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I can't remember exactly, but the pupae were pretty much fully developed. A few had emerged into the cages but most didn't.

I used QCs in nucs and walk away splits previously, but last year I tried this method. One go was excellent (about 10) but the next one most of the queen's died in their cells. No idea what went wrong but will definitely try this method again next year. Main issue for me was getting set up with...

Update: I checked my 2in1 nuc on Saturday and there were capped queen cells (see photo) on one side but nothing on the other. Still not sure why the other side didn't build queen cells? Today I opened up the 2in1 nuc and it looked like two cells had emerged (although I didn't see a queen) and...

I don't think there's a virgin Queen in there because the uncapped QCs wouldn't have had time to be capped and emerge in the gap between me placing them in the nuc as larvae and seeing the empty Queen cells. But Dani could be right in that I missed another QC that had emerged, but unless I...

Sorry, misunderstanding. My Q in the original hive is fine. I added a box and a new entrance and those bees in the bottom box obviously thought they were queenless and started a couple of Queen cells. I then used these to start the new 2in1 hives.

As a relatively new beekeeper, I am keen to expand and use all the kit I've already bought 😳. Moved a couple of frames with uncapped QCs, plus frames of brood and pollen/stores from my main hive into a 2in1 nuc. Larvae looked plump with reasonable amount of royal jelly, but when I inspected...

So far I think I've spent about £1000 and still haven't even got 1 jar of honey. "Next year Rodney, we'll be......"? Guess it might be a few years before I buy my Ferrari.😭

I used tung oil and it really brought back the colours on my silver/grey boxes. It was quite sticky and took a while to dry, but I did do it on spare and empty boxes. Perhaps you'll need to get the head torch out and paint up when the bees are are :sleep:

Last summer I used to have my lunch or cup of tea sat a few feet from the entrance and was fine. Also filled up the feeder, but easy to get complacent and I was stung a couple of times by individuals rather than them all coming for me. So worth being careful and especially protect your daughter...

I'm in Southampton and of course you're right about watching for the cluster getting isolated from stores when the temperature drops.

Great advice, thank you. I think I knew where I went wrong, but helpful to have confirmation from the experienced beeks on here. I'll have a plan for this season and appreciate the unreliability of checking drop numbers. I haven't tried alcohol or sugar roll so will give that a go. I guess it's...

Interesting responses, I was expecting go for many splits. JBM is right that people always talk (and have told me) about having more than 1 colony to protect against losses. Mine went into last winter looking ok, not showing distress or wing deformity, plenty of stores but not a large colony...

I'm a newbie and lost my 1st hive last winter. I loved it last year and am gutted to have all the gear, no idea (bees)😉! I am waiting for a swarm from my local bee association, but have also ordered a local buckfast nuc (as I'm bottom of my BKA swarm list) which will arrive end June. I want...

😁 I wish. I do have an old car so am used to scrabbling around under it. Hive is on a slab outside so grubbiest overalls a must.

No I haven't opened up the hive yet drew, although I really am finding it difficult not to. So have been on my back under the hive stand looking up through the OMF and there is activity with a few frames to expand when they need to. Weather looks to be getting above 15degC in the next 10 days...

Newsflash (for me anyway) went out at lunch and definitely spotted small amounts of pollen coming in which is a relief. Maybe I was just tired from the DIY bit the hive really did feel heavier.

Only 1 hive (will hopefully be splitting this Spring) so no comparison. However, I have been slowly moving it so that I can do some DIY to an adjacent wall and it has got noticeably heavier in the last week which I assume must be nectar coming in. I did have a look this morning as it's so warm...

I will have a look at them in the mornings as the weather improves this week.

I wish. My bees seem quite busy and I've seen bees on local shrubs with their pollen baskets full but I've not seen a single bee coming back to my hive with pollen and I can't think why?

Useful advice. I will speak to my association mentor and see if we have an extractor. I still like the homemade uncapping tank which is effectively a bowl with some minor additions. And will look into buckets/tanks. The use of a feeder to clean the capping is a great idea so that they can do it...