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I have to move a hive a distance of approx 25 mins drive along tarmac roads to the new home. The plan is to seal the entrance just before dark when the field bees are inside, strap and load into my Defender and transport. Hive has OMF for ventilation and the Defender is as draughty as hell...

Just opened up a "dead" hive in the apiary. Sodden wet inside and out from recent rains. Mould on frame tops. Loads of dead bees On checking the frames I discovered around 30 workers and a queen, all moving around slowly - but alive! Plenty of food, no brood. First feeling is that the colony is...

I'm planning to make my own OMF. Woodwork is sorted but I'm looking for a source of varroa mesh either in sheets or on roll. Can anyone recommend a supplier who doesn't charge a fortune for it?

Advise please on this years crop. Part of the batch of this year's summer honey has changed colour and consistency. Same batch, same hive, extracted and bottled on the same day in identical jars. If was filtered at the same time. All the batch was a clear light golden colour with a light...

With the end of season just around the corner, I'm looking for a supply of fondant for the bees. Can anyone suggest the best source of fondant either posted or I can collect Lancashire/Yorkshire? Currently 5 hives going into winter. Thanks

Moved a hive approx half a mile from original site. Bees have been enclosed for 2 days and a couple of branches placed in front of the entrance to encourage reorientaion when they emerge. I plan to release them tomorrow after three days since a couple of dozen escapees have settled under the...

Today's inspection - QC spotted on bottom bar. Very small, not like last year's swarm cells. Had royal jelly inside but could not see any egg/larvae. Unsure if this is a swarm cell or supercedure as it's about the size of previous supercedure cells. Is there any way of determining or shall I...

Just about to add supers to a couple of hives. The supers have last years frames with some traces of honey. The smell is a bit boozy, possibly the leftover honey fermenting. Is it safe to add then on the assumption the the bees will clean them up before using them or shall I simply dump the...

Looking for advice re the QE. Currently my set up is brood box; QE; crown board; empty super containing takeaway container of fondant; 75mm slab of Kingspan; roof, Question is do I leave the QE on or remove it? The bees are munching the fondant so I assume that they will feed the queen without...

I am currently treating for varroa using Apiguard. Placed the tin on top of the brood frames and put a 50mm eke (to give them room to climb into the tin) followed by a crownboard and rapid feeder within an empty super, and then the roof. Just a bit concerned that the 50mm gap between the...

I have a colony which has been ailing for some time. A late requeen resulted in a low bee count which has diminished over the last couple of months. No visible sign of disease and poor forging compared to a nearby hive. I am left with a virtually empty hive with a scattering of open and capped...

Just extracted some honey, Spun frames, filtered and left in settling tank for 24hrs. Removed air bubbles from surface using cling film and jarred the honey. There are still some air bubbles in the jar, probably due to my lack of jarring skills. Should I allow to settle again and re-jar again...

Just about to do my first extraction. I have a borrowed four frame tangential extractor which needs a good clean. I can't reach down to the bottom of the tub to clean it due to the mechanisms and wondered if there is a standard procedure for cleansing extractors or will I have to dismantle it?

A swarm has taken up residence in my bait hive (5 frame nuc; 1x old comb and 4x foundation). They are foraging and seem calm. I have added a feeder with 1:1 syrup to help with comb building. 1. How long after arrival should I open up the nuc and inspect? 2. How long when should I transfer to a...

Just completed an inspection on my 2 hives. Bees seemed quite content (unlike 2 weeks ago). However last week there was plenty of capped brood which has now hatched. No capped or uncapped brood today. No eggs, larvae or queen spotted (although both queens are shy and hide when the hive is...

I have/had a lovely colony of bees in a National. They were calm and a pleasure to look after. A recent inspection (two weeks ago) showed the hive bursting with bees both on the brood and super. There were also some QCs which I removed preparing for a split. The bees were very feisty. One week...

The bees are drawing comb and filling the frames on the (national) super I put on 3 weeks ago. The whole hive is bursting with bees but no signs (yet) of queen cells. The brood frames are full of brood and stores, I plan to put on a second super to give them more room. When is the best time to...

Hoping to add supers next week (weather permitting) after a mini check. I'll have a quick peek in the BB to see the state of play particularly to see what they have done with the outer frames. All super frames have new foundation so do I add a feed of syrup to help them along or do I just put...

I've been considering making some "see through" crown boards from perspex or similar but I'm gobsmacked at the price. However on a recent visit to our local recycling centre, I spotted a lass with several sheets just about to skip them. I saves her the effort and got 4 pieces of 200mmx 400mm x...

Spring is around the corner and I still have plenty of fondant left over, some in original sealed packets and some in takeaway boxes ready to put in the hives. Can fondant be used to make 2:1 syrup and if so what is the ratio to water? Also will the sealed fondant keep until autumn despite being...