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Hi there. I was gifted a wax seal but my attempts to use it with pure beeswax did not end well. I assume I need to add something to it but the only suggestion I found online was fabric glue. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what to add (or perhaps technique)? Many thanks.

Hi all Half way through extraction today my manual extractor stopped working - the crank handle goes around but it does not turn the cage. I think it is a Unimel from thrones bought about 5 years ago but hasn't had much use. I've dismantled the mechanism and the problem seems to be with the...

Hi. I have quite a few super frames full of pollen rather than nectar/honey - does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can encourage its removal? Thanks

A couple of weeks ago discovered gazillions of wax moth larvae in a poly nuc - made the mistake of leaving and forgetting about a few frames i was planning on burning. They have made a real mess of the nuc with lots of quite deep holes - what do people use to repair poly hives? Thanks

I thought I would check on the fondant position of what I knew was a weak hive and as there was absolutely no evidence of any bees opened it up. Only a layer of dead bees and wasps - sad. My other hive was quite active today but there still seem to be a lot of wasps about - not had this problem...

Hi all I've some spare filtered beeswax that I thought I would look to convert to cash. I've successfully sold honey on eBay in the past and thought I'd try selling the wax but looking at postage rates it only makes sense to sell in bulk. I feel like I must be missing a trick as for example you...

I have a hive that I AS 3 weeks ago and the one with the original queen has a number (I counted 7) of queen cells in it - some of them capped. The queen was present and seems to be laying well. Do I do another AS? I'm confused by the capped cells but the is queen present so could it be...

As is normally the case my own stupid fault - weeding (half admiring the bees really) in front of my hives and one of my girls flew into my ear. Sting followed but hurt and swelled up less than normal - my wife says the older I get the more insensitive i become. It's strange but I am always...

Hi I have placed an old takeaway container with a hole in the bottom containing fondant over the feed hole. However when I come to add more fondant I struggle because there are lots of bees in the way. I have tried leaving it exposed to the cold for a while and using smoke but they just won't...

Posting in case it helps - learnt a valuable lesson that it is vital to check when putting a hive back together to make sure there are no gaps.. At weekend put on clearer under capped super and then put on cover and lid. Went back 24 hours later to find robbng frenzy (bees and wasps) and entire...

Hi 2 weeks ago last saturday I inspected my sole hive to find swarm cells. Good news as I wanted to increase to 2 Duly moved hive and put red queen on frame into new hive on old site with syrup (no q cells). She is fine so let's forget about her. In the old hive chose an open q cell and...

Hi.. planning on changing to 14x12 this year using the bailey comb change. What conditions are needed for this? I know it isn't yet as my bees are not flying but how warm does it need to be? As an aside Tate + Lyle 1kg bags 69p at poundstretcher - the cheapest I've seen so bought a dozen or so.

Hi I followed someone's advice and placed fondant in a plastic bag inside a takeaway carton both with holes in on top of the crown board. This is now getting low so I was going to add some more. However the bees seem to have taken up residence inside the bag - perhaps because it is warm (as...

Its getting colder - is it time to fit a mouseguard? Thanks

Hi Inspected today and no sign of eggs, larvea or capped brood. Queen (red) was present. Whilst I have been feeding there is still plenty of room in bb to fill before winter. Maqs removed a week last wednesday after 7 days. Should I be concerned that queen is not laying or could this be...

Any idea where I can buy a single treatment of the above - most places seem to sell them in bulk or postage costs almost as much as the strip? Thanks

This may be a stupid question but most of my capped stores have a white cap but on one particular frame the capping is yellow. Not as dark as brood; similar to post-it note yellow. Is this normal?

I've noticed over the last few days that bumble bees seem to be congregating under my hive (open mesh) floor. I assume this is nothing to worry about but wondered if anyone knew why they were doing it.

Hi hope you can help... I hived a 5 frame nuc last weekend and am feeding the bees. I have put in an entrance block but wondered whether in this weather I should remove it - I have an open mesh floor if that makes a difference. I ask as I've noticed that the syrup in the rapid feeder is...