Search results

Thank you. I see what you mean, but this is my first April as a beekeeper and the year hasn't been a normal one so far! Reading books and going on courses doesn't really prepare you for doing things for the first time! I appreciate everyone's help. Thank you.

Thankyou Polyanwood - that's a sort of reverse AS which I will try to do tomorrow as it promises to be a better day. I'm pretty sure they haven't gone yet - they are in my garden close to the house and I'm sure I wouldn't have missed that! Today we have frequent heavy and thundery showers with...

Aaaaaargh!!!! Went in quickly to check stores - ok BUT! Brood but few eggs; loads of drones and dozens of queen cells - sealed and unsealed - and no sign of the queen. It could only be a quick look as the sun was shining but dark clouds are gathering again but I'm faced with the problem I had...

Thanks - i think i'll have a dash now!!

That's what I thought but they were terrible swarmers last year (my first) and I was hoping to keep ahead of them. I know I have normal brood too, as the little hairy ones come out for 'baby bee playtime' if the sun is out in the afternoon. I have a new brood box ready for AS and so don't want...

Is it too cold to inspect my colony? I haven't done a full inspection yet due to the weather but have noticed i have drones coming out so need to check for swarm preparation. Temp. 10C cool breeze.

. I've watched a blackbird having a good meal on my casualties. It was interesting on the warm day last week watching the housekeepers hauling the dead bodies throught the mouseguard.

The only beeks I know are in our local club and most have similar bees to mine. I did do an artificial swarm early in the season when I found queen cells but then the following week both colonies swarmed again for no reason that I could see and then went back into the same hives apparently...

I can stand by the side of mine suitless without any problems (so far) and if it's cool i can see them through the lounge window!

I haven't had the same disasters but I have had a lively first year with a queen (and presumably her daughters) who swarms for little or no reason. I've seen 5 swarms and we had two reported while we were away or out for the day and she has probably been superceded at least once. The result is...

One of our members brought his OA vaporiser to a Gadget Evening. He uses it in December, attached to the battery of his ride on mower, and it is the only varroa control he uses on his 20 colonies. He says it takes him a couple of minutes for each hive.

just a couple of thoughts I had about Varroa: 1) One of my colonies (now united) was queenless for almost six weeks this summer, for at least three of those weeks without brood, just shiny polished cells. Would that have interfered with the varroa life cycle? 2) I've been watching my little...

You lot squabble among yourselves about the non-existent honey!!! All I know is my old rickety queen will be having a nice sleep in a matchbox in the freezer by the end of this week! Thanks!

I have Bee basic suit in olive which fits me reasonably well and seems secure - I've just bought another so that my 5'10'' husb doesn't have to wear my 4'11'' suit in emergencies! Delivered in 24 hours too.

Not expecting any honey this season anyway (might stick a finger in the corner of a frame for a taste!) I'll be pleased if they can produce enough to set them up for the winter and have Ambrosia on order to reinforce their work (BKA bulk buy.)

I'm also interested in what you mean by using her as a swarm lure - I don't want other people's swarms but would it work to attract mine into an alternative hive if they decide to go. (I'm hoping to requeen with a new Buckfast type queen ready for next season as these are too regular swarmers!)

Thank you!

Hello I've visited the ladies today and was pleased to see that the hive that was left after I removed the queen as an artificial swarm five weeks ago has at last got frames of brood and fresh eggs. (Last week it was full of empty frames, irritated bees and a bit of pollen and nectar so I took...

I bought my BoB hive in november at their sale (ha ha ha) day. Don't they have a sale day in July too?

I've planted all types of bee friendly flowers in my garden - zinnias, lavender, borage, lupins etc, even chose an 'open' rose rather than a double. The bumble bees love it - my bees are nowhere to be seen! Fetching dandelion from the central reservation of the motorway I think!