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Don't use tweezers, you'll just squeeze all the venom in. Scrape off with finger nail or edge of hive tool.

You will find life much easier in a number of ways if you attach your brood box to the floor using spring fasteners available from all leading bee suppliers. I lift the whole hive, floor b box and lid from one side. You will get used to what feels a good weight. If unsure put a screw in the...

I think it's the apiguard; in warm weather they escape the stink of the stuff inside and gather at the front. Lots of fanning as well to get some fresh air in.

No. It just oscillates on the spot, but it takes all the banging and knocking out of the drum that I used to get.

:thanks: This is the best tip I have picked up from here for months. I mounted my 8frame Giordan on castor wheels after reading this and my second batch of extraction has been a dream. I can leave the extractor running while uncapping next load and not worry about the shed disintegrating...

Well sorry, didn't mean to sound flippant, but to be honest I have done nothing different with my hives this summer except pile the supers on and they have produced a huge crop. Coming to and end now though.

They will continue to use established water source unless it dries up completely, mine use garden pond so still plenty there. Mesh floor is adequate ventilation, no need to do anything at the top. Honey bees thrive in climates where this weather is the norm.

!. The address must be specific enough for someone to find you, first line + postcode will suffice. 2.Yes you must put best before, although there appears to be no limit on what you can put. Most put 2-3 years I believe 3. Yes you can. The BBKA used to have a simple factsheet on their...

Splendid entertainment, thank you both! In a couple of weeks time I'm leading the 'Hive' session at our beginners course, inevitably after we have discussed the relative merits of available options, someone will ask 'so which is the best type of hive to use?' I shall just direct them here...

That is an extraordinarily tidy work area!

Quick growing and sets seed easily, so keep an eye on it!

I remember my Dad being given an apidictor to trial way back when. As I recall he stuck mikes on the hives for one season and it then sat on the shelf in the bee shed thereafter. Not a great success, but today's technology is somewhat more sophisticated.

I've done some with masonry paint and some with the cuprinol shades that I use for my cedar hives. Both last equally well.

BBKA Guide for Judges: Cut Comb Honey "New thin worker foundation is preferred to drone foundation"

Not sure what your wasp guard looks like, but if you just reduce your normal entrance down to about 2cm wide it will make it easier for your guard bees to defend and should keep wasps out if it is a reasonably strong colony. I wouldn't be too concerned about a few bees congregating at the...

You could try adding a few drops of lemongrass oil to the syrup. Gives it more aroma which I find helps to arouse the bees interest.

It's worth noting that 2:1, and indeed 1:1 are not the same in imperial and metric. The traditional 2:1 dissolves 2lb of sugar in a pint of water. The same concentration equates to 2kg in 1.25L. I dissolve 8kg in 5L, this is the same ratio as 20lb in 10pints and is close to a saturated...

I think a far more important factor is how soon does the morning sun hit the hive. This seems to be the most important factor, direction of entrance less so in my experience.

If it were me I'd be inclined to keep a strong colony to go into winter and look to split next spring.

Don't open them if there's thunder in the air, they hate it. Best done on a hot afternoon when they are flying. They'll very quickly figure out the new entrance if it's in the same place as the old.