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Yes but I cannot work out their instructions

I have bought, and would dearly love to use, one of the hive straps with "an ingeniuous locking device" - so ingenious that try as I might I have no idea how to use it. It is one of those ones without a ratchet that somehow locks back on itself. Can anyone assist me ?

Whilst I get all that you are saying here, if it is more than 10c as it is today, then will such heat loss not be that significant?

I use raw (not boiled) lindseed oil and give two coats. It definitely makes them look better and shoudl ensure a longer life

I am new this year and have 2 hives. It actually takes very, very little time really to look after them but they are in my garden which makes it easier. Much to my surpise, I found myself becoming obessed and so spent many hours watching the bees coming and going, defending their hive etc which...

I live next to a farm in a nice rural setting and you would not believe how many chemicals are sprayed around a farm these days - farming may have only a few workers but it is nothing if not industrial. They even work through teh night with headlights these days.

B & Q insulation I bought a roll of bubble wrap insulation with silver reflective sheeting from my local B & Q for £6.99. I intend to cut pieces to size and put on top of my crownboards. The roll is enough for many hives.

I inspected both of my colonies yesterday. Both looked fine and they both had lots of capped stores. My mentor advised to keep feeding until they don't take any more. Should I keep piling it in until this point is reached or should I let them focus on caping all that they have. There is a lot...

"A world without bees" really is a very interesting read. It convinced me to take up beekeeping. It is the sort of book that you want your friends and relatives to read.

My mentor, who is a beekpeer of huge experience, said the queen was a "runner" and the bees were "clumping" - both undesireable states. They were a pretty angry mob as well but as the virgin Q mated and new brood arrived the bees turned mellow and no longer clumped - basically as soon as the...

I can certainly understand your point. As a new keeper this year I took in a swarm but could never find the queen (I could, however, always see other people's queens no problem). Eventually my mentor was kind enough to come over and he found her just as he was about to give up, hidden under...

I had/have a very similar situation. I decided to use a third Api after week 4 as teh drop was still so high (must have droped 3,000 in toto). Now I am nearing the end of the sixth week since starting the Api and I am now down to about 15 per day. The hive was not that "happy" about the extra...

No - unfortunately I did not receive such advice. If I ever get a swarm again I will know to treat it immediately. At the time it was a swarm from "a known source" etc. I monitored varroa from dat one and started to get concerned so asked a "pro" to take a look and was told I had nothing to...

Varroa drop After 4 weeks and 2 trays I was still dropping over 100 per day so I have used a thrid treatement and am now down to about 25 per day after a couple of days. This was a swarm that I took in that was riddled with varroa and started to produce many dwv. I treated extensively with...

Bees being ejected Whilst I am not an experienced beekeeper, I have had experience for many weeks of what you have reported. Since I took in a swarm I have had a horrible varroa problem which I have been just about controlling and this has caused deformed wing virus and other non perfect bees...

I am on the point of taking up beekeeping and came across this forum when I was looking for feedback on the Omlet Beehaus which had a special section. The impression created made me consider forgetting beekeeping altogether as your correspondents appear to be sneering, both small and closed...