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Hi, would love to say I will pop round with a small box and some cash but unfortunately I am in East Devon! Thanks for the kind offer though, Clare

Thank you!!!! Doing it now.

Hello, my top performing hive is queenless, they tried to superceed (unclear why as it was a new queen who seemed to be doing a V. good job) but it seems to have failed and now I am panicking. I fear time is running out. I have tried a few sources of uk bred queens but all are out of stock, does...

Thank you! I will go and give them a feast as soon as the rain is not falling hard enough to take your skin off! My main concern is not clogging up a hard pressed brood nest ( brood not stores). I guess I will just have to keep a close eye, which will be a treat as the latest crop are complete...

Hi, my bees are getting low on stores. I can't believe how much they have got through! I have some fondant left over, can I feed that now or would I be better with a 1:1 syrup? And how do I judge how much to feed/ when to stop? Thanks, Clare

Thank you for all the suggestions. I will have a short ponder and probably go for one of the less radical suggestions, rather than destroying all the brood. Hive maker I guess I have no option to employ your suggestion as the colony is in a WBC. Any way I could achieve the same effect? One of...

Two hives all going fantastically well both working on their second super, but I found several bees in hive 1 with tiny chewed wings ... miserable looking . I used apivarlife (autumn) and OA (winter). I read a recent thread which suggested a shook swarm followed by OA syrup. There are just a few...

Yes I see what you mean. I suppose what I am asking, on reflection, is does splitting the colony make it less likely to swarm? Or would I end up making a split and making an AS too?

Sorry, I have confused terms. What I want to know is the best way to make three colonies out of my two and if this will in effect discourage them from swarming. As an AS would. Or am I best to AS both to have the best chance of avoiding a swarm....Any better?

Hello, I have two colonies, one I was given as a nuc last April and one last July. Both came through winter very well and are thriving. Both had play cups, no eggs at the last inspection, last Saturday. The question is can I in some way convince both not to swarm (I know playcups do not equal...

Snow, flu and heavy rain have all thwarted my planned forays into my two hives to treat with Oxalic acid. When should I consider it too late? If I am too late is there anything else that I should/could do later in the spring. Thanks, Clare.

Thanks everyone! I will try a couple of hives, make them as attractive as possible lemon grass oil, comb, in the best spots I can and then keep my expectations low. Though being a bit over enthusiastic I suspect I shall be watching them intently. Thanks again C

Hi, I hope to set up a bait hive next year. I have read the thread recording successes and failures but still have a couple of questions. 1. Most of the successful bait hives seem to be well 'lived in', would a new poly hive be unlikely to be successful? 2. Is it best to position it near...

First year, used them and to my amazement worked perfectly, just a couple of stragglers made it into the kitchen in the supers.

Hi my sliders don't have notches. If they do can you just slide them tightly together and forget mouse guard? If so I may drill some holes in mine. What is a bee-sized drill bit? And just in case it all goes horribly wrong and my slides become kindling...where can I buy the notched slides...

I am in East Devon Pete. I thought if straw bales were good, dry and well packed and you plastered, damp and mould wasn't a problem. Am I wrong??? Will look up the roof idea.

Thanks for all the advice, support and websites etc. Sadly no wolves in my area. A special thanks to Pete for all that brilliant detail. The plastering sounds fun... may be a good opportunity to have some friends round. 'Come for a drink and oh while you are here how about a spot of plastering!'...

Hello, this is a long term project but I am thinking about building a bee house and considering using a strawbale building. It wouldn't be large but something fairly rustic so a few questions: Has anyone come across one before? Any reasons why it might be a bad idea? Thinking of making it...

Just checked out website, really great. Will help with some research (not bee related) I am doing at the moment. Thanks!

Wish I had known this! I can imagine things will have moved on from some old books but this based on observation of what bees feed on so I think, reading it, will be helpful. Only a newbee so could be wrong. Anyone wanting to plant crocus peternyssen.com are very good value for bulbs it seems.