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Ohh, nice idea for a thread Curly. Very much a beginners twist to mine, but I would say the best bits have been: 1. A 'proper' honey harvest, using an extractor and a heather press. Feel like an actual beekeeper now as usually the first thing people say when in comes up in conversation is 'ohh...

I would propose the 'bee length' is a very important standard unit, which would of course vary depending on location and how you measure it! :laughing-smiley-004 Joking aside, I like putting landing boards on my hives, whether they serve any purpose or not. Makes it much easier to take...

Just looking through some of my iPhone ‘live’ pictures where it turns the photo into a short video. Seems mine mostly land just in the entrance. Looking at the video maybe the best landing board should be exactly one bee length 😂

Interesting, thanks. Will have to try it out and see for myself next year. All mine are currently the warm way.

What happens with frames the cold way, presumably the leading edge of each frame near entrance is similarly unused?

Interesting, I have 7 hives with solid floors, the warm way and have observed exactly that. In every one the first frame is still undrawn foundation. Even moving frames around and putting a drawn one there, they dont seem to use it. I wonder what puts them off?

Be interested to hear your thoughts on them? Was thinking of giving them a go too. Hives are already covered in cork insulation, but I thought this might help with any little draughts/gaps. Looks just to be a roll of visqueen/DPC cut to the right length. Pics below from the BE website, and Wickes.

Thanks, useful info. Forgive the silly question, but when would look at the mite drop on the inspection tray? The following day, or just before you do the next vape?

I moved a colony just under 1.5miles a few weeks ago with no issues. I think topography also helps, if you're in a different valley etc, they seem less likely to return. I did as others have mentioned here. Over a few days before the move, i edged the hive closer to a neighbouring hive, within...

Brilliant! Love a bit of arduino. My last project was an arduino an an ESP8266 to make a wifi chicken coop door opener/closer. Where did you get your stepper motor?

Thanks Ian and Mark. I just wasn't sure how drone rearing fitted in with the time of year. Good point on the supercedure.

Are there many drones around in September? Have watched most of my hives kick the boys out over the past week or so.

Hi Enrico, I will take them if you are still wanting to get rid. Will send you a PM. Cheers

Watched drones being forcefully ejected from two of my hives yesterday. Ouch!

Yes I just use it as a generic term for yellow washing up gloves. Mine fit just as well as the thinner nitrile gloves, so still nice and dexterous. Not sting proof, but perhaps focuses you to be nice and gentle. Tried leather gloves like you and hated them - no dexterity and once they...

Some lovely practical advice, thank you Eric. With my other colonies I have since moved a few brood frames up, not quite exactly as you suggested, but it has seemed to have encouraged them up and drawing out wax. Makes sense as you say from a heat retention point of view to move up a few...

Thanks, will look out for eggs next time I check. It's a rose hive, currently on three boxes, with no queen excluder. Bottom two boxes were pretty much all drawn and full of brood (prior to me losing the swarms). The uppermost box is probably about 1/3 drawn frames, the rest still foundation...

Thanks for the advice so far. By way of an update, found what I am assuming was a virgin queen running around in there today. Seemed small compared to my other queens and was running all over the place. Tried to take a picture but my phone doesn't seem to agree with marigolds. I did not see...

Well i'd have to dig my childhood lego out of the attic and find a female head. It came like that. Notably it's a grey moustache too... I went and looked at a potential apiary site today and the first thing the farmer said to me was 'you're not old enough to be a beekeeper' :laughing-smiley-004

Attack of the giant queen cells! Never too old for a bit of lego... 😂