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Hi all, at the risk of sounding like a complete numpty when I did my oa vape on Tue I was observing the colony through the clear crownboard. I saw a large, long bee 2 times the length of the workers and 1.5 the diameter and thought ah there's Queenie, shes lost her paint but it happens.... Then...

So early New Year it is. In the meantime I'll crack on with building extra supers and a demarree board. I just have to find a good source of cedar boards. Thank you all for your advice.

I gave them syrup before the ivy flow then after the ivy I put fondant in as I had 3 frames of foundation that needed finishing from when I banked the queen into a nuc in September (as a backup to a requeening due to supersedure) Just making sure they have plenty of food. They have been taking...

With regards to catching the swarm before they beggar off I think that's a different thread. I did see this though and thought it might be useful if I'm really busy with work (I work 70+ hours a week, more if there's a weather event bringing down trees) and don't manage to catch them leaving...

Well, I went in and removed the strips. The pliers suggestion was excellent as they were well stuck between the frames. Only took about 10 seconds to lift the crown board and pull the strip. I lost only one bee from the main hive and about 10 from the nuc as the frames started lifting as I was...

I will take your advice, just investigating things I've seen on t' internet. I plan to do a bailey comb change first thing march-ish as the brood comb is really dark brown /mahogany so I recon due for a freshen up and to get rid of the chemicals from the apivar. Then I guess it's a.s. when the...

I was a latecomer to having my first colony. I was promised a swarm that had been captured early summer for some tree work but the local "bee keeping on the "private housing estate " group" decided they didn't want the trees worked on so that was that. Miffed, I went and bought a colony at the...

Thanks for all your advice. I'll do it tomorrow.

I was late getting my APIvar treatment into the hive and it's now due to be removed. With it being 0°C outside I'm guessing it's too cold to open the hive quickly and retrieve the strip? What temperature is it safe to open up as I don't want a load of flying bees to come out and die instantly...

Just re-read your initial question. You have 3 colonies all with plenty stores and plenty of winter bees. The forecast is poor this coming month into winter proper so opening up hives and messing around might knock back the colony in their settling down for winter. As I was told recently, don't...

I was in a similar situation to you ya the end of September. I foolishly destroyed a supersedure cell thinking it was a swarm cell. Against all advice on here I requeened with an online bought carniolan on 5th October. I think I was lucky with the late weather as she's been accepted and is...

Cold donner kebab with congealed garlic mayonnaise and hot chilli sauce to cure the hangover.

Haha I saw the date and thought if anyone else comes a lookin' for help I'd just offer out my services. As a newbie I'm keen to increase my stock and experience with all things bee. I've only obtained my first colony this year and it's becoming an obsession. I can't be the only one 🤨 It would be...

If anyone has a similar situation I'm a tree surgeon so used to working at height and I'd be happy to help, south Shropshire up to Cheshire, Wigan way.

I have recently answed an advertisement for a colony. The seller doesn't want me to go to them but she wants me to send her the money and she "will send via freight". I have contacted others on the forum and there was something fishy so they didn't send any money either. Just please everyone be...

Cornwall honey has a recipe page for all things sugar, the candy involves boiling to a soft ball. http://www.cornwallhoney.co.uk/beepedia/sugarsyrup.htm#candy

Haha, thanks for the advice. I'll spend some quality time with them tomorrow.

Ok, I'll leave well alone. I guess it's a newbees urge to try to do too much and bugger things up that bees have been doing perfectly fine for millennia. I'll pop a patty of feed on once the apilife has been completed,that'll be around 10th October and insulate the hive well. Hopefully I'll...

That sounds a little ominous oh heck. Is it too late to nuc the queen I have with her frame of brood and some stores and order a mated queen asap. I can still get one until 22nd so is it worth a punt? If it all goes pear shaped and my queen stops laying could I euthanise her then try to reunite...

I've just been into the hive, queen is still running around and there is 1full frame of emerging brood, 1frame of capped, open brood and eggs I think (my eyesight isn't the best and I couldn't get my phone to take a picture with gloves on) There were stores around the top of this frame and the...