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I have a couple of hives that swarmed (away on hols so couldn't prevent). Captured two swarms, housed and queens laying well. Old hives, that swarmed, had queen cells, now empty so queen emerged. This was about 3 weeks ago. No sign yet of a laying queen. Have spotted drones entering these two...

Having collected and housed a local swarm I am wondering whether the 3 feet/ 3 mile rule applies. Will there be any problems hiving a swarm close to where it came from? A number of the bees are looking around the site where I collected the swarm as if they are confused about their new home.

It is 3pm, 6 degrees out and glorious sunshine. My 2 hives are positioned in this afternoon sun. The hives were wintered with mouse guard, oxalic treatment reasonable stores which I supplemented a couple of weeks ago with some fondant (just in case). I have just spotted that there are a small...

I have 3 hives in a corner of my garden screened off with privet hedging to send the bees up over head height. This was fine in the early days but the hedge is getting big, casts a shadow over the hives and makes it harder to watch the bees. Pruning back helps for a time but isn't really the...

I extracted about 20lbs of OSR early in the season and it is now rock hard in the bucket. I have read many posts about creaming OSR and they all seem to require a heating cabinet. This seems a little OTT for just 20lbs of honey. Is there a suitable alternative to a heating cabinet or do I have...

Having to expand my stock of honey buckets as the number of hives increase. I have put a plastic gate/valve into a bucket. The connection of the gate to the bucket passed a water drip test but there are water drips from the gate opening. Does this mean that the honey will also drip or will it be...

12th May swarm from my one over wintered hive. Captured swarm rehoused in new hive and they are thriving. Squashed all but 2 QC in old hive - none capped 26th May capped QC in old hive - suspect not one of the two I left 30th May QC uncapped but cannot see queen 10th June still no sign of...

Captured a swarm and housed it into a hive on 12th May. Not had a chance to inspect until today because of cold weather. Bee active in long awaited sun and bringing in pollen. Inspected this evening and they seem active drawing out new frames and producing a lot of store across approximately 6...

5 frame nuc added to brood box only hive mid/late June. 10 frame now drawn 60% store 40% brood. Queen laying and all looks well. Noticed this evening that a lot of the bees are crowding around the entrance. Is this a sign of a lack of space and should I add a super to povide more room even...