Search results

A deli I used to supply had a 60% markup on products they simply sold on. Then again a charity used to mark up my honey by over 100%.

My capping go straight into a sieve above a bowl then into an oven to strain the honey out. It’s surprising how many jars you get. Then wax is steam processed in the usual way. Removes any theoretical risk.

This chappie caught my eye!

Recent encounter reminded me not to make any decisions based on colonies defensive behaviour unless you’ve inspected them a couple of times & noted how other colonies in the apiary behaved. Two weeks ago this strong colony exploded when I took a couple of the 5 supers off- decided to put them...

Turned out the cluster under the OMF were bees from the nuc. Now closed off that space under the entrance.

See where you’re coming from. Part of original colony clustering under OMF from misdirection. Will hopefully find a virgin queen in the cluster when I shake them into a box. Will let you know

Honeybee nucleus colony. Activity at the entrance is often a clue to what is going on inside. This time under the floor. Honeybees are seen passing under the entrance & bees on the side showing a languid demeanour. Queen was in residence so likely a small swarm settled under the nuc.

One of the benefits of clipped queens. Bees can fit your schedule! Single swarm cell? Did you shake bees off other frames? I presume you expect the swarm cell to emerge before your return? If I had lots of colonies I would go with your plan. Otherwise, remove swarm cell & use emergency QC’s to...

If this colony with the 2 small QC was weak it may partly explain the poor quality QC

By the time I’d brought the mini nucs home to the incubator the noise level told you they knew they were queenless. Same with using queen cells, you know when Queen has emerged as they go quiet.

I used to run virgins into mini nucs when I had them emerge in an incubator without any difficulty. You knew they’d been accepted when colony went quiet.

Spot on. Make sure it’s mixed well. I do 6kg in one go with dough hooks for 2 min then into 9 takeaway tubs.

Clearing supers at the same time as supplementary feeding. Prefer to do this when supers are still occupied as quicker than shaking the bees off the super frames.

Oh Yes. Then lids on for storage. Doing the same in the cut comb containers for the mini mating nucs. I like to leave them 3 weeks before inspecting but the fondant in the tub often doesn’t last.

My 3 frame mating nucs normally have takeaway fondant tubs as feeders. Switched to home made sugar bricks, half the price & last twice as long. Best & quickest sugar brick recipe is 3% cold water to granulated sugar, mix with dough hooks on hand mixer or creamer/paint stirrer on drill for large...

So if you take the Q out into a nuc. The colony will raise emergency QC’s. As it wasn’t in swarm mode what are the chances of the colony swarming on those emergency QC’s? This booklet says ‘the last thing the colony wants to do is swarm’...

Knowing its provenance if there is foul brood in your area. Consider an opportunity to treat with Oxalic acid before any brood is capped.

Sounds like you’ve established a good rapport with farmer. Tucked away in the corner at position 3 is my starter for 10. You want to minimise any form of disruption to not just the farmer but his team.

I like the bit: PRO’S 1) artificial swarm complete to remove the swarming urge

Don’t forget to look on the queen excluder when hunting for queen cells. Second time I’ve seen this happen.