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Emergency feed on three hives today two still look strong but one hive I,d be surprised if its still going in the spring not many bees .All three hives still flying today

Having been Hospitalised many years ago after accidentally inhaling chlorine I would suspect Oxalic would have the same effect in that it can damage your lungs. Why take the risk?

Hefted hives today they were loaded with stores a few weeks ago today felt really light, Some emergency feeding required I think.The bees have been out most weeks and havent stopped this year.The only flowers around is some Gorse and my neighbours winter flowering cherry although there are...

Nothing like a shot of Ukrainian vodka .The locals swear it swill cure anything.

It makes me laugh when I read people moaning about data protection,your data is out there from the day you are born and your parents fill in the birth certificate.Most of us have a mobile phone or have filled in various forms at some time.If somebody is that determined to find out anything then...

Thermometers with remote probe on fleabay ,But a bit pointless unless you just want to record the temperature for your records If the bees dwindled and died out over the winter theres not much that can be done, if they move the wrong way and starve it would probably be too late before it was...

Bees bringing in loads of ivy pollen today 2 out of 3 hives taking feed though, still some way to go before they are ready for winter.

Normally cows on a dairy farm will have had their calfs removed they are milked by a machine the more milk taken the more they will produce up to a limit. If they were to be in the wild the calf would use the milk so the cow wouldn't die. I think this is another case of someone from the city not...

Sorry got a bit side tracked of course there is no connection.Just thinking why I would ever concider replacing the queens.

The two bad hives were from swarms. I can use the propolis so at the moment wouldnt even consider requeening. Really dark bees but think I may have to keep an eye on their temperment.

Think this is the worse year I,ve ever had for propolis 2 out of my 3 hives everything is glued down tight, The crown boards are thick with it. It is a major job just to do an inspection. Could it be a sign of weather to come? Not much of a problem now but might need a hammer and chisel to get...

Years ago I watched a fox climb over an eight foot fence into our chicken pen this was when the do gooders were relocating town foxes to the countryside, It didnt climb any more fences after. Normally they will wipe out the whole flock and take perhaps one chicken.

Lost all mine to polecats last year they killed the chickens over a few days .Always left them in the pen as they couldnt manage to drag them through the wire.Polecats used to be quite rare around here but are making a resurgence probably due to an increase in rabbits.

I always keep some old frames for bait hives and ditch the really bad ones.

Many other beekeepers in countries not as well off as we are use alternative treatments like rhubarb leaves for varroa and wood ash for storing frames, perhaps they don't work as well as what we have but they have no choice.

Its easy to target Beekeepers never get to the real issue of the fields of green without a weed or flower,Years ago I used to pick mushrooms in the local fields now you would be lucky to see one.All due to most farmers being brainwashed by the agro chemical companies that all weeds are bad.

Always mark my queens white which I find easier to spot .If I was selling queens then the correct colour would be needed. I,ve had queens in the past that could never be found and I didnt see any point ripping the hive apart just to mark her. I think loosing the queen happens I once removed some...

You could keep the swarms until the autumn then merge to strengthen hives going into winter also have a pick of queens. It depends on how much spare kit you have.

Moved a massive swarm in the bait hive on top of the shed roof tonight,there were still some bees flying after it had gone dark so just had to leave them behind.Who says swarming has finished my bait hives have never been so busy never known a year like it.There is still a flow on with us...

Had bees around the bait hive on shed roof at just gone seven this morning ,Hopefully my third swarm coming soon second one from this hive.