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  1. Dogged

    Dark honey

    This year I took some late honey from newly established colonies - they didn't make any earlier. A large proportion of it was very dark, both the comb and the honey. And would not spin out. I have pressed it - but I wonder what it was that made it and the comb so very dark? It was new comb.
  2. Dogged

    Replacing queen

    I want to replace a queen. How long before introducing the new queen CELL should I despatch the existing queen?
  3. Dogged

    Hive Jacket

    I've just seen an advert for foam hive jackets. Does anyone use these? I know insulation is the big thing right now - but I'd like to hear from anyone who has used these.
  4. Dogged

    A good read

    Autumn is approaching and the long evenings will be begging for a good book to be read. I want a beekeeping book that is very detailed like Hooper, but READABLE and covers bee biology as well. What would people recommend? I know there is great stuff online, but I do like a book.
  5. Dogged

    A good read

  6. Dogged

    Rhombus board over an eke

    I’m about to use my rhombus board for the first time. Should I put it over an eke to give plenty of room?
  7. Dogged

    Feeding

    I have a hived swarm (my own queen, but very small as they were damn nigh inaccessible and over half just sat there and eventually went back in the hive). I am feeding them 1:1 syrup. As it was still very crowded I also did a split from the original hive with one of its queen cells. Again it’s...
  8. Dogged

    Reducing the entrance on a thornes polynuc

    The entrance to the Thornes polynuc is massive. can I pin a mouse guard over it to reduce the chance of robbing? Also and very importantly as my Queen is not emerged yet can she get in and out through a mouseguard?
  9. Dogged

    Angry bees

    My hive swarmed this afternoon- swarm safely caught and hived we went to inspect the original hive to assess the queen cell situation. Did our normal approach smoked and lifted off the super. Bit more smoke. Took off the QE - and all hell broke loose. Quickly put the hive together again and...
  10. Dogged

    Wonder what killed them

    So this hive that has died out - it was two small colonies united at the end of the summer. Went into the winter with plenty of bees and stores. Fed them as usual, but they stopped taking fondant during February and I suspected the demise of the colony as there was no sign of life and a lot of...
  11. Dogged

    Weather

    I just want to share my misery with someone! Another day of gloom and low temperatures dawned - so I checked the forecast for our valley and discovered that I can look forward to another week of grey sky, rain and max temperatures of 9 degrees - add a cold wind to that and lose another few...
  12. Dogged

    When to move a new colony

    I am getting a new colony from someone nearby. Is it better to move them the evening you shut them in or the next morning? and why please.
  13. Dogged

    Hiving a wild colony

    Hi there - I recently discovered that a swarm has set up home in an empty box at the end of the garden. They are thriving and the box is crammed with comb. I'd like to hive them. Any idea how I can do this? or if it is possible at all.
  14. Dogged

    Were these my bees?

    My neighbour called me yesterday to say a swarm of bees was outside. When I went out there was no sign of bees anywhere - I went up on the roof for a good look around - we are surrounded by trees! No sign or sound of a swarm. I put on my gear and had a look at the hive, it seemed full of happy...
  15. Dogged

    Hello from the North

    Too cold up here to inspect the colonies so I am relying on behaviour to reassure me that all is well with my bees. They are active in the few warm hours we have, towing in sacks of pollen! Couple of questions: one of my colonies is weaker than the other. When I checked on their candy supplies...
  16. Dogged

    Kill or keep my new queen?

    I wonder if someone can advise me please. I did an AS in June. The colony that hatched its new queen is thriving. The bees in the swarm hive with the existing queen superseded her a few weeks later - she hatched mid-July. This colony has not built up - there are four frames with brood and...
  17. Dogged

    Foundation question

    I'm putting together spare brood frames and have used all my foundation sheets with one frame left! Can I use a half depth foundation in this one? will they fill in the gap themselves? Okay, so I'm a cheapskate but I don't want to buy a new pack of foundation just for one sheet!
  18. Dogged

    Honey gone thick and opaque

    I took only a few pounds of honey from my bees (new this year), crushed and strained. It was clear and runny when I bottled it, but now is slightly thick and opaque. Not related to storage temperature as the unopened jar in the kitchen cupboard has behaved the same as the stuff in the cold...
  19. Dogged

    Three questions from a beginner

    My first winter coming up! I have only one precious colony and the advice is that my girls need 30lb honey to overwinter - but what is that in actual visible stores? I have only one super nearly full and whatever they have in the brood box. I don't have hive scales and wouldn't know 30lbs by...
  20. Dogged

    Beginner - Second brood box or add a super

    I have a new strong colony. They are filling the brood box and need more space. I am confused - Should I add a second brood box or add a super without an excluder - I want to increase my colony rather than take a honey crop.
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