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No frost visible - but ice on car roofs, here. Nearly gone by now.

My view is that queens have to be very prolific to require more than a 14 x 12 box - except, perhaps for a short period in spring. I expect that double-deeps are not completely filled with brood - requiring a lay-rate of over 4000/day continuously. Most certainly a triple-deep is way over the...

Ha ha to those! Question: Why is it advised to have more than one colony?

That simply demonstrates (not proves) that a full deep box was adequate stores for your bees, in your area, on that occasion. A full deep is regarded as sufficient stores for most bees most of the time. That avoids lots of sugar syrup being present in an early season crop. With 14 x12 frames...

There will be loads slightly deeper, waiting to germinate. Best to keep bringing them near the surface, so they germinate and die.

They look more like toadstools. Edible mushrooms can be eaten.:)

Ha! Had to look it up. Thought it must be some large mickey mouse toy or something.

Guessing it might be too late to be destroying a nest at this time of the year? Won’t all the next-year queens be mated and now hibernating until next spring?

OOPS, an extra zero got in there somehow! I’ve not actually fed syrup for years, but when I did I simply poured boiling water over a flattened heap of sugar, in a 25l plastic bucket, to the same level as the sugar, stirred very aggressively and that was it. Later, I changed to feeding fondant...

Hefting/weighing doesn’t work unless the dumb beekeeper takes action when not necessarily required. Beekeepers need to analyse their findings, should they think a hive is getting light in spring. It may be that the cluster is completely isolated from their stores and may have near half a box...

Simple. It depends on the weather. Don’t expect any surplus collection after November. Guideline is a full deep National box for winter, but that depends on the winter and your location. Nothing like hefting and taking appropriate action. Isolation starvation is yet another facet.

I feed our resident Robin(s) with just a few mealworms, as appropriate. Had one nearly feeding out of my hand at the garden, before I gave it up. No point in putting down too many - or the rats would be cleaning them up.

Are they territorial?

That concentration is quoted for a simple reasons - it is about optimum and easy for most beekeepers to work out the amounts needed (if they do not just make the syrup by simpler means than precise weights and volumes. Sufficient to prepare and OK for the bees to store. The concentration made...

There are up and over roller type - they have jointed panels that can accept insulation. Not as secure as a roller shutter type, I think. Mine needs some new roller wheels after about 25 years, but is not in use at present.

Thanks, particularly to Dani. I shall have to read up a lot on the subject. Any good (trustworthy) videos on the subject?

Ahh, a feeding station required too? I thought there were enough snails and slugs to keep them going - on the lines of a well fed cat is not a good mouser! I suppose food would encourage them to visit regularly, at least. I’ll have to be sure it’s not feeding rats - none obviously around...

Not quite beekeeping, and I’m probably a bit late for this year, but I intend converting one of my many now-unused timber deeps to a hedgehog nest. Anyone done it? I expect insulation is quite important? Any tips or pics? One question is whether I should perhaps use a 14 x 12 (extra deep or...

My wife is away for over a week. That will mean my energy bill will be low for a whole week! Time for long johns to be dug out, an extra jumper (and warm slippers indoors). It’s like beekeeping - more insulation, less heat required. Oh, and the attic door will not be left open, either.🙂

Stop arguing. Extra deeps, 14 x 12 or Jumbo - they are still the boxes that accept the British Standard sized frames. Three different sizes - shallows, deeps and t’others above.