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Maybe we're discussing different floors then ... I thought the UFE's generally have an L-shaped entrance which you cannot slide the Varrox through.

All ... 12+ Disadvantage ... they can get blocked with corpses from a strong hive midwinter. Easily avoided, but I have had it happen. You can't use a Varrox with them - not sure if that's an advantage or a disadvantage ;-)

Google maps to find a suitable location then approach the farmer and suggest "the corner of the big field" or whatever. Much, much better than doing it the other way round. Helps if you know something of the local area. You've saved them the problem of thinking up a suitable spot and you've...

My point was sometimes you have to inspect and/or go into colonies. If you're outdoors and it's raining it can be pretty unpleasant. I've got colonies in a shed and have had them there for over 2 years. My comments are from sometimes daily experience handling bees inside. You don't get any...

In the p1ssing rain ... The smoker really is not a major issue. A waft at the entrance or under the OMF, a waft as you crack the cover board, plonk the smoker on the doorstep and let them think about things for a minute. Inspect. If they get fractious step over to the door, pick up the smoker...

In bad weather you do not get lots of stings. Unless you've got crap bees. Other than a torrential downpour (when you'd get wet getting to the shed) you can inspect in any weather you like. The bees cope perfectly well getting back to the entrances. Double brood and 3-4 supers is manageable. Any...

Surely if you rearrange the frames with open brood a day before and provide the relevant front/rear entrances this shouldn't be necessary? I've always liked the Cloake board as it's relatively undemanding in terms of colony management.

Nope ... at least I don't think so. Laying worker eggs - and there are probably a very small number - are removed as eggs by other workers as they lack the queen pheromone I think. I also made clear to choose a patch of larvae next to where the queen is clearly laying well ... so almost zero...

100% if you select from drone comb ;) PS madasafish beat me to it ...

Paintbrush and headtorch and +whatever diopter glasses from eBay. Get comfy. Take your veil off and do it in a quiet corner of the apiary. Keep donor frame and grafted larvae under a damp cloth and out of direct sunlight. Pick the larvae next to visible eggs ... assuming the Q is laying well...

Try photographing less than 700? ;) At that rate I could repaint all my current hives (and spares) in about 4 minutes.

He already claims they're resistant to 'ultra badgers' ... that's like a honey badger on steroids. I'd prefer to see a more thorough test ...

With a couple of notable exceptions, most of the contributors to this site keep their own bees, rather than have someone doing it for them. Perhaps just buy honey from the store? Easier and cheaper.

Hello Ken from North Carolina. Treatment free? If so, there's your answer. If you're a beginner you must treat. If you don't, they'll die.

About £16 from Northern Bee Books ;) ... ... and in response to the OP ... Ted Hooper isn't bad on the subject for the basics ... and there's no better way than learning by example from someone already competent. PS I also like the Cloake board method.

I think the Woodward book is confusingly presented - if you know what you're doing it's OK ... but if you don't he provides too many options. I'm currently reading Larry Conner's Queen rearing essentials and it's pretty straightforward. PS but I know what I'm doing, so perhaps it's also...

If you purchase Api-Bioxal from Thorne's (Newburgh) the receipt does not indicate what was purchased ... there's a price, but nothing else.

The problem with the plastic equivalents are twofold ... the plug is easily lost in the grass and the edge doesn't push into uneven comb. This looks better on both counts. They're the best way of introducing queens into chronically queenless colonies in my experience.

Do you remember the days when you could download serial numbers from dodgy websites for software to unlock the primitive registration systems they used? How long until impecunious beekeepers share them for Api-Bioxal? ... like A287364 expiry date 30/7/19 ... oops ;) PS Don't bother trying...