Search results

…and drilling on a couple of occupied top bar hives at some point this winter. Just general maintenance on a couple of hives made from off cuts of soft pine wood. I’d assumed I’d be best doing it in the depth of winter when they are tightly clustered but wondering now if it’ll disturb them...

Pretty sick of squeezing combs by hand and so looking for a press for this season. Any second hand offers - or recomendations greatfully recieved. Neil BIAB

I've heard this is a good thing to do in a long hive - as a way of preventing (or delaying) swarm impulse. Is that correct? I ask as I spread the brood on a pretty busy coloney 2 weeks ago and just been in today to find they have abandoned one of the brood combs - I assume I over did it. Neil

I've two colonies I want to unite this spring. One grew huge last year on a queen from an early walk away split, she's huge and an ugly mottled browm/black. Unfortuantely they became increasingly unfriendly. It was my first experience with such a large coloney and producitve queen so I thought...

Free to anyone that can collect - will need hiving (currently in a cardboard tube). South Yorkshire. PM me here. BIAB

Could I ask for some coments on the useability of this form in terms of recording inspection info. I'm aware of issues re the internet signal and screens with gloves etc, but as a proof of concept what do you think? Any suggestions? Worth persuing? https://airtable.com/shrAbf3HV7JazkGIg Again...

One of the things I try to notice in my hives are how ‘calm on the combs’ my bees are. So far I’ve experience of three queens and have been able to tell the difference with one queen in particular producing very ‘runny’ bees. But I’ve liked the other 2 - both my single bought in ‘starter’ queen...

My favourite queen (I just like her!) brood is starting to look a bit spotty - she was a mid summer supersedure after a walk away split last year. I think they may have tried to supersede her again this early spring but I tore the cell down (naively and immediately regretted it). I want a...

Can anyone recommend a good value refractometer please? Regards Neil

So I know to be careful and didnt shake the frame but how disasterous is inverting a comb with a sealed emergency queen cell on it? I'd done it before I saw it. Neil

After a walk away split - should I return to thin the emergency cells? Neil

on the average is it the hive or the flying bees that fall off first? I seem to remember reading it was one or the other - bit I can't remember which way round it is.. Neil

If you were a beekeeper who just had surgery what would you like your employer to send you in lieu of flowers? BIAB

Just had my crumpets- lovely runny honey. Does anyone know a way of getting the honey out of the jar such that it doesn’t drip over the lip and make the jar sticky. BIAB

Any alternatives to lugging a car battery? Particularly thinking about home apiaries. BIAB

Have just aquired an old poly nuc. Pretty grubby, old comb and I suspect not used for a few seasons. Is there something I can use to get it safe abs clean before putting bees in it? Neil

Last year I followed the suggestion to AS by rotating my TBH 180deg. The idea being the flying bees strip themselves away in the same way they d when the brood box is moved to one side in a vertical hove AS. But then came the next step of moving the brood box to the other side - no TBH...

These guys not flying when the other had started so had a look inside. I'd been nervous about them all winter, I know they were alive at new year. Suspect I took too much off them and they also didnt take much syrup down - I put it on too late probably. They had an OA vape again in late...

I'm hoping you'll tell me normal at this time of year after/during a cold snap - only noticed it this week. They had some thymolised syrup in the Autumn. I've gone inside to give them some fondant. Inside I suspect they are close to the end :-(. Prety small clsuter over 3 combs. There are some...

...and, so I can work between it and a wall, I need to move a hive for the day. If close them up tonight, move them in the morning and put them back and open them mid afternoon should they be ok. I have OMFs. Neil BIAB