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Haven't seen anything but it's a double maisemore NUC so plenty big... unfortunately I'm away for the night so missing all the action. I'll have to report back when I see what's going on.

First swarm of the year today and of course I wasn't at home... 18c in the sun today so I had a few swarm traps tactically placed just in case.... But they swarmed on a tree.... Luckily my father winged it and got them into a NUC! The fun begins.

I picked up a mini 32L freezer this evening which someone had no use for. I'm hoping a halogen bulb or two will be enough to get it up to temperature. May be a stupid question but how long is generally required to turn crystalized jars back liquid at 35c?

Upgraded NUC into a hive on Sunday while it was dry... NUC had a shallow extension on it and had the place packed. Went through my other hives and found a massive queen cell in the evil hive which I had planned on requeening later in the year with a well bread mated queen. Every hive has a lot...

To close this out Kerry got back to me today from Abelo and due to "the huge cost in shipping and duty" to Ireland now recommended I order elsewhere... Thanks Brexit.... Whatever bit of competitiveness was available online is now gone.

I'm aware I've bought stuff Donegal numerous times but the email last week about more price rises has put me off dealing with them going forward hence why I'm trying to contact Abelo. I'll try ring them in the morning again.

Yes, yes I have. Email, Phoned, Facebook Message... And I didn't get an answer........ Hence the post here... It's like they don't want the business......

Very quick one as I'm not getting much of a response from Abelo so far on this. Do Abelo ship to Ireland? Are they still honoring their discount in the banner? £20 off your first order when you spend over £50? I'd like to order some Poly Ashforth Feeders and Poly Brood boxes as they're a mad...

Yesterday afternoon was a lovely sunny day in North Kerry so decided I'd dive in for the first inspection. NUCs 1 NUC out of 3 didn't make it - only a handful of bees left in it. These were an extremely late swarm and my learnings from this was to leave them off next time - not worth the...

07th of May last year here in Ireland was the first swarm in my trap.... I'd be happy with none this year if all mine stayed put also :D

So the swarm I caught in May which grew into a monster hive filling the brood box and 2 supers ( but not storing an ounce ) decided today was the day to swarm again when we got a little bit of sun. Thankfully they swarmed back into the same spot as May. My butcher's polystyrene box in the open...

Similar here in the South West of Ireland. I left them whatever they made in Spring however today they are fairly thread bare and I'm in two minds about removing the supers for a few days and feeding. However the weather is to improve during the week so I live in hope. I just purchased a honey...

Got into my AMM swarm I caught early may for a look last night after 14 days. ( Got COVID so wasn't feeling up to checks really ). The weather was sh#t and their temperament was worse but I opened for a look anyhow. About 14 queen cells, no eggs or brood below the QE.... But there was a super...

A few empty frames and elastic bands may be needed to transfer in the comb... I had similar in a swarm trap that wasn't checked for a while. All worked out fine though after a bit of perseverance.

COVID has finally kicked my ass after some time of avoiding it... Managed to make up some super frames and put a super on a hive that's starting to burst. Promise of some better weather this way in a few days which we really need.

Looking forward to see how you get on. I have an incubator arriving today. Don't think I'm going to attempt grafting until next year as I've a lot of reading and youtubing to do first on it but I'll hopefully have a few queen cells to pop in and experiment with.

Inspected my 4 Hives and 2 NUCs today. Marked and Clipped 3 x Queens that I could find. One other one I found but she then vanished into the midst of her camouflaging workers - but happy with the 3 as 2 are AMM Queens which arrived in swarms. My two large Buckfast hives have 2 supers each...

Another strange day at the apiary today. The two swarms I caught last week I had a peak into. Looks like the big one has up'd sticks and headed off again - only 2 frames of bees left with a few queen cells. The cast swarm I caught are flying it gulping down some sugar syrup and hive alive. I...

Strange week. Found the two buckfast queens I bought and introduced to 2 queenless colonies 3 weeks ago were no longer in the hives..... Annoyed.... Friend at work said he had 2 AMM Queens which would get me sorted for a bit - they both died in their cages after a few hours - he didn't put in...

Made up a Underfloor Entrance out of scrap timber and some mesh I had in the shed. Quite happy with it. Three more to make :)