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Because it's a bore checking every 5 days or so and swapping frames around? Or because the effect wears off? Not a silly question, I hope. I'm trying to absorb as much knowledge as I can before I start trying it this year.

Thanks for that clarification. I didn't feel very comfortable with the riser-spacer since no matter how carefully it was constructed my view was that it was never likely to fit perfectly. On the other hand, I could see no reason why the bees in the top brood box couldn't pass down through the QX...

I'm about to start my second season. I have three colonies and I plan to try the Demaree on at least one of them and see what happens. I've made some Demaree boards by which to separate the upper brood from the lower. The big issue is that my hives are all WBC and, whilst I have made a 'rise...

Good plan

But it's my first year and I was caught out by the volume of late stores that were put into the super. I simply hadn't expected them to fill it. In retrospect I shouldn't have left it on. Hey ho... lesson learned.

That does raise the question: what do I do in the spring if the colony hasn't finished the stores in the super? I presumably need to take out any frames of uneaten honey that, because of the Apivar application, is not fit for human consumption, and before they start filling it with honey that is...

Ah I see. I hadn't realised that the whole cluster would move up into the super at some stage. I'll take it out.

Supplementary question: I've currently left the QE on. Should it be off now? And if so why?

Thanks.

I've three colonies, in two of which I've taken off the supers and am now feeding with syrup, laterly fondant. On the third hive I had left on a part-filled super on having more or less given up hope of the bees capping the honey in it. That decision coincided with putting Apivar strips into the...

OK thanks. That makes sense.

Still pondering this issue in preparation for next year. I like to understand the why's and wherefores... So, another question: what's the purpose of the QE in the Demaree board? There is already a QE above the Q+ box of course. Why does there need to be another QE below the top brood-box...

I did an inspection yesterday, potentially my last full inspection of the season. Found a few drones but also, to my surprise, quite a few drone cells.

Silly question, perhaps. But I've noticed a 'clicking' sound from the hives when they are busy. Does anyone know what that is?

OK. So should I now just leave them to get over it?

I've 3 first-year colonies. Supers are off, Apivar is in. I was feeding some syrup intermittently over the last 10 days when the weather was poor but there has also been a lot of pollen going into the hives so I've held off doing that more regularly. I also put the spun super frames into the top...

Thanks. That's very helpful. And with regard to feeding syrup vs fondant, would I be correct in saying that syrup is best as we move into autumn and then switch to fondant at the close of the year? Or does it not really matter?

Beginner here... I plan to put fondant into the hives later. I've read that it should be placed directly onto of the frames, over the brood. So, ***** question: what exactly does that mean? Do I simply place the uncovered block on top of the brood box? Do I leave the side and top of the block...

I have a super that is 70% full and about 50% capped. But it's been that way for weeks. And another where they are still (as at last week) drawing out new comb. Since this is my first season I'm not sure what the trigger is to pull the supers off and extract what I have.

Does anyone know Why they behave this way? I get the idea of reproduction at the colony level driving the initial swarming urge. But I'm not sure I understand what motivation drives the cast swarm(s). Surely from a evolutionary point of view the bees remaining in the old site after the first...