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The brood box frames were a mix of old and new foundation. They have quickly drawn out the foundation. I think I'll just leave them - maybe they'll need less Autumn feeding !

There are drawn frames that I used last year, all quite new ones. I changed the super and frames a couple of weeks ago to see if that helped - still no change !

I picked up a swarm 5 or 6 weeks ago and put it on 14 x 12. I have a prolific layer and there are doing lots of collecting. However, they are storing all the honey in the brood box with nothing in the super. Is this because they are not ready to expand into a super yet, although there are a lot...

As I came round the corner of the field and the hives were in sight I disturbed a wood pecker that has successfully removed the entrance block !!!! Will be back tomorrow with some wedges to ensure that it is nice and tight.

I think this is a very interesting, I lost 3 out of 4 hives last winter. And although I am sure there were several factors at plays here - the cold must have been one of them. I would be interested to know whether you have put ventilation in these lids ? I would think that you would, the lids...

I have previously used AS as a controlling method and also clip one wing on my queens. However, I am open to new approaches and was exploring a new way forward and looking for comment on any experiences that have already been gained on this process. As far as drones are concerned, I only know...

As I think forward to next year and about my approach to Swarm Control, it has been suggested that I consider using an entrance above the queen excluder as shown on the Modern Beekeeping site. See http://www.****************.co.uk/graphics/cms/Queen%20Trap%20Instructions.pdf I would...

Thank you, so what is the best way forward ? Should I add a frames of eggs / larvea from another hive and let them draw a queen cell

As ever I come in search of guidance please. A few weeks ago I collected a relatively small swarm and put it in a nuc box with 3 frames of partially drawn foundation (14 x 12) with a little stores. After a week I was very pleased to find that there were eggs on 2 of the frames. At the next...

It has been recommended to me that I put the next empty super on top of the crown board. The idea being that they will continue to fill / cap the lower super, but have somewhere to overflow to when they are ready. I currently have two hives with a supper above the crown board and a few bees...

Thanks, I'll be back up there in a few days to check the test frame and see what they are upto. Hopefully, with some sustained warm weather, I may get a laying Queen. Whereupon they can sort it out for her.

I have a relatively large queenless colony [suspect that it has a virgin queen and have added a frame of eggs to check]. Anyway, they have been storing lots of honey in the brood box, should I worry about this ? When the queen wants to starts laying will they move it into the super ? or should I...

I had this earlier in the year. I think that you have a Queen that has been slimmed down ready to swarm, consequently she will go through the excluded ! I also had queen cells, so I artificially swarmed them. Have a good check for queen cells.

Thanks all, there is plenty of space in the supers, apart from brood they are pretty empty. Am all geared up to A/S and have an empty hive already set up next to it. I was hoping to keep them all together until they had had a good fill of the OSR, but may not be able to wait that long - I'll...

Thanks, its a sheet metal excluder, all the holes appeared to be OK.

Opened up one of my hives that is amid the OSR to find very little capped brood, a few capped queen cells and plenty of bees in the brood box. As I then started going through the supers (2) I found eggs, larvea and the queen in the bottom one !!!! I have destroyed the queen cells and relocated...

Thank you all for the coments, I'll have to experiment to fine tune my exit stategy !

I have just established my first out apiary at a local farm. Everything is going well, the OSR is just turning yellow and the bees are loving it. I would appreciate guidance or comments on the best way to get the bees off of myself before getting into the car for the drive home. Thanks in...

The OSR is just starting to turn yellow here and I hives amid it on the farm. How quickly would you expect a Super to be filled ?I plan to puto on 2 and then rotate a third via the extractor.

Thanks for the comments. I checked hives this afternoon and am comfortable there is enough stores in this one, another that already has a super on it is starting to be flled, so there is forage around. I spoke to the farmer earlier and he is happy with the amount of moisture in the ground at...