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I agree, you can never have enough nucs. Simple to make from scrap wood

In my very poor attempts at queen rearing by grafting in the past, I have found that the most important thing is to have the colony rammed with bees, with plenty of nurses in the rearing box. I still graft but also use simpler methods. This year I got more than enough queens using Demarees

Not mine

Get to handle some bees before you splash out any cash. Not a good time to start as the colony has to build in strength to survive winter, when a lot of people lose their bees. Most associations run courses early in new year. Make contact now and go along to any apiary meetings when you will...

I only put them in when monitoring. If in all the time detritus builds up, unless regularly cleaned. Ideal breeding ground for wax moth. I am further south than either of you, but personally I feel that makes no difference to how well the bees ventilate the hive

Bait box on garage roof. Wife took a video, but forum will not accept an mp4

Swarm just moving in.

Is there space under the clearer for them to go in. For a couple of supers, I put an eke under the clearer, for more supers, I put an empty super. I use rhombus and never have a problem.

I only put inspection boards in a few times a year, for a few days each to do varroa counts. If left in all the time, they collect all the detritus from the hives. Ideal place for wax moth larvae and out of the reach of the bees. Not good

I do a fair bit of microscopy. Yet to see a tracheal mite. I do use Apiguard as a mite treatment though

I have only ever killed off one colony. It was only my second year and I was trying out a Warre hive. The bees were really hot, with combs stuck to the sidewall. Did not fancy trying to find the queen in that. Soon to tackle a really nasty hive at association apiary. Will move the brood boxes...

Persevere. It has been a bad year, especially up there, or so I've heard. Next year could be completely different. You have a duty of care.

What's natural about keeping bees?

Most hives have wax moths in them but usually, as JBM says, the bees keep them under control, unless the hive is weak. I do nothing too. The main thing is to make sure there are no eggs or larvae in the frames before storing away for winter, otherwise you will just have a pile of wax crumbs...

I would never unite without ensuring one hive was queenless, having actually killed or removed the queen, and/ or putting in a test frame. I cannot be sure which of two queens in the one hive would be the survivor

When I moved to Devon last year, I simply posted on the local FB page. I got about 10 offers of apiary site. As a result I have my bees on an ideal site, ticking all the boxes. The site owners are also showing great interest in how bees ar doing.

By my reckoning 12 Oz jars equates to 225ml. Can't find them on hobbycraft site.

Took the two grandsons ( 10&8) for their first look in the hives. The youngest was apprehensive at first but as soon as he got into the magic of a hive he relaxed. I could not keep pace with the questions. Fortunately we saw the queen. Now asking when is next time.

Throw a rope over a branch above the swarm. Tie on a drawn comb. Pull up to be adjacent to swarm. Bees crawl onto comb. 3 days is a long time to hang out. Probably gone by now

Totally agree. Hive A is a waste of time. Need to ensure B is Q- before any action. Do you have access to other colonies?