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Is the CB sealed?

LBKA operate South of the river; most local association is Epping Forest. We have members from Stoke Newington in Hackney right across to Barking and Romford; training is at an apiary in Wanstead.

Did one of these years ago, but in summer. I sealed the entrance at night and the next day the tree was felled either side of the nest. We didn't get it quite right: the hollow was longer than anticipated, but the bees must have been in shock because none emerged. We meshed the cut ends using...

How full is the box with bees? If a nuc is upgraded later in summer but fails to build, perhaps during a nectar dearth when the beekeeper fails to feed, it may be better to downgrade them back to a nuc. A DN holds about 2.3kg (see link) so yes, you have about 15kg. It's still warm in East...

Yes, but: https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/highlands-islands/1599771/cheaper-living-in-london-than-orkney-study-finds/

They are; if in doubt, down to one BB. The bottom BB may contain more pollen and the upper a lot of honey, but both will be solid with bees. Such was the overflow last week that I had to take care not to squash bees when returning the top box. Bear in mind that many colonies had run on triple...

Donald Sims.

I went through 12 last week - one or two frames pulled in the centre of BBs - and didn't see eggs in any. Scraps of sealed brood here and there, no queens. Yes, go to two: split when very strong in midsummer. You may or may not replicate the good temper, but that can be addressed later.

Good, because if you get to that stage the colony is doomed. You may know the reason and it may be genuine, but someone should have picked up the association commitment to guide you. Sounds to me that you will do a better job on your own. :)

Time for blunt advice, Will: the sooner you cut loose and make your own decisions and mistakes, the faster you will learn. Majority of varroa will be inside sealed brood cells; in the absence of brood the mites will be on the bees. How did you establish the level of infection? With your level...

Quite a small colony, then. If the stronger fills one BB, does the smaller? If not, reduce it to a 6f poly nuc. Challenge what you are told if it doesn't add up: condensation will form on the warmer underside of a CB as the upper face is colder because the roof is ventilated. When the upper...

How full is the box with bees? If a nuc is upgraded later in summer but fails to build, perhaps during a nectar dearth when the beekeeper fails to feed, it may be better to downgrade them back to a nuc. A DN holds about 2.3kg (see link) so yes, you have about 15kg. It's still warm in East...

Where to start Seasonal variation form Orkney to Okehampton means the timing of should will vary, but in late Summer and early autumn begin to get a feel for colony size in relation to hive size and weight. Downsize and cram a colony into a bungalow rather than ask it to rattle around in a...

I agree with Rampino: an hour for one or two beginner colonies is too far. A beekeeping beginner has an addictive desire to watch and check and - depending how you travel - the expense of the journey will outweigh the return in yield and the pleasure in getting it. An example: I live in Stoke...

In principle, yes, because the colony will then sit in the warmest part of the hive under a sealed & insulated CB, but it is too late in the year to expect a diminishing colony to go down and clear a full super upstairs, and there is no guarantee that this warm weather will persist long enough...

The test for winter weight is to lift up the hive an inch with one hand at the back under the floor. Easy, or does it feel nailed down? Repeat fortnightly during winter and add a fondant block if you're worried. The time to be aware of dropping weight is when brood raising starts in early...

Ah! Berkshire!! Does depend where you are, Will, because what works in Plymouth is unlikely to do so in Perth. I guess you mean smaller and bigger colony, but what do you mean by smaller and bigger? If they're both on (I guess) one National BB+super, how full of bees are each box of each...

You are, Lindsay, and so are we all, and the Orkney TS were quite right to encourage you all in that direction. Last week I stopped at a really good farm shop at Albury in rural Surrey (producing watercress since 1854) and of the six local honeys on display, four did not comply with basic label...

Years ago we were taught that red and green should never be seen. Where did they get that daft idea?

Wasp honey, Lindsay? 🙂 Have regular calls to say they're definitely honey bees, but when the caller hears that a wasp is striped yellow-black-yellow-black... Use of complementary colours leads to a striking design. http://www.springleafstudios.com/2015/12/complementary-colors.html?m=1