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Or eggs if strong enough to raise another themselves

Here's another variant. http://www.cheshire-bka.co.uk/Articles/CheshireSystemOfBeekeeping.php

Went to the apiary and found a swarm on the side of the tallest supered hive under the edge of the roof. I initially thought I must have missed a queen cell but checking my colonies revealed it was not one of mine. I've never experienced a swarm landing on an occupied hive before, and there are...

Personally I never QE under the BB when hiving swarms. I also don't fill the BB with foundation frames until they have settled, as I find this increases the chance of them absconding. I used to leave space either side of about three or four foundation frames and wait a week before putting more...

I've had three and that's three too many. One through the suit on my forearm and two through the gloves. I was dealing with an aggressive colony I was re queening though. I've now bought some gauntlet sleeves to protect the lower arms. If I'd had eleven I'd be getting a suit of armour! :)

If you have swelling in the neck it may be prudent to get checked out by a doctor. You don't want to start having difficulties breathing in the night.

Fingers crossed for you. A couple of years ago I put one in my sister's garden and one in a friend's, both about 25 miles away. Never again. They rang me about every bee that they saw ending up in wasted journeys. Ironically the one in my friend's garden did get a swarm the next year as it...

I find the green bathroom marigolds to be the best as they have a longer cuff. Make sure you get the right size i.e a snug fit with no slack on the fingers. I can pick queens off the comb without damaging them using these. They are not sting-proof but far better than nitrile gloves in that...

In the garden yesterday at about 3pm and a big swarm flew overhead, disappearing into the distance!!!! Not one of mine I hasten to add as mine are a few miles away in the other direction. I had to do some major management on mine a few days ago. One colony had a sealed QC and one that was...

I normally don't open the bees until Spring but today I had a gut feeling that I should check the garden nuc. It was sunny and warm and the bees were flying. They still had a small amount of fondant above the crown board. Inside, instead of frames full of sugar there were 2 frames of brood but...

I had a similar thing happen to one of mine a few years ago. The top super had been pushed over exposing the frames, the roof still being on but at an angle. Definitely human intervention not animals as the gated field was empty. I assumed it was just some thick nosey git (plenty of them around...

If this is three (?) years in a row the OP is getting something wrong I'd suggest! Most of us get nucs through winter without any problems - and without the aid of matchsticks! I would, like others have said, suggest that the OP gets a mentor to help prepare for next winter. There's no shame in...

I was only highlighting the need to monitor stores as nice weather can be a false security to the inexperienced. I was not saying feed if you have full supers on! I did assume this would be obvious!

Don't forget to monitor stores. I would feed the old queen colony to help comb building, and the queen cell colony if light on stores. ** posted at same time as ^^

I did a beginner's course and at the end of my first year of beekeeping won the association best newcomer award. They told me that there was no point in doing the beginner's course as I had enough knowledge already, but I did it as I wanted my son to do it too. Looking back I now realise I knew...

Me too for some time now

If you do a course you have the added interest of seeing who gives up after the initial enthusiasm. I'm the only one from my beginner's course who still keeps bees by many years. Most lasted about two or three seasons. The attrition rate can be quite high as beekeeping is not for everyone...

The best thing to do is try and isolate where/what activity causes it by deduction. Under the circumstances maybe a good idea to have someone with you just to be on the safe side.

The best thing to do is try and isolate where/what activity causes it by deduction. Under the circumstances maybe a good idea to have someone with you just to be on the safe side.

Further to my last - or you could try visiting your apiary without opening any hives and see if it happens again.