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For me Spring has been very kind. Barely any rain, relatively warm (no heating since late March) with blossoms being 1 to 2 weeks ahead of last year. I doubt if since last Autumn the bees have had any more than 3 days at a time stuck 'indoors' & probably no more than 15 days in total. In the 20...

And if you take it off planning to put it back on again, how do you judge when to put it back on?

I think today I'll try removing the queen excluders as suggested and see what happens. Swarming season for me starts now for 4 weeks. Putting in the starter strip was also a test to see if they'd build drone comb which I was pleased to see they aren't....learnt something there. So, drones are...

That's an idea. I could move things around so that 1 has only undrawn comb & give it a go. Thanks for the idea - will get on it tomorrow.

Thanks for that - much appreciated.

I should perhaps add, it's exceptionally dry here. Some lakes are empty, we're on water saving measures (hosepipe ban no filling of swimming pools, reduced watering for farmers) and some places which use local wells/ bore holes for village water supply have even run out and are managing from...

I was away for 10 days until Tuesday just gone, so not too sure. Seems like it rained a little bit and was generally overcast I think.

Two of my colonies were on 7 frames of brood 2 weeks ago. They both have supers on however I just can't get the bees to move up (50/50 drawn frames /undrawn in the super). The bees are currently backfilling with nectar hence brood is reducing fairly quickly. Two days ago I did a test in removing...

First off I'll put my hands up and admit I'm no expert! I'm assuming that you have nectar sources currently available your way, in which case I'd be removing 2 or 3 of those 5 frames of stores and replacing either with drawn comb or foundation. When those hives are at boiling over point (8...

I was a tad nervous when you suggested double brood! Around here I've heard that for 'atomic' hives with a full flow on then you could do it. I've yet to see anyone though. As I'm based quite south of you (France near Spanish border) the colony isn't as advanced as you think. I've just chucked...

Ok - many thanks for that. Having never reached the heady heights of 2 supers before, as I understand it I put the second underneath the first / on top of the brood box right?

Picking up on this, here's a picture of one of my supers this morning: I've pulled some frames and guess it's about half full. There is the very beginning of capping happening in a few places. The hive is on 8/10 frames of brood. I was planning on leaving it a little longer (till 70/80% full)...

That would work. I had been imagining lifting a full 10 frame Dadant brood box from above waist height....heavy!

I'd suggest you get a super on there as soon as possible if your haven't already. Here in France double brood Dadant is extremely rare (so I've been told), so I'm guessing it's the same your way? As long as you're inspecting each week you'll be able to manage the situation whatever happens...

They are. Langstroth are the next most popular in France but around me I've yet to come across anything other than Dadant.

Thanks for that - much appreciated.

My idea was that any removed brood frames could be used to either bolster 2 other weaker colonies I have, or create a new colony.....not that I want more colonies but I can always give them away or sell them. I'm ok for kit & will try and find the HiveMaker thread you refer to. What I'm not...

I'm entering my 2nd full year of beekeeping & have 3 relatively strong colonies. I use Dadant 10 frame hives & of the 3 mentioned, 1 is on 8 frames brood, & 2 on 7. The first has already donated a brood frame to bolster another hive. As I'm based some way south of many of you (France near the...

Well I can get mated queens originating from Italy, available in France from mid-April......

That's an interesting one. From my notes I see I had a field of dandelions in flower near my hives on 21st March last year. I'll have to keep an eye out come then.