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Better find out if its you-know-what.

Scattered? Likely laying workers. Condensed: DLQ

Honey contains material - pollen and a variety of other essential ingredients - which will increase waste matter. Sugar is pure and produces far less waste. Wintering bees need a carbohydrate to produce heat but as brood is absent, not the extras provided by honey that are essential for larvae...

Any larvae in there? Have a good look for the rest.

Page 198 here? If so, an unreliable method of assessment.

Not a worry. In the US, OA may be used when supers are on; European research showed that any contamination was negligible, not dissimilar to natural background levels and short-lived.

Yes, how much, and are they on single BBs? More useful to assess hive weight or stores in combs and remove or add as necessary. 20kg is the average weight needed. A full DN holds about 2kg, a full SN 1kg. Remove roof bricks etc and heft the hive under the back of the floor with one hand...

Known as Dadant Blatt in Europe, though no-one knows the reason: for honeycombs with standard D.B. dimension This Honey paw comparison chart will either confuse or amuse: https://www.mesi.fi/en/frame-size-guide/

No need to shake out too far, esp. when temps. are marginal. A sloped board up to the Q+ colony entrance is enough; I shake them on to it and bees start fanning and move in naturally. Would work without risk to the nuc queen, but be prepared to do another varroa treatment because a box full of...

They won't, so prepare to re-queen before they make drones, which needs good timing and, if you're buying queens, ordering now. More certain introduction is likely if you make up a nuc in advance of queen arrival and introduce the new queen to that, because feisty colonies often supersede a...

Yes, but you did well to think your way through the problems. It will get easier (in about 5 years). :)

Gave a good insight into a more simple way of working. Would have liked more chat from David, though he posted a lot of detail later at the top of the comments. Two aspects stuck out: the relaxed approach to rural swarming (wouldn't work in our urban environment) and company livery splashed...

That's a key point, Henry: flexible & lateral thinking are critical assets.

If you bought queens then the problem lies with the supplier, though not much to do about it but have a chat with them. If open-mated virgins from your stock, then the problem is with the local drones. Either way, get an order in to re-queen before they make too many drones next spring. BHP...

Late in the season bees are likely to object to interference, so give them another chance on warm spring days next year. However, if they continue to be defensive, requeen before they produce drones that will pollute the locality and amplify the problem for others. Did they swarm or supersede...

Zero. A few of us need it this week, so ordered 50 boxes. Online order is max 20 but I spoke to Kaye in the BFP office and she sorted the lot. Luckily, was able to cancel at the same time the previous order with a different distributor at £16.95 as they couldn't deliver until early November...

Yes, and the CB holes! You haven't said whether the CB is sealed, but unless it and the roof vents are closed the temperature above the CB will be cooler and warmth rising through the CB hole will condense and turn the fleece soggy in no time. Dead air between sealed CB and sealed roof is a...

Yes, and keep it cold to make cutting easy. When warm it slumps and clings to the cutting tool and is a faff. In a thread a while ago Murray recommended using a spade to chop it; I stick with a bread knife. Rory Fields had a job to cut a load with a bad back: I reckon that if boxes were...

Very nice work, Mr Sweet.

That is the top tip (but does take a while to learn). Use equipment that is common; get rid of any variation. Over-box when colonies expand; under-box after peak expansion. Know the forage in your area for 2 miles around. If time is short, check first the ones that look like they might cause...