Recent content by PaulC

Hi, In my experience there are often Asiatic hornets to be found around hive - when it 4-5+ it signals a problem, as they pheromone mark the hive. (The European hornet just looks like a great big wasp, whereas trhe asiatic is not quite so big and is black with a single orange band). If the...

I wouldn't get hung up on whether you use ac or dc for your embedder - a sufficient voltage (12-24V) with enough current ouput (2-4A) will simply heat a wire when applied. You are right, a car battery charger can go into current limit and insufficiently heat the wire. A 24V volt battery charger...

Welcome... Welcome from the South of the Vienne

Believe me, here in France the Asiatic Hornet is a real problem. They can pheromone mark a hive so more and more return to predate. Ultimately they will sit on the landing board and take bees as they come to investigate the vibration. I have two beekeeping friends who lost entire hives to...

Out of interest - (I have my hives, some in garden and others in out apiary about 20miles away) - what sort of distance away from their home to members of the forum have their hives?

I've been cosidering buying a 'weights and measures' approved test weight of 500g to check my scales each time before I jar up. It is possible to get an ISO certificate on it at the same time....

4 out of 4 this year Put up 4 boxes - 3 made from old Dadant hives the other an adapted Warre, with solid, fixed floor and hinged roof. Baited with either pheromone lure, charme d'abeilles spray or the new 'wet-wipes' (was going to try a scientific comparison!) Frames were one of old drawn...

.... and I'm over on the Vienne/Charente border....

I use a brush uncapping machine - very fast and clean

The beewise gsm scale unit goes for €1185 here in France. Not sure how many would use/pay that much.... Makes the Arnia look a cheaper option! Paul