Search results

Caught my 2nd swarm in 2 days yesterday. Probably a caste because they fit comfortably in a langstroth brood nuc. I've put 2 x 700ml (yes a wine bottle) charges of 1:1.3 syrup into the feeder today and they've taken the lot. Even saw pollen coming in so hopefully they will stay put. Also the...

Ah, the bars on the frames I got from from thrones don't have grooves, either brood or super (langstroth)

This may be going against some unwritten (or probably written) rule but I make up my frames with the points pointing in the same direction. That way there's never any confusion about which way around it goes back in because it can't be reversed. I started doing this because the first box of...

The two colonies explanation is definitely a possibility as the nuc is Lang jumbo.... Just had a swarm pass by the window. Ive looked and the mass of bees has gone from the bottom of the nuc but there appear to be plenty of comings and goings from the nuc entrance so I reckon you're dead on...

Caught my first swarm yesterday in the nuc on top of the shed. Only thing is there's a mass of bees hanging from the landing board area and under the front of the nuc, about a child's football size. Is the nuc too small? I've put a couple of frames in with starter strips to add to the 2...

Its a sign of white rot and weakening of the tree stem so if it's a large tree best get someone to check it out / fell it if it'll cause problems.

Indeed, Haynes do a beekeeping manual it's not a wind up. It's a really good book, easy to follow and answers most of the questions you're likely to ask as you go through your first season . It's on Amazon for not much money, well worth purchasing.

This being my first full season Ive found the spring nectar is being used to draw comb. I've fed thin syrup to help them along but I don't even have a full super worth of comb yet. I think all new keepers should be aware that the first years crop goes into building up supplies of comb ready for...

I would have left them a cat turd.

It's comforting to know I'm not alone in my cack-handedness 🙂

I've just been watching the bees at the bait hive and there seems to be some competition for it. There are numerous bees scrapping away at the entrance, it's like a UFC MMA competition except biting and gouging seems to be allowed! I'm off away for the evening/night now so can't check to see if...

Ok thanks, I'll wait for pollen going in then take a peek. I've another 4 boxes dotted around and they all seem to be getting some attention just not as much as this one, it's positively buzzing around the box.

Good morning, on checking one of my bait hives there seem to be bees coming and going. Is it occupied or are they just scout bees? I don't want to move it prematurely.

Thanks for your reassurance and advice, I can stop worrying and get on with what's left of my day off. Next round of daft questions in 7 days after the next inspection 😆 Unless of course the nuc I have on order arrives beforehand...

I'll just pray to the bee gods then. Will see next week I guess 🙏🤞🙏🤞

Hello, I've just been into my hives to do the weekly inspection and managed to spot the queen on a brood frame. I had a push in cage handy so I managed to trap her and another four or five bees too. I used a queen marking paint pen but when I went to get it onto her thorax more than expected...

Thanks Dani I'll look him up. Next year when hopefully I've more than one colony producing honey I'll do a trial. Photos the lot. It might be helpful to other new beekeepers to see what a waste or not they are and the problems using them in the UK. I'll forecast the osr problem and only put...

Hmm but I'd get slated on here for using them. They cost me nothing so maybe I'll have an experiment when I've another hive or 2 next year, I'll just have to keep it a secret 😉

Hehe I'm not going to get one, I have my plans and good advice going forward using conventional methods of swarm prevention and control. I was just curious whether the career beekeepers use anything like that as the bumf on the one shown recons some guy with 3000 hives is using it abroad...

Another one to add to the list of beekeeping myths 😆