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Assuming the bees still need the fondant and are healthy (which I do), how long would you expect this much fondant to last this time of the year given the recent changeable weather conditions? I put this same amount of fondant on a standard National (with top insulation) two weeks ago and was...

Bees were out and about today which is good news. However, I notice many (30 or so) bees from one of my colonies had dropped onto the ground fairly close to their hive and have now unfortunately perished. Is this normal and these are just old winter bees giving it their last or maybe it just...

Well, I managed to check the hive yesterday evening, 3 days after putting in a test frame and the results are inconclusive. Could this be due to the weather and would it be worth just leaving the frame in there a while longer?

Fortunately and many thanks to Freefall I have re-homed the swarm in a poly nuc with a comb of brood...just in time before the weather turns this afternoon. I inspected the Q- hive yet again spending a good time look for a queen but still failed to see her. I have also placed a test frame in...

Hi Rich, I agree but there is still an element of doubt in my mind so I think putting a test frame in would be the most cautious way forward and hopefully that will clear up the matter (knowing my luck the test frame will prove inconclusive though). Chris

Thanks Nick, I have pm'd you cheers Chris

Just got home this even at about 4pm this evening to find a swarm in my garden. I am presuming it is from one of my own hives although I haven't confirmed this yet. One of my hives in a standard national is reasonably strong after swarming in May, while the other (in a 14x12) is very week and...

I think having a 'newbee corner' on the forum would be a great idea. It could be a place for all us new to the world of beekeeping to ask the same 'stupid' questions or look-up to see if it has already been asked. It would be a place for those who love passing on their enthusiasm and...

Well, continuing on with the saga... Yesterday I get a call just after mid-day saying the bees had swarmed about an hour before but this time had travelled a little further and ended up in a garden. So I arrive at the persons house about 15 minutes later only to be told they had all flown off...

Love to get in the hive, but the weather yesterday was appalling so I didn't get a chance then. The weather is better today and at this moment in time it is about 13C spitting rain and fairly breezy so I am reluctant to go in right now. I don't want to have another swarm but I am concerned I...

It gets very confusing doesn't it. :) OK, so if my swarm has returned where do I stand with the hive? Are there now two queens and what is the likelihood of one (or both) swarming off again taking half my colony with it (them)? I am assuming I need to look through the brood and dispose of one...

Thanks for all the replies, lots of useful information to digest :) The queen wasn't clipped (it is not something I am keen on doing) so she should have gone with the swarm but she wasn't marked either so it was difficult to spot her, especially as I was in a bit of a panic at the time. I...

First post on the forum so "hi" to everybody :) I noticed what I thought were probably a couple of QC's during my inspection at the weekend and having chatted with a beekeeping friend of mine, decided that carrying out an AS might be a good idea. I had a 14x12 brood chamber that I was going to...