Search results

My colonies went absolutely nuts for the white mustard over a period of a couple of weeks mid-July last year. The farmer had planted it to turn into the soil as a green manure. Walking through the field, the sound of the bees was like a jumbo jet engine. As such, it ended up forming a large part...

So, here's something totally anecdotal to add to the mix, and which I've not so far been brave enough to post. On Sunday, I had a large swarm arrive into my garage (into a stack of empty supers). On Monday, it had been moved into a poly nuc in the same spot, and on Tuesday evening, I was...

Thanks JBM. That's why I asked about consensus ... as the collected real-life experience here is more relevant than any text. Apart from the matter of pheremones though (it all happening in the same stack), I don't see the massive difference in principle (other than horizontal/vertical) between...

Interesting. Is this the consensus ?? I did not think a Demaree needed to be wholly pre-emptive. I will go back to the books, but there are well respected recources out there - e.g. (https://theapiarist.org/demaree-swarm-control/) who say you can use it reactively, if QCs are found.

Hi again. Sorry, another numpty question. If I need to deal with swarming, I usually do a Pagden AS, or variant thereof. I want, however, to try a Demaree on a particular hive, in which I today saw (and knocked-down) some early-stage charged cells. This hive has two supers, which are largely...

Photo: Sent from my Pixel 4 using Tapatalk

I'm posting on the beginners forum partly as I feel like I should know instinctively what's happened, and what to do ... but this game is a bit like snakes and ladders, and I've just hit a snake. Photo to follow in a few minutes, when I get on my phone, but, essentially: - this is my weakest...

More than interested in the replies to this myself, as I suspect that we hobby beekeepers refresh/renew super frames more often than strictly necessary or beneficial. So many people (not all of them expanding, I presume) talk of the hundreds of frames they knock-up in the winter months. I...

I have (for the second time) this year ventured into selling some propolis tincture, using the propolis gleaned from my winter kit-cleaning. With some 96% grain alcohol (which is obvs. in short supply at the moment), it was simple enough to knock-up 50 (20ml) bottles of this, at minimal outlay...

Been out for a dog walk this morning. What is this shizzle I see before me? 1ft tall OSR ?? At least it is alive, and flowering, I guess.

Thanks MC - and I think that confirms my own conclusions ... basically that a 'hard-Bailey' (if you can call it that) is actually a pretty brutal intervention, and that the risk is best mitigated, in one form or another. I am not incompetent in handling my bees, and I am just horrified (though...

Hi all, quick one, hopefully, for those in-the-know about this procedure. I tried two last year, using proper Bailey boards. One suceeded; the other failed - as the Queen absconded. I understand this is not uncommon - especially if all the frames in the new box contain foundation; hence the...

No interventions today... Just took a wander up to the hives at the top of the garden, to lift the spirits this lunchtime... when one of my girls stopped off on my T-shirt to say, "Hi." ... Been on the OSR, by any chance ? [emoji846] Sent from my Pixel 4 using Tapatalk

Won't a poly hive stay cooler in the 'blistering heat' ? Sent from my Pixel 4 using Tapatalk

Thanks all for the replies [emoji106] Really, really helpful. Sent from my Pixel 4 using Tapatalk

Hi all, having run only cedar hives to the BS design up to now, I am this year also running some Abelo Poly hives. So, just two quick questions for poly hive aficionados, please ... 1. Whilst a cedar box will take 12 frames (very, very snugly) - so would normally be run on 11+ a dummy board...

MAQS, I personally would suggest. Outside daytime temps are in a Goldilocks zone for that at the moment IMO. Good luck. Sent from my Pixel 4 using Tapatalk

I'd personally be interested (as a 14*12 man) to know of positive experiences from those who have gone double brood on that format. Why would you ?? Surely running a one-box system is one of the advantages of 14*12. The way that I see it, even a standard national has enough room (brood cells)...

I also use JustGloves, and would recommend; however, even here, my "usual" (https://www.justgloves.co.uk/Nitrile-Gloves/Ansell-Touch-n-Tuff-Green-Nitrile-Gloves) have gone up over 30% over the last couple of months. I think that is probably an understandable and reasonable flexing to the...

Ronaldo, love your post. Welcome. I'm a fellow Chaddertonian ... now exiled to the East Midlands. Grew up near Chaddy Park, with most of the rest of the family over the Hunt Lane / Broadway area. Great to hear of your sozzled love for your bees. Sent from my Pixel 4 using Tapatalk