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After several years absence, Im now surrounded by many fields of OSR this year; and my bees are packing in the pollen! However I read above, with concern, that there are varieties which do not produce nectar for bees. I didnt know that. Does anyone know which varieties these are ? I will ask the...

Out of interest, what is your preferred method of sterilising drawn comb ?

So, as nobody has said its "total madness":), if and when I do a Bailey I will use a Bailey eke above a QX , seal off the usual way into the bottom box, remove the bridge/bar and let the bees find their way upto the new entrance. I just wondered if they would exit the hive from the usual...

Don't you mean exit ie the cone bee escape in the roof. I have those already.

I don't, at the moment. But the usual reasons are nosema or comb change en-masse without loss of brood.

thanks - registered

Thanks for that. I was wondering if it was possible to run a more traditional Bailey comb change within the lifts: If you seal off the lower old box with a solid floor below it, remove the bridge piece (if you use one) and insert a Bailey eke above the old box would the bees then quickly learn...

Anyone undertake a Bailey Comb change with WBC hives? If so, how.

The SBI and myself used a shook swarm, very successfully, to treat a case of EFB last year. Its the only time I've performed one. I also read with interest the negative feelings some on this forum have towards their LBA. I must say that I feel lucky in that my small LBA (50 members with about...

I'm struggling to envisage a situation wherein a hobbyist would be prosecuted for using non-Apibioxal OA. Anyone know of such an event ? Ive had several visits from the SBI in recent years - my VMD record has never been requested.

Its nothing special - just some battery operated scales (the sort you might weigh travel cases with) with a hook on the end of a length of welding rod. The scales are attached to a lever supported on a timber post. When I press down on the lever the scales pull up in the hive until two legs are...

I would say less vulnerable simply because the are flying a lot less and therefore less likely to make contact with infected bees outside the hive. The two colonies of mine which developed CBPV were large, expanding and healthy colonies (until signs appeared) so maybe pressure within the hive is...

No cat haha Its generally been a very mild winter with only one week of sub-zero daytime temperatures in Jan, no snow and only a couple of additional frosty mornings. Feb has seen seen temps 10C above average. I dont really have an explanation for the Dec peaks. Weighing was carried using an...

correction - an average of 5 kg

The absolute weight is not really that important as it is affected by several factors; type of hive, hive construction materials, number of boxes, additional feed etc. It is the change in weight that counts. My three WBC hives have lost an average of 6kg since October.

Loss of habitat is a huge issue. We live yards from the Heart of England Way. A not infrequent comment made by ramblers is how few birds there are around here. I think its because there are few insects and a resultant poor food chain. We have many fields of non-flowering crops pretty much all...

I have a salvaged but working chest freezer and a tube heater. https://www.screwfix.com/p/dimplex-ecot1ft-wall-mounted-tubular-heater-40w-408-x-81mm/3951f Both cooling and warming controlled by the same XH-W3001 temperature controller. https://bit.ly/3EHHSp1 The temp probe is placed inside a...

I suppose it takes time for the civil service to change all the EU red tape (which has also UK red tape) to UK-only red tape. In the end I imagine it will be much the same but with different letterheads, apart from all the extra customs red tape.:)

I tend to think that winter survival is more determined by the weakest of the 4, whichever that happens to be at the time.

I use chinese take-away containers . I cut a round hole in the lid (approx 3cm diam). Load fondant into the container, put the lid on, invert container and place over the feeder hole in the crown board. Put an eke above the CB to support the Kingspan insulation. Then put the roof back on, (WBC...