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I'm looking to buy a Giordan drill-driven 8-frame extractor (a fully motorised one doesn't meet the budget) and I was wondering if it was worth including the drill for an additional £80? To spin 8 full frames I would assume it would have to be a sizeable voltage but there is no mention of the...

This is my second year of not taking my bees to the OSR and I have to say, I'm probably a lot more pleasant to be around as I'm not constantly watching the weather and ranting off because the temps are hovering around 10-13 degrees. You end up wishing away the cool but sometimes bright spring...

We are in a sad state when big business dictates what information is released to the public. Nothing new. Just a disappointing reminder. :mad: http://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/10/28/bee-expert http://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2015/11/is-the-usda-silencing-scientists/413803/

Radio 2 said this morning that rural parts of southern England could be exposed to a frost tonight - 30 July??? This is nuts. I seriously hope it doesn't otherwise that's the Balsam finished off and the season brought to a rapid close for palatable honey.

I was interested to know from anyone who has used Orcio jars before, what size and shape label they used. I was concerned the rectangular labels for my hexagonal jars may not work as the orcio appears to have two curves to deal with and so could end up with creases. From memory, I'm sure...

I have some 14 x 12 frames with good arc of stores on each that have been laid up in the middle by a DLW. Seems a waste to press the capped stores (50%) just to recycle the honey as I thought I may freeze these frames of stores until required by a nuc. I have tried to scrap off the drone...

I need to buy a freezer to store honey stores and kill off Wax moth that has suddenly appeared on some frames. Firstly, is the preferred type the chest freezer? Also do you store them in their brood or super boxes or individually? I was hoping to buy a rather smallish chest freezer but even...

I'm interested to know from those who have some experience with colonies on both National Standard Broods and 14 x 12 - have they experienced a reduction in swarming with those on 14 x 12. Or, is AS pretty much standard swarm management for most each year whether on single broods, double broods...

Hi I'm currently working on the outskirts of London and there are alot of yellow flowering trees about. They're medium sized trees, not Acacia Dealbata but an equally bright yellow flower hanging in long drapes. Leaves arranged in a pinnate shape. Was interested to know the name and if it was of...

Carried out AS last weekend. The new brood box in the original location was half filled with drawn comb and the other half foundation. With a box full of flying bees and some nurse, they're quickly drawing out the foundation, assisted by OSR nearby. Do I have to keep them separated for a min...

Currently I have a small 3 frame nuc and a newly caught swarm in a 14 x 12 nuc, also on 3-4 frames, that could join my other hives on the OSR. Would it be better to leave them in a semi urban environment (away from OSR), relying on local forage to increase gradually or, take them to the OSR...

Short story is that my duff Queen is .....well......not so duff :rolleyes:, as I discovered tonight. Don't know how large patches of drone brood can simply disappear and be replaced by worker brood within 2 weeks. I must be losing it. So I ordered a mated Buckfast queen which is arriving...

I would appreciate some advice here as first time I'm taking strong colonies to the OSR. I currently have a few colonies that are brimming with bees and brood in single National Deeps. I was looking to give them another deep brood box this weekend however our local farmer has contacted me to...

I recently used a kitchen type creme brulee making torch to burn off and sterilise a brood box of this seasons propolis but almost lost a thumb reflex in the meantime. Is there a decent gas torch out there that isn't going to cost a chunk of change and use of my thumb!!!:cuss:

Well as strange as it sounds that is exactly how it appears - soft jelly or gelatine. :eek: I've tried warming it before extraction and ended up with only about a 1/3 extracted and when it did, it hit the side of the extractor like a blob of soft jelly. I had to use the hair drier to warm the...

This colony was queenless a month ago. Bought in a new mated queen and on my inspection a week later saw her walking about the frame so left them alone for 2 weeks. Opened up yesterday. Thorough inspection revealed no queen and sporadic drones brood - no worker brood. I have a small colony (2...

Checked the new queens on my splits for the past few weeks and no eggs. Thinking these queens were duffs I ordered some mated Buckfast queens from a supplier in Oxford, arriving tomorrow. Checked tonight and it appears in the past few days they've all started laying!!!:cool: If anyone has an...

Ordered a few mated Buckfast queens because on inspection last weekend none of my new queens were laying. Sods law I checked tonight and they're all laying :rolleyes:. So I have a few queens arriving tomorrow, from a reputable Supplier in Oxford, which I am happy to sell on. Paid £40 each -...

My situation is such that I have a number of nucs which were splits taken off the main hive. Queens hatched 3 weeks ago and yet to lay. In the last 2 weeks I have caught 4 swarms in my garden. Judging by their size they appear to be Casts. As I am out of kit I'm looking to combine a few of...

Hi Need some advice from those gardeners out there. I have a willow that is falling over in our garden and frankly quite happy to remove it is as it rarely flowers. I am after a lovely bee bush that is roughly 1.5 x 1.5 x 1.5m or slightly bigger and suits a cottage garden. Any ideas would be...