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Anyone going to use oxalic acid to vape their colonies this time of the year? I treated in August, then Nov/Dec. Is it worth doing it again just before they start to really expand the brood, or leave it for August?

Started buying seeds ready to sow,wow can't believe how the price has gone up. I did collect seeds from last year but usually buy a shed load of annual wildflower seeds. Last year the bulk bought from Wilko, 75p to £1 per packet. Can't find anything near that price. Where does everyone buy...

Happy New year to everybody. What are your aspirations for this year with your girls? I'm going to aim on keeping my hives down to 4. We helped out with swarm collections last year, so hopefully we can do more of that but pass the new colony on, im not keeping any!!!! Are you increasing or...

So what Christmas bee goodies did you have?I had quite a few bee related gifts. A beekeeping organiser which will be useful. Bee socks which I love. Posh bee themed candles in a glass holder. I'm not trusted with candles, as I once left them on a windowsill and went to bed, lucky the smell of...

Just wondering when you extract do you do everything by hand We have five hives but only 2 ever produce, I uncap using a decapping fork, spin then jar using a scales, label by hand. On the grand scale of things not a huge amount of work. I've seen the bee farmers using amazing machinery, I...

When are you planning to remove your supers for the summer harvest?

Just been away for two weeks in June!!!!! Not the best time for a beekeeper to go on holiday I know. Where do you lovely people go??? and what time of year do you choose????? Do you stay on British turf or fly off to foreign lands?

Met two bee farmers at the Cowbridge festival this morning. Poles apart. The first couldn't be bothered to look up from his phone especially when he knew we were beekeepers, letting me know beekeepers look after bees, where his bees look after him ,I assume that's monetary. The other, chatty...

Do you do an alcohol wash as part of your normal beekeeping practice? If so,would you do this before or after varroa treatment? Just as a one off, if you see signs of an infestation, or would you do it regardless?

There are so many posts of a very successful year of harvesting. Is this one of the best years ever in your beekeeping career, or can you remember a time that was better?

A new one on me.i stumbled upon this today from a shop in barry. I've never heard of inulin before, when I questioned it she said it it had the same make up as honey but plant based, although they haven't spelled it correctly, it's a bit misleading ,are they able to call this honey???? What's...

We had our first success at rendering our wax, after an even more successful extraction. We filtered it through Jay clothes. I'm sure the more experienced beeks do not use this method. How do you do it?

Thought it may be interesting if we have a thread to notify everyone if a programme is coming up, or one we can find on catch up, that highlights beekeeping. Just a thought but I'd definitively be interested if anyone knows of any programmes. Eg James mentioned about beekeeping on the river...

I just watched a webinar with Roger Patterson, he was saying he started beekeeping at the age of 15 in 1963 the year I was born funnily enough!!!! He found a hive with bees in a hedge and asked the owner could he buy them, he's been a beekeeper ever since. So I was wondering how my fellow beeks...

I watched a beekeeper from Canada on YouTube, he has hundreds of hives which he keeps in a large outbuilding which is temperature controlled through the winter. I know the temperatures there are extreme, would they survive outside if they were insulated do you think? He went to check on them and...

Made a start today getting my trays ready to sew seeds, thought if i prepare early it'll be easier at sewing time if I'm more organised. Have quite an array of flowers,few veg but mostly flowers geared up for the bees. So my fellow beeks, do you grow flowers from seed, if so what?buy plugs?more...

If the weather stays mild and there isn't much of a brood break how are the bees going to feed the larvae if there is little or no pollen around? Quite a lot of bees flying yesterday. Is the stored honey and fondant enough or should I think about a pollen patti ?

I have been bought a jar of pollen for Christmas which I have to admit im excited to try. I don't think it's something I could do as I'd feel too guilty after all the work the bees had done collecting it all. Do any of you fellow beeks sell pollen and if you do what is the process, surely it...

What's everyone up to on Christmas day? 🎄Do you have family around? Do you prefer a quiet day? Turkey for lunch or not? 🦃Out walking or in be the fire?🚶‍♂️ 🔥 We have the world and his wife up and have done for 39 years of being married!!!!!! Never not had a turkey in all those years. Don't see...

How do we feel about putting photographs of ourselves on this thread? Would be nice to see who the beekeepers are behind their usernames. No pressure mind if you feel it's inappropriate 🐝🐝🐝🐝