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Just put the solar extractor out :nature-smiley-016: :nature-smiley-016::nature-smiley-016::nature-smiley-016:

My season has been pretty good too, I think I am very lucky with my apiary locations although my Spring crop is always OSR based and people here all seem to prefer runny honey so selling my soft set is always a challenge! Colonies have built up really well and only half have wanted to swarm...

There is no definitive answer to this question. How close you can safely stand unprotected from a hive depends on so many things. Temperament and size of the colony, weather, how long ago and how peacefully the last inspection went, available forage, wasps or other pests......and the list goes...

Took MAQs off 2 hives. Everything seems as it should be. Queens seen, eggs present, no supercedure cells etc. just missing larger larvae as expected. Inserts were littered with varroa so hopefully it's done the job. Put some starter strips in one super hoping for some cut comb,.... Oh and I...

Ahhh, I seeee. Makes more sense now and nicking an entire 'set-up', hive stand too explains the thought behind locals just setting up. Good luck with finding them.

:iagree: Does seem a bit weird to leave an empty box. Taking the existing box leads to more chance of being found out I would have thought. Maybe they were disturbed and just took the easier option. Regardless, it is disgusting behaviour and it sickens me to hear of bee thefts. All of the...

I put a frame of grafted larvae taken from 'the hive from heaven' into the queenless 'hive from hell' this afternoon. Two colonies at absolute opposite ends of the behavior spectrum! Let's hope the hellish drones are on vacation on the day of the mating flights. The hive fom hell is boiling...

I have some on 4 of my hives at the moment. I know this has been discussed before but the NOD Europe website advise to close off mesh floors to prevent fumes from dumping out of the bottom. http://nodglobal.com/faq-uk/ Most people I speak to are leaving their mesh floors fully open when...

Same here. Supers are getting notibly lighter. Only went in 2 hives today but both those queens are recently off lay and one hive is chucking out drone brood!

I've had a mixed success with this method of AS. Six hives AS'd. - Two queens 'lost'. Maybe my poking around too soon? So reunited with the old queens. - Two went as per the method, new queens now heading nice strong hives. - Two are now building QCs again after both parts being reunited...

Mmmmm....I stupidly forgot to bung the smoker after an inspection at one of my out apiaries today. 3 1/2 miles down the road I realised my mistake. Won't be doing that again. I think I remember seeing some dramatic pictures on here a while back of somebody's car a bit 'worse for wear' due to a...

Put MAQs on 2 hives with a current varroa problem. The others will wait until August I hope. Surprisingly little in the way of any reaction so far. Perhaps one plus side of the coolish weather we are having.......

Same here with one of mine. Not a drone layer, the new queen just vanished! Confirmed absent with a test frame. Will reunite with the original BF queen, one of Petes from last year so no problem with that! One of my already reunited modified snelgrove hives is full of queen cells again just 2...

Had a good day yesterday! Went to prepare the parent hive (thought now to be queenless) for a move to another apiary in readiness for a unite and blow me down, there she was, still merrily laying away so must have just missed spotting her! No swarm lost after all..:) note to self - Must get her...

Ah, sorry, I've not seen the new design yet. Still have 6 of the old type! Thought it was odd that you asked! ;)

Yes, I bought some MAQs yesterday for a mid season treatment on one of my hives showing a lot of DWV. Lost a queen last time I used them so plenty of ventilation and space planned this time around!

Nope, I block it all off and fill the cavity with expandable squirty foam. I use a rapid feeder in an eke if I need to feed.

Grrrr.....Lost my first swarm this season :( Was one of my modified Snelgrove II ASs. I inspected a fortnight ago, new laying queen, all fine. Thought I'd be safe for a fortnight to leave alone and let her get on and do her thing undisturbed. Room enough in the BB and room in the supers. Opened...

I have the same situation Dan, with three supers between the two brood box entrances. Here's hoping somebody else has the answer!

I do agree with Cazza. My bees causing chaos in the fabric of a neighbours home is my worst nightmare! However I have a few bait boxes around my home apiary and if I notice any interest in them that I cannot attribute to my own bees then I do always call the other beekeeper in the village to...