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I guess I object to the obvious guff about Manuka honey. However, I have to take my hat off to the kiwis for such effective and shameless marketing. Now I wonder should I sterilise this year's bounty and label it as medically effective and proven as Manuka... Sam

I agree with what you heard but I also thought I heard him say when pushed the only honey in. His test that was medical grade was his Manuka... he had previously said that the medical grade was sterilised... the other test honey wasn't sterilised. All the best, Sam

It struck me that the continual references to Manuka were a red herring to his points. The manufacturer of so called medical grade honey...lol ... confirmed that non sterilised honey enables bacteria to regrow. Any honey that was sterilised would perform in the same way. There was nothing...

So I have been searching for the three bears But to no avail I am sure that it is them because no-one else would surely have the motivation to open up a hive in winter, right? I have been very late with the Oxalic this year and did this a week ago. My hives have been sat there quietly...

So many glowing reports makes me want some too lol Nearest I got was a buckfast cross imported originally from Greece and then from supplier to me. Very large colony, very very large lol but they turned aggressive and I took quite a beating lol Sam

If they have taken down their winter food and are still suffering bad varroa, I would be tempted to put some apiguard in for 2 more weeks. I would also plan on Oxalic around Nee Year....and perhaps depending upon their condition.early season...a shook swarm. No doubt I'll be shot by the crowd...

A shoe box lol...not quite. Last year my largest colony was truly massive and were on 14*12 plus 3 or maybe 4 supers in mid Oct I wanted to reduce them for winter but the supers were for sitting space. I went ahead anyway as I was getting worried down to deep brood and single super. Big...

I was just browsing the lunch time news and saw that the MET are warning that a severe storm is expected Monday with winds around 80mph and heavy rain right across the South of England. If you are like me still with multiple supers on your hives you may wish to try and find the time to reduce...

Not wishing to offend anyone ... But what a bizarre thread lol

I'm such a bad beekeeper... Each year people appear at this time pulling off supers treating and some even feeding and I don't do a thing Just sit here and wonder if I should feel guilty and bad. I did follow others in my first year and had lots of angst about timing and quantity abd queen...

I would re-queen too so where what and how... I have found a frame with eggs the most reliable mechanism for re-gaining control Have a word with the local association and see if someone is willing to give a frame up near you. The impact is not massive for the donor this time of year For...

I wrote a piece on this question a while ago: http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=10209 Hopefully this will help you make your own.decision All the best, Sam

I will mull all advice over...many thanks. I have been planning to re-queen this year anyway as last year we had 6 hives from hell. However, both remaining colonies (after some losses and combinations) had young queens. Their colony behaviour was a little better but not what you would call...

Richard, Your point is well made. Queenless hive creates queen cell ...16days till she pops out, then say 10 days for mating, then 3 weeks for workers. It is a lot of lost time. Late June for new brood, if all went well. I am interested in getting a couple of docile queens but don't know where...

2 weeks ago my 2 hives had just started to get themselves ready for spring. They were running behind by about a month I felt. Both hives had eggs, larvae, and sealed brood. Although only across 3 frames at best. They had food and although reasonably small I could make the assumption it was only...

So I am unsure of the correct rules but believe the protocol is that a person can tell of their experience but avoid naming the company outright as often they are not on the forum and may not be able to execute an adequate right to reply. We all want to hear of serious issues that could affect...

I would have thought that the fact they are bringing in pollen is a good sign. This will be for the brood. I think that although small patience is needed and that I dont see any reason why they cannot recover. If there is a laying queen you may be surprised by the expansion in the next 2 weeks...

It's the middle of April and I have visited my girls once so far. This time last year I had 140lbs of honey in buckets. My one visit was very brief due to rain and wind. They are alive and I believe that they will have been busier this last week. Hopefully I can see them on Sunday and can have...

You have had some good advice and I would only add to this by reiterating the need to give them time to warm and grow. We are all just in the cusp of 'spring' and most colonies are still consuming winter food. I don't imagine many are comb building too much yet. I would advise leaving things...

That 2012 weather was awful and prevented me from actually enjoying my beekeeping much at all...but that I am an eternal optimist and believe that this year will be better. I have more equipment than I can shake a stick at (although some of it is mucky and wobbly), I consolidated down to 2...