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Also if you look at the pictures Earthboy has posted you can see that the queen's wings only go part way down her body plus she has a bald thorax. It does take practice to find them but practice makes perfect.

I split my breeder colony into 4 nucs on Tuesday. Yesterday I found another hive with QCs so have done a snelgrove split. So have gone from 4 to 8 potentially in one week. I was aiming to get to 10 by the end of the year so I can't complain. Fingers crossed for some laying queens.

I've just about managed weekly inspections here in Cambridgeshire. Colonies are all doing well with drones in all. I'm splitting a colony today to make up some nucs. Weather today and next week much better. Just about managing to keep on track but I'm fed up with cold weather for myself.

Yes I don't want any of her progeny. I'm going to give them a frame of sealed brood on Friday when I split my breeder colony just to boost them a bit, take down any QCs at that point. Then when my breeder colony has produced their QCs next week I'll just pop a sealed one in and hopefully that...

I squished a queen on Sunday who has had chalkbrood for too long for 2nd chances. I'll have a sealed QC for them before long. Anyway I went to look at them earlier today and can't believe how much noise they are making. A bit like a chain saw in the distance somewhere but it is definitely...

I found this after a couple of years. Concentrate your records on the Queen rather than the colony. You'll find it much easier to follow then. When you get a few colonies it enables you to identify your good Queens regardless how often you move them around with splits, nucs etc. You can also...

I volunteer delivering meals on wheels and get through so many pairs of single use gloves. It dawned on my that I can use these for beekeeping so now have an endless supply. They don't last long as others have said and I usually would not use them but I can change them through inspections if...

I would assume they have already swarmed. Move the box to the side as others have suggested. If it was me I would dispose of all QCs (check carefully and get them all - might need to go back another day depending on timing) - and the existing queen if you do find her and they haven't swarmed -...

I'll see what it's like next time I go in. They are a strong colony so might have dealt with it although yes the hoovering idea sound fun.

Ok thanks. I might just change the frames. It was very odd.

Yes didn't have my phone with me.

I was doing my second inspection of the year today. In one fairly strong colony there were what looked like stores in some outside frames which were very white and chalky looking. The substance crumbled when I ran my hive tool over it. It's not chalkbrood. The colony wasn't fed in the autumn...

I nadir the bits and bobs left over and they tend to pack in more than enough ivy honey that they are set for the winter. This works for me as any ivy is in brood frames and I can use excess ones for nucs etc rather than have it in the super to try and extract. Err on the side of caution...

Lots of areas have beekeeping sites on Facebook so have a look there. I know a lot of people don't like Facebook but it is a good for this sort of stuff.

For me it depends on how much stores are left in the supers. If there is a lot then I would do as you have suggested, but if not much then what Hebeegeebee suggests above.

I love my poly hives. I'm just getting round to repainting them. 5 years on and they are fine so I expect they will last be a lot lot longer. Bees overwinter well in them and they are a lot lighter as well as cheaper. I imagine it helps the bees stay cool in the heat as well. Mine are...

I tend to nadir a super on my hives each winter with the bits and bobs of honey left for them to store. It crossed my mind this year whether this helps them. I use poly hives with OMFs but the nadired super might keep them a bit away from the draft. Just a thought.

It's great when you find the right thing isn't it. I remember scouring the house to find something to put the bucket on when I jar the honey. In the end I found a desk my son had with his cabin bed which was just the right height lower than my kitchen work tops so the bucket goes on the...

I've watched a lot of them. All are looking at selectively breeding for certain traits but some presenters are more specific than others. The general Bee Improvement ones are much more aimed at you selecting for the traits that you wish so anyone can take what they want from it. The longer I...

Tom Seeley's research was very interesting. You take from it what you want but an understanding that bees can live with varroa should be of interest to every beekeeper I would think.