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"Filtering as opposed to sieving...." That's interesting. Can you explain the difference? I use a standard 500 micron (i think), one of those double stainless steel things. It sits directly under the gate, passes through and drips into the settling tank. Is there a better method? Thanks.

I'm glad my instincts are right. Now just the other myriad of issues to solve. Hard work this beekeeping JBM. No one explained how complex when I started the adventure. 🙄😁😉

Like most of us JBM I've read quite a bit about it and views are divided. For me it seems the natural thing to do. Let the bees decide what happens in their world. Hopefully they are better judges of their environment than we are of ours.

I've certainly found that Murox. It would be simplicity itself to cull it to combat varroa but I'm inclined to let them do as they please. I'm not at all sure that's wise but it doesn't seem to have any adverse effects. Though of course I've only been keeping for 3-4 years and have nothing in...

They will do that rather than build drone brood on worker foundation. The same happens if you place a standard frame in a 14x12. Theyll build extra comb on the bottom of the standard and worker on the foundation within the confines of the frame. With foundationless they decide where they want...

I've been using foundationless for the last two years and echo the above. I don't even use starter strips or wax the top bar but as I'm on 14x12 I do use two skewers to divide brood frames into three sections. They build it perfectly every time although you must be a little gentle with the comb...

My extractor doesnt take brood frames Murox. The other hive at that site has only two filled supers, the other two are partly filled in one and mostly foundation on the other. Is it possible to swap them over? Minus bees of course. Thanks.

Stirlings booming. Ive already taken 3 full supers from them before the equinox. They seem to be clearing empty drone cells but there's still quite a bit of drone brood to emerge and plenty in the hive. Back filling is going on a pace too, nowhere else to put it I expect. The supers aren't...

Hello everyone, please advise. I've a hive headed by a yellow queen, Italian? Anyway, she lays like I've never seen. 14x12 box and 4 supers rammed. 9 frames of brood. Supers full. I swapped out a pollen frame and replaced with an empty today to buy some time. However, what to do? I thought...

Well I left it just over a week and went to discover if the capped cell had emerged. It had. All good as there were eggs and BIAS present too however there was another capped QC which was chewed from the side, disposed of that but then two further capped QC one on each side of the same frame in...

I was very much hoping that's what others would think. There's plenty space so I'll take your advice and leave them be till it's time to take the honey and treat with apivar. Cheers.

Earlier this week I inspected a blue queen hive, 2 spring supers this year and performing well. Saw one well developed QC but couldnt see inside. BIAS and eggs ao i took it down, royalty was inside. I went through the hive, no more cells. Returned today and once again another QC this time...

Hi JBM, I did that exact same thing earlier this month into a 14x12 with drawn comb and the next afternoon they absconded, every single one of them, in the biggest swarm I've ever seen. What did I do wrong? Was going to ask at the time but my embarrassment stopped me. 🙄😊

I'm leaving now JBM so itll be light enough to tip them in. Was thinking the nuc might be better as it has the excluder dial but I'll do as you suggest with some brood comb I have spare and fill the box with foundation. Thanks for getting back to me. Cheers

Hello all, a quick bit of re-assurance please. I've just been to collect a swarm 10 mins from where I live. On a branch about 10 feet up. Pruned the branches and gently shook them in and popped the lid on. Fanning at the entrance and going in. Looked a prime swarm and still a lot of bees flying...

Thanks Eric, I'll be sure and nip down and get one tomorrow, they're on sale. Thanks very much.

I've seen these for sale and thought about getting one but there's no OSR around me so I'm not sure of it's worth to me. Are there any other advantages to having one which I'm missing? TIA.

Finman. Went in again today, 6-7 QC which I divided into two nucs. I've read that these should be knocked down (as emergency cells) but they didnt have the fever before I did it and again I've read that in that scenario it's cool to do so? They were obviously young QC so not developed but I can...

Can I ask for some advice please. 14x12 box with 9 frames of brood and a super almost full. I've been looking to increase as soon as the weather improved but still wanted to have a couple of supers this year. I looked through the BB and found 4-5 play cups but nothing else so found the Q and...

30lbs! Didn't look that large when I saw it in the box. Simply place the bucket inside it then and set the timer? Maybe a good thing to have then for the money as a similar device on thornes is crazy money. Thank you Erichalfbee.