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  1. J

    Do you cover or leave open your crown board holes

    Voted 'Other' because like some others, I cover mine with a small piece of glass which they sometimes stick down, sometimes not. It gives me a small but instant view of activity before the full opening up if the hives.
  2. J

    Swarm Collection

    Only logistics really. You won't get them all on the first drop so will need to leave the hive for a couple of hours or so to allow the flyers & stragglers time to go in. Then you will need to block the entrance and secure the floor and roof to the the brood box for transportation (presumably in...
  3. J

    Good idea?

    This year I have used cut to size lengths of perforated zinc that plasterers use on external corners in rooms. The ones I've got have oval shaped holes of which I have left 3 or 4 open & have gaffer taped the rest over. My bees quickly adapted to this new entrance & so far so good, no mice...
  4. J

    Smoker cleaning tips?

    Again guys, thanks for the advice.
  5. J

    Smoker cleaning tips?

    I have been using my s/steel smoker for a couple of seasons & find that it is now starting to clog up with a tar like residue in the lid, which makes it difficult to open when it is needed next. Any tips from you more experienced types on how to clean it out. I t has bee suggested that I pour a...
  6. J

    Strike ?

    We often blame the banks for the state of the economy but Government spending certainly contributes to that, Below are some eye watering sums that could be deemed as waste. £26 Billion wasted on computer blunders £18 Billion wasted on National ID cards-now scraped £76 Billion on Trident...
  7. J

    Strike ?

    Not just teachers in this. The government are using propaganda to lead people to believe all civil servants are on massive wages then retire on massive pensions. Thousands of these people are women on £15,000 per year or less, also pay taxes like the private sector, have been on a pay freeze for...
  8. J

    Friendly cousins?

    Thanks beeks....some interesting replies. I'm glad to know it isn't just mine that are being so friendly to visitors. After sitting for a while this afternoon watching the same hive (I know, it's a hard life but someone's got to do it!), another bumbler, or maybe the same one(?) slid into the...
  9. J

    Bee behaviour I;ve not seen before

    On this note....On a very warm day (like today) & the bees are visibly in discomfort i.e. dozens of them flying in front of the entrance & others fanning - is it acceptable to help by lifting off the roof leaving the crown board in place, until the inside temp. drops a bit? Correct or not, I did...
  10. J

    Bee behaviour I;ve not seen before

    Yep - fanning. Mine were doing the same. It's been very warm outside today. Imagine the heat inside a wooden box.
  11. J

    Friendly cousins?

    As this is only my second season, I still get pleasure from sitting & watching the bees coming & going at the hive entrance. I have seen the odd wayward wasp enter the hive then quickly exit with up to 3 bees attached to it and end up wrestling on the ground, eventually leaving a dead bee & a...
  12. J

    Virgin queens with satnav?

    Thanks for your replies beeks. As always, some interesting reads.
  13. J

    Virgin queens with satnav?

    Is it known how virgin queens find their way to where drones gather? I live in an area not saturated with beekeepers, and lots of open fields mixed with housing. If they've never been out of the hive, how do they know where the boys are?bee-smillie
  14. J

    Honey extractor cleaning

    That's cleared that up then. I'm glad I asked as I was about to turn my kitchen into something of a steam room with kettles, pans, etc boiling over. Phew! Again, thanks folks.:cheers2:
  15. J

    Honey extractor cleaning

    Thanks for the replies beeks...an imminent disaster averted. I would automaticly have used the good old boiling water/washing up liquid method. How about cold water with sterilzing tablets added (or am I being a bit ocd here?).
  16. J

    Honey extractor cleaning

    I have read that it is wrong to clean extractors & equipment using hot water. Why not? What else is there? Is it because of melting wax getting everywhere? Cheers beeks.
  17. J

    Whats that little hole for?

    Yep....it's a nail/pin extractor.
  18. J

    Clusters of bees outside the hive

    Same with my colony which recently swarmed (into my stand-by hive thankfully). The 'swarm' was acting quite normal with bees coming & going but the original colony was acting agitated, with bees covering the front of the brood box, landing board & also many flying around but going nowhere...
  19. J

    What does healthy bee poo look like?

    Sounds like a good description of this.
  20. J

    would this help?

    Blowing your share a kiss goodbye for this season. Any honey produced should be left in the hive as stores for your colony to over-winter on.
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