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  1. M

    Blending batches of honey with different water content

    Hi all, I don't usually blend my honey, but I have about 25lb of honey which is around 21% water content, and another 25-30lb which is around 16.5%. I am considering blending both, the theory being I will have around 60lb of honey and the water content will average to around 19% - therefore...
  2. M

    a/s now charging all cells?

    Hi all, Something I have not come across previously; I performed an a/s several weeks back, and in the non-swarm hive there is a new queen who started laying 3-4 days ago now. I looked in a couple of days ago, to confirm she was laying, and saw a few charged queen cells, a couple with just...
  3. M

    1 x 30lb tub of honey wanted

    Hi guys, Neither of my hives has produced enough honey this spring to extract, so I am looking for a 1 x 30lb tub of honey (urban if possible), which I would be able to filter and jar normally (ie not oil seed/set). Preferably in SW London or Surrey areas to make collection easier. Please PM...
  4. M

    Apiguard with queen cell/AS split

    Hi all, I wondered if I could get some advice about varroa treatment as I am not sure what the best course of action is. The situation is that one of my overwintered hives is booming, to the extent they have almost filled 2 supers and last week I had 8 or 9 queen cells in various stages, one...
  5. M

    chesterfield bka

    Does anyone have the contact information for the chesterfield bka? I have someone interested in keeping bees in that area and I said Id ask. Thanks
  6. M

    Swarming due to honey in brood nest

    A quick question - I know there are several triggers for swarming, and that generally once they have decided to swarm, they need to think they have. However, if you are sure this is "simply" down to them backfilling the brood nest with honey, ie lack of brood space, will adding more space (a...
  7. M

    How long will captured swarm fan at entrance?

    The cast swarm from one of my hives, which I recaptured on monday and housed in a polynuc, still has bees fanning at the entrance all day. Not many, but 5-10 each time I look. As it is a cast swarm I assume the virgin queen will be going on mating flights as soon as they decide to stay, which...
  8. M

    Stopping a cast swarm

    Apologies if this has been asked before. My situation is this; On one of my hives I noticed queen cups with eggs on inspection on 18th May. I squished the eggs and added some more space for them, in case this might remove the urge. 1 week later I checked them again, and this time found...
  9. M

    swarm nuc to snelgrove board

    Inspected my larger colony just now, and typically, find a few ripe swarm cells, I would guess to be 6 or 7 days old - I inspected a week ago with no sign. I say typically because I had ordered a snelgrove board with a view to using it on this hive, but it isnt due to be delivered until...
  10. M

    Beekeeping finances - bank/savings account?

    At the moment we have a little tin of money we keep income from honey sales etc. We are now starting to use it for purchases too - so now, in theory, the beekeeping is self-sustaining as there is enough in the kitty. Just wondered if, for those who keep their beekeeping money separate, do you...
  11. M

    June gap

    With the prolonged freezing weather in the UK earlier this year, has there been a delayed spring, and will this have implications on the 'June gap' this year? Ie we might not have one? Discuss... by region too if applicable.. :)
  12. M

    5 frame nuc for sale now, SW London

    We have a 5 national frame nuc for sale. This is a marked 2012 queen, who was overwintered as insurance for our other 2 hives. Lots of sealed brood, excellent laying pattern, treated for varroa last September, and Jan. Fed some thymol syrup. No sign of disease. Cost £140 (collect) or if you...
  13. M

    How long before new queen settles down?

    I have a new queen in my polynuc, I was waiting to confirm she was mated ok (she is), and has been laying now for about a fortnight. When I first checked the nuc I spotted a few eggs on a corner of a frame, so knew I had a queen. I then checked again a week later, and confirmed we had worker...
  14. M

    Hive entrance block

    How do you manage your hive entrances on your hives?
  15. M

    "Thinking" bees.

    I thought this would be a useful and interesting discussion to have. There has been mention lots of times, by numerous members, of bees doing something or another, which suggests that they must be doing this in their own best interest. The classic example is putting mesh over a feed hole =...
  16. M

    Unite - will this work...

    Original hive = Q-, 1 frame of brood, couple of semi drawn frames of foundation, lots of foragers (this was my original AS). 3 supers. QCs charged on brood frame. PolyNuc = 6 frames, queen from above hive which swarmed after the AS. Once the nuc has been moved to the original hive; Remove...
  17. M

    Wasp nest spotted

    In the undergrowth, about 5' (currently) from my nuc'ed swarm, and within 20' radius of all my other hives. Their foragers were coming in from elsewhere, not seen too much hassle from wasps around my hives, and at this time of year they actually help clean up the dead bees around - well wasps...
  18. M

    Swarm advice

    Ok, situation I have is I started again this season with 2 nucs, one I got in April, one in May (thanks G!). I have 3 brood boxes (normally used brood & half), of which 2 were in use from those nucs, plus the other I had out as a bait hive with a couple of old brood combs since april. The...
  19. M

    Artificial swarm options now

    As per my other thread, my one honey crop hive started charging queen cells last weekend, so if by adding some more space it hasn't dissuaded them from wanting to swarm, I will need to do an AS on it. With the main flow imminent, my concerns are obviously having the "new" hive with supers busy...
  20. M

    expand hive this time of year?

    Hi, I have a hive which has filled a standard national brood box, as of a couple of weeks ago. I had put on a super, and last week there was a bit of nectar/honey being stored - and although not much space below the QE, no qcs. I inspected yesterday, super is prob 75% full (all frames have...
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