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  1. drex

    Clipped queen swarm

    You shook the bees into the box at the new site. At the old site you had one frame of brood plus an open queen cell. The flying bees will return here. There will be no nurse bees, so the potential virgin queen larva will not be well fed. Undersized queen will be the result.
  2. drex

    What did you do in the Apiary today?

    I empathise with Gregior. I have had to do this too. It was a last resort. The bees were super horrid over a long period and in a Warre hive, so not easy to pull apart to find queen.
  3. drex

    Rotating double brood boxes

    I find it great for delaying, even preventing, swarming
  4. drex

    Under 3 feet/over 3 miles

    Swarms will settle anywhere that suits them. Rather than anecdotal evidence, Tom Seeley actually did some scientific experiments to determine their preferences.
  5. drex

    Replacing old frames

    I too put on the frame the year when it was made up. Rarely does that relate to when it's condition tells me it needs pulling
  6. drex

    Advice please if you can

    Lots of white specks of varroa poo round the lips of empty cells. I would say that your treatment was not effective. It is not important how many mites you kill, but rather how many survive
  7. drex

    Advice on next steps

    I would put a second BB on ( under the current one, as HM works downwards), and add a super. My bees love double BB. Nothing to fear. Depending on weather might need yet another super soon after with OSR near
  8. drex

    What did you do in the Apiary today?

    Have taken over as Apiary manager in my new home in Devon. Only 3 colonies. I took the opportunity of a good weather window to do a first inspection ( no rain today, so far, first time in weeks). All 3 had brood, one strong, one fair, and one weak. Rationalised boxes, cleaned up brace comb...
  9. drex

    Double brood or demaree?

    All depends 🙂. Do you actually need to do anything? How many frames of brood? Is there still space for queen to lay? I run double broods and rarely get signs of swarming.
  10. drex

    Dodgy 'bald' brood

    I can see lots of white varroa poo on the lips of some cells.
  11. drex

    Is Nosema more of a problem this year?

    As Dani implied above, Nosema can only be diagnosed for definite by microscopy. It may cause dysentery with poo staining in or on the hive, but there are other causes too
  12. drex

    Off Lay?

    Same problem here. Did a quick inspection as was sunny and 15C, and will be out of action for a few weeks. Queen seen but no eggs or brood. Bee numbers dwindling. Dummied them down and will see in time. My last remaining colony of the 3 I moved from Essex. They obviously don't like Devon...
  13. drex

    New Starter for 2024 (Essex)

    Mine were well out of the way too, with trees between them and rest of site. Still had to go. It started with a chicken ban
  14. drex

    New Starter for 2024 (Essex)

    Kept bees on allotment with written permission from council for 10 years. No problems. Then we get a new town clerk and bees and any other livestock had to go. No appeal.
  15. drex

    First Inspection

    I split my double broods as above. It puts some brood right under the QE, and I find is good swarm prevention. Not had any queen cells for last couple of years. No intention of doing my first inspection yet. Will swap boxes later according to what I find, hopefully putting a super on at same time.
  16. drex

    What chance of survival?

    Bay leaves are toxic for dogs. My dog had an overnight stay at the vets after eating just a few leaves. He was very poorly. I now clear up any pruning thoroughly, even though he snaffled the leaves on a walk
  17. drex

    Frame spacers

    I found the list and dimensions of frames in the Thornes catalogue very handy in my early days
  18. drex

    Wax and syrup

    If it is good comb, just with stores in, why render it down? Drawn comb is a valuable asset to the bees. Get the bees to clean it up for you. Treat for wax moth and store it until needed.
  19. drex

    First inspection?

    Agree with all of the above. Surely adding a QE will only decrease the amount of space for the queen. I would just heft it. If lifted with 1 finger they might be getting light on stores ( added in case you are unfamiliar with how they feel when you heft)
  20. drex

    What did you do in the 'workshop' today

    Have taken over as apiary manager in my new home division in Devon. There was a tatty looking WBC which was to be chucked. However it is still perfectly sound so have taken it home and am painting it up. Undercoat on today and looking good. Hate working WBC's but think it will be a good advert...
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