Recent content by The Doctor

That would be great Gary. I will pm you. Sean

We decided to re-queen our colony for this year for various reasons, most notably the aggressiveness of the bees! Yes we are also down to one colony. We ordered a new buckfast queen from a well know UK breeder but did not know when it was going to arrive. Did an inspection last week - brood...

All 3 colonies active and bringing in pollen today. Put in some fondant / pollen patties but did not go into brood box - aim to do that next week when temps are in double figures.

..or at least a very sinister mouse! Points for spotting the quote.

A few inches of honey in the bottom of the tank from 3 colonies. Started with 3 and ended with 3 - although it cost us 3 new queens and a lot of work. Hope next year is better. Sean

Took off supers yesterday to extract. Miserable amount of honey. One hive had very little (now feeding) and in another the bees were so vicious that I could not get the super off as they tend to go off and sting one of the neighbours if they can't get me. I would say 10kg honey for 3 colonies -...

Yes almost exactly the same - lost 3 new queens. Stayed a while, a week or two after introduction, layed like mad then disapeared. Got fed up of buying queens and have left them get on with making their own - drones still about. Sean

When my wife makes jam she puts them into a hot oven for a while to sterilize. Sean

Looking for eggs. I find it difficult too so I bought a magnifying glass with an led in it. £3 from ebay. You can see eggs clearly and I keep the glass in my pocket of bee suit. S

Like many keepers we (beekeeping freind and I) have not had a good year. Our first 2 years of keeping were really easy. It seems now that every time I lift the lid there is a problem. This year we have re-queened 2 colonies. Did it in a nuc and then re-united it. The first colony the buckfast...

Not really sure - they look a little like Buckfasts which I am trying unsuccesfully to bring on. They are notable by being very docile. Sean

When I started 3 years ago I bought a cheap suit from the local club for about £45. It was OK at first but the seams started to go and then the zips. I realized the hood zip had gone when I was dealing with a particularly fizzy colony and 3 climbed in through the tiny gap and stung my neck...

We have tried to re-queen 2 colonies so far. Only one succesful on 1st attempt. We had a buckfast q and a carni qu. THe carni is fine and the bucky disapeared. We are trying again - watch this space. Sean

Also meant to add - have started recording notes - when and what we did. It helps.

I had a similar situation this year.... Its the weather - swarming despite taking measures - never knew what was going on really - laying workers, drone laying queen, grumpy bees!!! bad points - cost 3 new queens and a lot of messing about for no honey. Good points - Re-queened with pure bred...