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Moving house nearby in a week or two and have moved my bees beyond the normally recognised 3 miles, with a view to moving them to their new location in the Spring. I was just wondering where this 3 mile 'rule' came from ? A few months ago, one of my hives swarmed (missed a QC!) into a...

Thanks for all your suggestions. I'll give it a go.

Hi, I have a small plastic bucket feeder where the syrup comes out slowly through a circular mesh panel. The dear bees have not only taken the syrup but have succeded in covering over most of the mesh with propolis - bless them! Does anyone know a good way to clean this off?

Thanks to everyone for their contributions. Lots of food for thought. Chris

With 11 hives and only four box (Miller-type) feeders, it occurred to me that there might be some merit in setting these up as communal feeding stations. ie Set up the four boxes in different places in the apiary with syrup, the bees from different hives would enter from below as normal and take...

Hi, Just had a look at the Giordan web site. Not sure about it being drill-powered though. Do you have one of these Mon. Abeille and is it any good? Secondary question: Your nom de plume suggests a french connection. Are extractors cheaper on the continent as the ones we are normally sold in...

Thanks

Does anyone have an electric extractor they'd like to sell or can recommend one that works well. There seem to be so many different sorts out there and it's hard to choose from catalogues without seeing them first. Ideally, I would like a 9 frame radial in stainless steel. Thanks, Chris

I completely agree with Bobster's assessment of B&Q plywood. Don't waste your money. The ply is cheap and nasty and poorly bonded. Exterior quality? I think not. I get mine from W**ckes builder supplies. It's more expensive, they don't cut it to size but it's much better quality. Chris

Sorry to all enquirers - extractor is now sold, Chris

flower Looks like mallow to me. Great pic. Chris

extractor for sale I've got a Thornes three frame tangential extractor for sale - stainless steel - which is about four years old and in excellent condition. Like the original post, it was great when I only had a couple of hives but I'm also looking froward to buying an electric one as I have a...

I have also made clearer boards using the plastic 'things' shown but I hadn't thought about cutting in half - great idea. I have used two 'lozenges' for want of a better word placed at the sides of the clearer boards so that the bees emerge in the four corners. I simply cut two round holes about...

Thanks Frisbee, I'll give it a go. Chris

I know there have been messages posted about wasps but I couldn't find a specific answer to my problem. One of my hives has been badly attacked by wasps and seem to have given up trying to defend the hive. I have reduced the entrance to one bee width, there are plenty of jam jar traps around...

Don't disregard the cappings I am always amazed by how much honey comes off with the cappings, no matter how carefully, and thinly, I have removed them. I tape a short piece of batten across the top of a clean honey bucket. The batten has a small nail tacked into it; the nail point is useful...

The only exception I would suggest is Vince Cable who IS a beekeeper and President of the Twickenham branch, I believe? Rugby AND bees, now that's a great combination! - unless you support Wasps! Chris

I can also back up Admin's comments. You won't find better quality hives anywhere than Hivemaker's - and he hasn't promised me a pint to say this.....yet! Chris

Thanks for the suggestions. I hope it's a blisteringly hot summer with lots of foundation being drawn and filled - a bumper harvest? We're certainly due one! Chris