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not an issue here, but maybe try changing the bellows?

Spent an hour just looking at hive entrances. Guards working hard, every returning bee is checked. Still heavy scent of heather around the apiary, you get it 50m away downwind.

I don’t like marking white, takes a lot of priming to get it out properly. I don’t bother with the exact year colours. All my Q’s are marked using a Toma neon green and I have all the Q details captured on my iPad. Marked with neon green, you can spot the Q from a mile away.

Looks nice and I’m sure works well, but for me - weight feel and a cheap luggage scale is enough.

Verified 2 Q‘s are mated and laying. One of those I’ll have a look in a few day to make sure those are indeed workers (once sealed), but seen solid frames of open brood, so optimistic.

And I thought I‘m organised… 👏

As Dani, each of my colonies has its own schedule.

Also dropped frame rest and frame lifter long time ago… 🤷🏻‍♂️

I’m using F10 disinfectant. For both tools and cleaning of poly equipment. https://www.f10products.co.uk/disinfectant-products/

Great spot. It won’t take long for the workers to get it removed. I also seen it once or twice, I believe this is minutes after the Q (not a VQ now 😜) is back. Nice picture.

My preferred hive tool: ( have 3 in the apiary. When using one, the other 2 are in a bucket with disinfectant. Each hive I’m using a clean/disinfectant hive tool) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B077YS923N/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_YFGHS8J5JBWFTHF78MWR?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 On me I always have a Q clip...

London prices. Quick look at the website, hype galore…

Your bees are welcome to come and sell my honey.

For the simple fact you put a full frame in, so the Q has more bees with her, can stay in the cage for longer and laying more. Probably also through the full frame cage being exposed to more new bees, while still isolated & protected.

with high risk hives, I’m using the Abelo Q introduction frame cage. I put the new Q with her bees on a frame inside this cage, for a full week. The Q is isolated from the old foragers and lays for a week before I take the frame out.

Same here. The local farm shop (200m from the apiary) takes each year whatever I have and it’s gone way before Christmas.

Point one - I would unite and ensure stronger colonies going into winter. Point two - I would make changes next year in spring (after re-assessing), not now.

That will be non local.

Could be old summer foragers.

Early days for me also regarding soft set, but I believe the colour is less important. The texture/smoothness has to end up right…