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Hello all you splendid lot. 4of my hives had cbpv this year. 3 died out really quickly. The third survived, with your help. Thank you. Luckily it didn’t spread to my other 5 hives. I now have 3 empty hives with frames, that I’ve kept aside. I’d really like to re-use these. I’ve scraped...

Hello everyone, This forum is great. Bring on the collective brain. I have had CBPV in my apiary this year. An awful illness. I have 8 hives 14x12 (Hive 1 contracted it and died out within 10 days. It hit them really hard. RIP). Hive 2 contracted it and it's been more of a slow burner...

Hi Everyone, A quick question about over wintering. 4 hives . 14x12 . We live in woody area. Every September we get lots of ivy honey. I usually leave this on the hives. (One full super, on top of the Brood box). However, very occasionally when it’s really cold, the bees can’t get to the...

Hello everyone, I hope your bees are all fine and happy. Quick question: I united two hives (both 14x12 national). One was queenless for about 3/4 weeks (and the Poor little things had nothing to do but collect pollen, with no babies to feed). The hive was crammed with pollen (and nectar...

Hi Everyone, is it too late to do a winter varroa treatment. (I didn’t get the chance to oxalic in December). If so, what treatment would you suggest? I’m In Glos UK. 5 hives. 14x12 Nat thanks everyone

Hi everyone, What a spring here in the uk. Quick question to you all. Do drones chaperone a new queen (all from the same hive) on her mating flight? I know they don't mate with their own queen, but wondered if they act as "wing men" on her first flight. Do they guide her out and back...

Hi there everyone, Good morning to you all. Quick question. I've 2 hives at the moment (14x12 nat) One super busy. Looks perfect. The other has some activity, but lots of bees just stand on the doorstep hardly moving all day. (Both hives were nucs a year ago). Any ideas? Many thanks...

Hi there everyone, good morning. Have just been called by a neighbour. They had an old hive in their field. They're not beekeepers. Hive historic. A swarm moved a few years ago. They leave it alone (not beekeepers) 3 days ago i get called: "They've swarmed, what shall we do" (someone...

Hello happy beekeepers, 1 have 4 hives: 3 no 14x12and 1 no standard national. To keep things simple 1 want to get get the 4th into a 14x12 hive. Is this the best time to do it? And shall I just empty them in? Thanks very much

Hi there, a quick question, that I,m sure has been dealt with a million times. I'm going to increase my brood box size ( as room seems to be a constant issue). Going from standard national to 14x12. Is now a good time? When is the best time? (I can wait). My heart tells me that the tail end...

Hi everyone, I have a hive (national). It swarmed last week, (and I caught the swarm & they're doing well). I opened the old hive 2 days ago- There are 6 capped queen cells getting close to hatching. Shall I leave them all be? OR Shall I get rid of them all except 1 (someone has suggested...

Hi everyone, sorry if this is a well trodden path. I'm pretty new to beekeeping. I was given (a month ago) a hive and bees (national). The last owner said the queen was 2 years old. lots of activity. 1 full super already. I don't often get to look inside, as I'm away welding often for weeks...

hi everyone, I've just been given a hive of bees (by someone moving abroad). They seem a strong hive, though are queenless. What shall I do? Is it too late to unite, with one of my 2 hives? Or, shall I leave them and hope? thanks

Hello happy people. I am pretty new to this bee lark, and need some advice. I have 2 hives. Nationals. Both fed for winter. De-mited. Supers off. Inspection yesterday. Hive 1 had lots of activity. a fair amount of brood (sealed and eggs and larvae). A fair amount of stores too. In fact it...

Hello everyone, have been away welding for 2 weeks. Bees fed, and de-mited. However when returned yesterday, my bees had swarmed (a week ago). My neighbour said he thought it odd that they were out in the pouring rain for 4 days. Wish he'd told me. Anyway, total disaster, just swept up a...

Hello everyone, this is my first thread, so apologies if i get this wrong and it ends up in cyberspace. I'm pretty new to this bee lark (2nd year). My problem is this: I just cannot get my bees to enter the brood chamber. They'll go in there ie there's always a handful kicking around in...