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Same here, I move them that evening. They will have drawn a small amount of wild comb the next day maybe 10 cms wide by 8 deep in part of the unused space. Unfortunately it is so soft and small it isn't reused by me. I move to my apiary (more than 3 miles away) and fill the box with frames. I...

I have hjeard of that method encouraging the bees to give you queen cells. I would be inbterested to hear how you get on. It also allays the concern I had that you might have been making increase from bees that were making swarm preparations ie. inadvertently selectively breeding for swarminess.

When you say you have reared queen cells did you graft them or did the bees make them themselves?

Were there any frames with emerging brood in the split?

I think a mating nuc with its small number of bees would have problems regulating the heat. Are you keeping them in partial shade?

I would classify the frames of stores as feeding. Are you worried they will starve. Is there expanding brood? Are there enough bees to cover the brood and forage and draw comb?

Yes, use your hive tool or the like to take it off when you are sure they are happy with her, that bit down. there should be a loop at the top to suspend it with, don't use string as they will chew that up and throw away, a twig or cocktail stick to suspend it would do. Leave for a week after...

They should do. It would also test your theory that they are actually queenless, you seem very sure :)

Just to confirm, you inspected this morning, you saw no queen cells but you did see eggs so there was a queen present when these eggs were laid. You put two supers on, one with foundation the other already drawn? The temperature is 22c and your bees hive come outside in a cluster. I would...

Patience is a good thing here. Check once a week if that and no more. If the hive is calm that is a good sign as is seeing cells polished ready for eggs. The best is when you see a full frame of eggs laid up!!!

It wouldn't be unusual to have an arc of pollen above the brood then honey.

Does the Queen have room to lay? Are the unused frames foundation?

It may not be relevant to you but I have had aggression linked to robbing going on at the time.

It is always interesting to read the actual study then the headline. I remember about 7 years ago research came out claiming that infants in front facing buggies were more stressed than those in rear facing buggies. Understandably when the headline came out my wife was worried that our new born...

What do you call bears without ears? Bees. bear b(ear) bear b(ear) bear b(ear)

I have caught a swarm in the past that later that year needed artificially swarmed. I believe I hadn't given them a super quickly enough. Was there room for the queen to lay on your previous inspection? Did you give them all foundation or was some of it drawn comb?

A small light coloured LED torch which I keep min the pocket of my smock. If you cannot see the eggs the torch shows up/reflects off the pool of jelly that a young larva sits in so that is next best thing. I do know of a friend that says a magnifying glass helps.

The picture ending on 07 shows capped drone cells. Make sure you have a valid reason to feed. If they are short of food then yes feed. At this time of year if they can get out to forage then they can bring in their own resources to draw comb. If you feed when it is not necessary they might...

No calls yet, but I think I am low down on the swarm collector list, and I usually get the awkward ones! All my hives have been artificially swarmed, but I do have a field of rape seed nearby so lots of resources.

My thoughts exactly, the very same happened to a friend last year!!