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You've had it rough. I managed to stomach the whole story without fainting but the "volterol suppositary" was too much, Sounds like a Hogwarts treatment. A word of warning. I'm told that when they pull out the chord from "the old fella" they tell you "on a count of three" but whip it out on...

Good luck. I rehoused mine this morning. Bees on 3 frames and some stores on one. Just put the three frames in the hive with 3 foundation one either side and dummy boards at the edges. Still there at teatime so, hopefully, it's to their liking and they won't abscond.

Thanks all. Not sure of size but I'll take a peek today when the wind abates. The bait hive is in the apiary on the allotments so far enough away from my home ones. The plan is to swop bait for full on the same stand. I fed 1:1 them since I think it may have been the same swarm clustering on a...

A swarm has taken up residence in my bait hive (5 frame nuc; 1x old comb and 4x foundation). They are foraging and seem calm. I have added a feeder with 1:1 syrup to help with comb building. 1. How long after arrival should I open up the nuc and inspect? 2. How long when should I transfer to a...

Thanks everyone. I can concentrate on the colony surviving by producing their own queen or having one imported. I will locate a local (NWUK) supplier of mated queens in case. Lesson learned - hopefully I will get it right in future.

I've been doing weekly inspections but clearly missed something. I think I've spent too much time on trying to understand the many various ways of swarm prevention/control whereas I might have been better sticking to one method and going with it. Am I best waiting until the QCs hatch and if...

Just completed an inspection on my 2 hives. Bees seemed quite content (unlike 2 weeks ago). However last week there was plenty of capped brood which has now hatched. No capped or uncapped brood today. No eggs, larvae or queen spotted (although both queens are shy and hide when the hive is...

I beginning to suspect that I removed the QCs after they had swarmed although bee numbers seemed much the same. If so, should I introduce a new queen and take it from there, assuming the Q/eggs are not there when I inspect again?

Did not see the Queen and didn't do a split pending advice from the forum. Cells were sealed and uncapped/capped brood but saw no eggs (had to exit quickly). Cells broken down and queen not seen. Bees annoyed (understatement).

I have/had a lovely colony of bees in a National. They were calm and a pleasure to look after. A recent inspection (two weeks ago) showed the hive bursting with bees both on the brood and super. There were also some QCs which I removed preparing for a split. The bees were very feisty. One week...

The bees are drawing comb and filling the frames on the (national) super I put on 3 weeks ago. The whole hive is bursting with bees but no signs (yet) of queen cells. The brood frames are full of brood and stores, I plan to put on a second super to give them more room. When is the best time to...

An excellent source of info and help for us newbies. The usual wide range of answers to a query allows me to make up my own mind rather than slavishly follow one person's view. No problems with the abruptness or sort responses from some - I originate from South Yorkshire and possess the...

Thanks. Starting to make sense now. I'll inspect at the earliest safe opportunity. Crocus just finished (pollen gathered in quantity). Daffodil and dandelion started, willow and blackthorn also.

Which bring me to the next question. What are the signs of "enough of a nectar flow"?

That make sense. I was checking if I could support them drawing out new foundation. I've had confusing advice locally from "don't open up until just before they swarm" to "put a large bag of fondant on and leave them to it"

Hoping to add supers next week (weather permitting) after a mini check. I'll have a quick peek in the BB to see the state of play particularly to see what they have done with the outer frames. All super frames have new foundation so do I add a feed of syrup to help them along or do I just put...

I've been considering making some "see through" crown boards from perspex or similar but I'm gobsmacked at the price. However on a recent visit to our local recycling centre, I spotted a lass with several sheets just about to skip them. I saves her the effort and got 4 pieces of 200mmx 400mm x...

Feeding frenzy today, bringing in deep yellow pollen - plenty of crocus in flower. Great to see the newbies doing their orientation flight before going off to forage. Just thankful that both hives have made it through the winter and look strong. First inspection will tell ...

Thanks all. I'll save the sealed bags until winter and make up the "loose" into syrup as the need arises. They've been out and about on the odd warm day bringing in some deep yellow pollen (crocus?). Can't wait for the first inspection to see what they have been up to these last months.

Spring is around the corner and I still have plenty of fondant left over, some in original sealed packets and some in takeaway boxes ready to put in the hives. Can fondant be used to make 2:1 syrup and if so what is the ratio to water? Also will the sealed fondant keep until autumn despite being...