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I struggle seeing the bees in them too but can certainly hear them. Great sound to open the door to.

Thanks. My second season now and already I'm remembering last year. How every time I go down, I come back with with more questions and confusion! Thanks again.

Hello everyone. It's that time again on the north west coast of Scotland that the bees are getting going and starting to expand. However, today I checked the hives for the second time this year, and noticed 2 eggs laid in one cell. This was only in 3 or 4 cells that I could see, but was the same...

They've taken over 10 litres of syrup each and as has been said, they have stopped taking down syrup (possibly due to weather, no insulation?) therefore an 8 litre feeder won't help anymore than a 2.5 litre one. I'll have to look at the 2 box nuc, never heard of one of those? Is it like a 2...

Yes it's a 4 pint feeder, I have removed the feeders today and put the insulation on the crown board. Planning on adding fondant over the frames for winter feeding.

That was quick! I have been feeding with for about a month now and both have stopped taking anymore this week. The syrup is still on top for now. I was planning heading down this afternoon to remove feeder and place insulation on crown board but that can wait. It's about 10 degrees here...

Just wondering what methods folk use for reducing hive space in the winter? I have 2 hives on 6/7 frames (at last check) and was wanting to remove any unused frames and reduce space required to be heated. Any thoughts or options greatly appreciated.

Good job, hopefully it was all worth while.

Thanks and nice pic. It's true what they say, a picture paints a thousand words.

Thanks for the advice. So there's no problem opening a hive up on a nice winters day to drop some fondant in he frames.

I have seen and read about fondant feeding over winter. However, some folk seem to feed large blocks of fondant on the frames in an eek or a super. This must make it harder work for the bees to keep warm due to all the extra empty space that needs heating. Would one not be better off feeding...

Something similar has happened to me up in north west Scotland. The queens have not completely stopped laying but have seriously slowed down. The bees also seem to be filling the odd empty cells on a brood frame with stores too (this was before they were fed). I was concerned but both my hives...

Thanks ericA :thanks:

Thanks for the advice. As you both suggested the unite seems the safest bet. While we're on the subject though, if you have bees on say 6 frames and decided to put them in a poly nuc. Would 6 frames of stores be enough for the bees over winter? Does the colony size, in terms of frames, suggest...

Just back from 2 weeks away and have been to check my hives today. I just have the 2 which have never really got going after an AS due to the poor weather we've had. The AS colony has last years queen, the bees are on 5 frames in total, 2 BIAS, 2 fairly full frames of stores but not all capped...

Bees all over the lime trees here in north west Scotland for the last few weeks. It's a great noise to hear when you step outside. It's a couple of weeks later than last years flow though.

Hi, I've seen it in France at a store called leroy merlin. It wasn't correct size (it was 500x250) but it was a suitable gauge. A couple joined would suit most hives though. It was about €5 a sheet by the way.

Just a quick update. Been to the hives today to check before I go away. After a week of good weather, my new queen has started laying! Just hope not just drones but I'll know before soon. As people have said, so much for the 21 day / 20 degree C mating window. Not been above 16 degrees C and...

There's a place in Widnes called silva timber. They do fencing and cladding, they have lengths wide enough for brood boxes too.

Ok thanks. I plan to do it next week, if my virgin queen isn't mated I'll unite 2 colonies back into original hive but if she is successful it'll be a hive change.