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Picked up a swarm today. No kidding. ... A smallish cast, so I don't have any great hope for it as a standalone unit, but stranger things have happened. Will probably get united with another box in the not too distant future, all other observations permitting. The second mid-August swarm I've...

Just because... I mean, this Forum can adopt the feel of an EDL rally when people feel the need to defend/attack a particular strain. I've never been too fussy (redhead, blonde, black, white, tall, short, chunky, slim, complicated or uncomplicated etc... you've got to be open minded, no (?)...

... specifically their black queens ... Does anybody on the Forum have any expecience of these, and their permformance? I'd be very keen to hear any anecdotal feedback; most specifically as to their temperament/docility. I bought one a couple of months ago, and was wearing my "bad beekeeper"...

Thanks Elaine. I appreciate you explaining your approach and experiences. In spite of the VQs having no/limited pheremone, I have read some horror stories about them getting balled on introduction. I was intending to plug the roller cages containing already emerged Queens (as you have done)...

Hi - I know I should have planned this properly, but I thought it would come to me easily (but it is not). Situation: - I have some Queen cells - produced from grafting into Nicot cups - due to emerge on Thursday (more next week) - to avoid the risk of an early emergence playing havoc, roller...

Exactly. That's what I would do.... and let the Warre build completely from scratch. Like I say, maybe not an ideal time of year initiating an enforced break in brood for the Warre lot. It does however help get around the horrible process of having to use a conversion board etc... and I guess...

... etc... Ian ... you can call it hubris if you like, and - agreed - the way they are presented above, the stats on David's 'success' don't make for appealing reading (unlike his books, which I would certainly recommend). There are very many counter-arguments - some (but not all) of which have...

... Hi there - not 'locked in' as such. All bees, with the exception of the Queen should be able to come and go. The QX would simply sit between the bottom (currently unpopulated) Warre Brood Box and the populated top box. When I have previously done interventions (e.g. Bailey comb changes) and...

Not that I labelled these; the customer labelled them themselves (they were for the wedding of the daughter of the farmer where I have my out apiary) ... but I think they turned out well. Simple and unfussy. Apparently, they went down a storm. 1.5oz round jars from F&H

Edited. Sorry. Not woken up. 12+12+12 = 36 !! :ROFLMAO: ... Thanks for the heads up (y) (y) I should have either just got my tape measure out - or, better still, engaged brain re. bee space !

Spacing for the top bars in a Warre is 36mm between top bar centres. You should get 8 in a box, evenly spaced. https://warre.biobees.com/plans.htm Panel pins are a great help

I have been through the same thought process earlier this year, when contemplating transferring bees from one of my 14*12s into my new Warre. In the event, I was lucky, in that I instead bagged a lovely prime swarm of local black bees in May, which I basically just chucked in. There was a bit...

Enjoying the last few comments on grafting. I too thought I'd never give it a go, but thought I'd have a speculative try this year (to get my hand/eye in, so to speak). I've just moved my first attempt (below) into a finisher colony. In my estimation, that's 3 possibles (4 if I'm wildly lucky)...

Yep, thanks... An otherwise completely regular colony, brood nest etc... This is indeed in the brood box, beneath the QX. The pic is zoomed to the edge of the frame, but the rest of the frame comprises a nice slab of sealed worker brood. What that is, is a 2/3 constructed Queen Cell, whose...

Please... As I have no idea how to read this. A couple of my colonies, with perfectly good 2020 Queens, laying extremely well (pattern, vigour) etc... are throwing up properly formed Queen cells ... One or two... So, possible supersedure intentions, but none of said cells have brood food/royal...

... Will probably be OK then, by the time you get your planning through 🤣 (speaking from bitter experience). Gotta love this country. Good luck with the project.

Hi Dani, do you know of anywhere this is published in a readily digestible form ? Thanks

My own result was a disappointment, if not a surprise. 2019 - 56 species identified (bramble and clover being c.a. 50%, but the remainder being comprised of lots of traditional wildflower species) 2020 - 24 species identified (bramble and clover being around 75%; the remainder not containing...

Thanks both / all (y)

Agreed 👍 Also understand - but herein is my dilemma. As I'm mid manipulation, I can't just leave them to it. HM has to go back to the original box tomorrow. I can't 'bank' HER, as such... So it then is more a question of what to do with said cells. Options: 1) Bank the cells and move Queen as...