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What is there for them to forage on? Do you have acres of heather? Might be difficult if there is no long season of forage for them as heather will see them right in the autumn but if there is nothing else then they will have a hard time.

Just made up my first ever batch of beeswax lip balm which was remarkably easy and looks and works very well. I am now looking into the regulations of being a cosmetics producer. Anyone else done this as it all looks a bit complicated?

Thanks a lot for your comments. My friend is a beginner so these hives do not sound the best for her. I will recommend a transition to national hives as her budget allows. The bees have been neglected for the last year and will need varroa treatment as soon as it gets warm enough so we were...

A friend of mine has just been given some wormit hives. The only reference I can find states that these hives are "almost completely compatible with national frames" which is good news. Does anyone have experience of this type of hive and a there any issues with using national frames?

I made a mistake last year with an artificial swarm that I attempted. I found the queen and transferred her on the frame she was on into a new brood body on the site of the original colony. I clearly missed a queen cell as she swarmed the next day and left a queen cell at the top of the frame...

Received my first sting of 2012. I just went up to see if there was any activity as it was a beautiful sunny day. All three colonies had bees out flying. On flew straight into my face and stung me. I can still see through my right eye but the swelling is quite impressive!

I would agree with selecting spax screws. They are by far the best although I still drill small pilot holes to reduce the chance of splitting. With the right tools all laid out on the bench I build about three supers or brood boxes per hour.

I really should read posts better before i reply. Sorry if your varroa count is high then get it done now. It is really easy.

Just done it and my bees are out flying too. It really is no big deal and if it keeps the mite count down for the start of spring then it has to be a good thing to do. Have you monitored lately and what is the mite drop?

Oxalic acid treatment done. I decided it was necessary after a larger than expected mite drop in Spetember when I treated with Apiguard. No big deal really. Some of them were not too impressed but I was in and out in less than two minutes per hive. Lots of stores left and all three hives...

Making up 9 supers and frames to fit. Had to chop the castellated spacers by 6mm to get to fit but very happy working away.

Is there a course to prepare for this exam in the Peterborough Area? Thanks

Beware of low varroa counts and not treating with apiguard. I have had very low drops during the summer but within one day of treating with apiguard I had a drop of over one hundred on day one. Glad I treated.

75lbs from two hives.

. Are you near the Heather? That honey is the only thixotropic one I know.

I was convinced that one of my hives was queen less earlier this year while waiting for a queen to hatch and start laying. I waited for two weeks and saw very little pollen going in. I inspected after two weeks to find frame after frame of perfect brood. Patience my friend.

Called to a small swarm. Found the queen, picked her up and placed her in the nuc box. Provided a bee suit for the lady who called me. We then watched as they all walked into the box. Another happy customer.

:iagree: They are not essential to the bees by any means but I think that they add real value to the beekeeper who spends time watching bees. You can see so much more if the bees wander about on the landing board for a bit whilst landing or taking off. I am also quite sure that they help...

Yes it is fine. Just keep watching and in time you will see all sorts. Wasps attacking, bumble bees flying in, swarms emerging, mating flights leaving, guard bees going about their business, dead bees being carried off. The whole thing is fascinating.

Just looking back through my hive records for this year and all three of my new queens took between 2 and 3 weeks between emergence and laying. Last year I had one that took four weeks. Patience my friend.