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I'm contemplating Demarre for next year (not wishing to increase my colonies) and I will have to buy some more (14x12) brood boxes. With the recent discussion on here regarding keeping the bees warm in winter, I wondered if it's possible / advisable to mix in poly brood boxes with standard...

Hi. Confused myself again. I want to unite 2 colonies. I moved the colony I want to be Q+ next door to the other yesterday. Went back this afternoon and both hives were very busy. Thinking there might be a lot of foragers out the hive if I united them then and there could be a lot of fighting...

Sorry, newbee question coming up! White swarmy queen (3rd time this year) decided make qcs again which I found on Sundays inspection. Right that’s it! Ordered a queen which arrives today. But I’m now considering that if they have decided to go will they try even after retiring the white queen...

If a Snelgrove split fails to return a mated Queen is it possible to unite the 2 parts back together? If so how long can you wait to decide if there ia a Queen or not?

Would it be ok to shake some more nurse bees from donor colony into a couple of splits made 4 days ago? I think I have left the splits too weak and the main colony too strong. Will they fight?

I have had notification from BeeBase that EFB has been confirmed in the locality. I will be inspecting today carefully and taking some pictures - but if everything looks in order I'm assuming I don't have to do anything else? It's a single hive and this year I have a spare suit, hive tool and...

The food manufacturing company that I work for has a large number of unused 250ml pots and lids to dispose of. They will hold 340g / 12oz of honey. There are 2280 on a pallet. Each pallet has 6 layers and on each layer there are 2 sealed sleeves of 190. Although they are free we would ask that...

There have been a number of tv/radio bee/honey snippets this week. Saturday night saw Bes the bee expert unfortunately fail his question on Michael McIntyres The Wheel. Then this morning on Sky news a reference to a EU commission report on adulterated honey (46% found) but bizarrely 100% of UK...

I want to convert my 2 Top bar hives to Horizontal deeps rather than cut them up for firewood before someone suggests that! This will involve moving the colony into a 14x12 nuc (that I have converted from a TBH nuc already) whilst I modify the TBH. I'm comfortable with the modifications to the...

Ok. Who's going to be the first to guess correctly what's flowering in my garden right now!

Seen my first Hummingbird Hawk moth 3 evenings ago and it's been back at the same time every day since. What a fantastic moth - but so difficult to photograph!!!

When I lifted the lid I found at least 3 wasps wandering around under the perspex crown board. They were looking to get out, perhaps because of the light. The bees had a go as they went past but not with any real enthusiasm for a fight. Should I be worried? The hive is on an UFE and is a medium...

What is the best format/method for overwintering 14x12s. I don't think they need additional room for stores - but what should I do with part filled supers? Thanks.

I have been lent a Food and Environment Research Agency booklet on Foul brood disease of honey bees.Unfortunately I've got to give it back! I can't find it online to buy my own copy. Does anyone know if it is still in print? If not, is there an equivalent that is as good or better? I would also...

Not strictly off topic but I came across this and forgotten how much I enjoyed his music over the years! Glad to say he's still touring.

Hi All. First tentative post here from a ex beek of 30 years. I have been following this forum avidly and have appreciated the many discussions going on! Go easy on me, especially as I have gone down the top bar route, - (cue wry smiles and knowing looks:)) So, I built the hives last winter and...