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Using creamed seed honey My wife mistakingly bought a "Soft and creamy" set Clover honey, for me to use as Seed Honey, which has obviously been beaten to make it the double thick cream texture it is. Could I use it as seed and will the honey set to this very smooth texture or, being...

Looks like you've been foraging on Balsam. Lol Very jealous, of the crop. Well done.

Just buy the real deal from your local bee equipment supplier. I know the largest one stocks loose veil mesh because I bought some recently to replace mine. Only cost a few quid for 1m2 and now have enough to last two more replacements. I know my limits as far as stitching skills are concerned...

I have had two hives this year where the queens have simply slipped through the QX at will - laid above and below. I've changed out the QX but still made no difference. Nothing wrong with their brood pattern either so I couldn't fault them. Not normally a problem if you're in no rush to extract...

Do only virgin queens make this sound? If so I have bigger problems than I thought :eek:

All good information - thanks. I think the 14 x 12 probably does provide a bit of a breather before they start thinking of swarming, when compared to those running on single broods, thinking of adding another brood (double) but, as you say, it probably won't get you through the swarming season.

I'm interested to know from those who have some experience with colonies on both National Standard Broods and 14 x 12 - have they experienced a reduction in swarming with those on 14 x 12. Or, is AS pretty much standard swarm management for most each year whether on single broods, double broods...

Type in "bbka trees for bees" in your search and you'll find a useful pdf file produced by the BBKA of the flowering times of trees in the UK. I thought beans were a useful plant to bees - peas not. Mine are on the beans at the mo so only time will time.

There are large fields of clover on a farm we moved our bees to for the OSR but is it always sown in with grass for haylage? or do some farmers plant fields of only clover? I'm just not sure whether to keep my bees on this farm in the hope this clover crop materialises in the next few weeks or...

I don't have many hives so have a bit more time to manage cleaning out OSR residual from my combs. Once extracted I simply soak each frame in a bath of luke warm water and shake the water out and repeat. It's a realtively quick process although your back does feel it later. Bath water...

OSR near finished The OSR near us is just starting to lose it colour so looks like it's turning. Pitty because the temps seem to be on the way up. We also have 30 acres of beans flowering in the next field although not sure what the honey crop is like off this. Anyone?

Yeah, this is the tree. Thanks. Pitty it's not such a good source of forage for bees.

Because it seems pointless and wasted opportunity to have drawn combs when the flow is over. I'd rather use my old winter stores in a 1:1 mix. Your method is also another way.

I've never had tremendous success getting the foundation drawn out quickly in an AS scenario, without my assistance. If you have an extractor to hand, extract the winter stores and feed as 1:1 or alternatively make up some new 1:1. Why waste good nectar on wax building when you can help them.

Looking at some pics it could be. I need to check on those leaves. I believe Laburnam is of no interest to bees.

Hi I'm currently working on the outskirts of London and there are alot of yellow flowering trees about. They're medium sized trees, not Acacia Dealbata but an equally bright yellow flower hanging in long drapes. Leaves arranged in a pinnate shape. Was interested to know the name and if it was of...

:thanks: Arfermo - would help if people put more info in their original post so we don't have to second guess.

They are useful when storing drawn super or brood frames over winter. One laid above and one below a stack of boxes - they provide ventilation whilst providing a first line of defense against vermin.

Not sure why you plugged it in the first place. Less flying bees about when you do the intro the better IMO.

Perhaps Steeley could elaborate how weak this colony is. Does the colony occupy any of the brood box at all?