd about this is that the queen is...
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    Got my first swarm today

    Thanks all for advice. I have the same experience most years too. Not sure where they come from but I know they aren't mine (last year my method of swarm control was very effective but quite time-consuming). One of the largest swarms I've found was sitting between and over the bricks on top of...
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    Got my first swarm today

    "Magic grass"!! Love it.
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