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Thanks just didn’t want to go down the line of adding more tube heater if it wasn’t going to work. Thermostat control is via ST1000 control unit

Just looking for views / recommendations as to what everyone is using these days to heat their home made warming cabinets? I was using 2 x old style 40w filament bulbs but need to replace as they have now expired - tried a 1’ 45w greenhouse heater but couldn’t get the temperature above 18C. My...

I do, make all my own floors and roofs using treated wood. Never had an issue. Just buy flat pack 2nds brood boxes

Have used drone comb in supers for a few years but gradually getting rid of it. My reasoning / onservations Did it in supers to gain more honey - did not really notice that much difference Come winter prep I remove QX and leave a super made up of part filled / uncapped honey for the bees to top...

Had this happen to 2 this season and hadn’t really thought anything other than I mustn’t have fixed the wax in properly. 2 Maismore 6 frame poly Nucs each with 2 frames of drawn comb, swarm went in was moved less than 5 mins in the back of a pick up and 4 frames with new foundation dropped in. 2...

Visited my hives on the OSR a few days ago as the crop was being sprayed. Didn’t notice any issues and when revisited yesterday there were no obvious effects

Ok so one of my out apiaries while doing last weeks inspection I had a walk around just observing what’s coming into bloom next etc. I then noticed a swarm trap about 40 metres from my hives set in a hedge line. Well all my queens at this site are clipped so they won’t be populating the swarm...

First inspection of my home made National long hive yesterday (north Manchester) in February over 2 day inspection of the varroa boards was showing 13 frames of brood. Well yesterday 6 almost sealed Queen cells , all 34 frames almost full with very little space, 23 frames full of BIAS. Put Q in...

Don’t need a shot gun licence for this device you can buy on the likes of Amazon etc. shotgun mine alarm with saluting blanks. No projectile so does not fall into the category of section 2 firearms act didn’t say it was a good idea it would make the would be thief jump though. Could work if...

Don’t need a shot gun licence for this device you can buy on the likes of Amazon etc. shotgun mine alarm with saluting blanks. No projectile so does not fall into the category of section 2 firearms act .

I have a farm where I keep my more nasty bees, last season he had OSR on 3 sites and I had hives on all 3. This season he has wheat on 2 of the sites so I asked yesterday about bringing another couple of hives to the site with OSR, just coming into flower now. His reply, yes as many as you like...

14th April,

I have a load of planks of wood with 3” nails sticking up all around my hives covered in leaves so anyone getting too close gets a nail or 2 through their foot. Also the floors are screwed to the pallet they sit on them the brood box on top. 2 hives per pallet so the whole pallet would have to...

I’ve got a 2007 Toyota Hilux 2.5. Extra cab. Had it since new & love it to bits. Put a canopy on it when needed and it goes almost anywhere. Ideal for travelling around my farm out apiaries lugging kit around and moving colonies, can easily fit 2 pallets in the back with tail gate down so 4...

2023 will be my 7th year and hopefully a more exciting one with much more available time on my hands as I retire mid July and can dedicate my time to the bees and allotment. So plans: Have 20 hives and 7 Nucs all presently doing well. 1) cut down numbers by doing early combines to boost colony...

Pic 1 - box complete and closed Pic 2 - initially installed a fan for air circulation but would not get up to temperature so disconnected the fan Pic 3 - heater position with tin plate above & below to protect polystyrene from tube heater also divider & cell bars Pic 4 - humidity sensor...

The 2022 Q in there is now a F2 Buckfast. Mother a 2021 F1 was removed to a Nuc in May as swarm control and I lost her later in the year trying to combine with a very nasty colony which killed her 😞

Last inspection end of September they were covering 32 frames no QX so Q had free run - now evidence with cappings on the boards was 13 dark brood and 3 light stores.

No just read the results of the inspection boards. Not been in the hive since end of September

Inserted the inspection boards on my national long hive for a couple of days last week to monitor varroa and was surprised to see 13 seams of brood cappings when checked. Only a small amount of stores uncapped and bees still out at every opportunity. Hive is home made with sides at approx 60mm...