Recent content by MathJ

I wouldn't get a carniolan queen, I've had a few and they have all been very swarmy.

You forgot the wellies! They are now collected and they were a big swarm! Defo worth a silver spoon!!

There is a large swarm 20ft up a tree in my brother's garden which has been there for a day in the wind and rain. Should I wait for a break in the weather before collecting it or can I do it in the rain? Am thinking that any missed bees wouldn't be able to fly to the nuc and if I missed the...

That's a blackbird chick. Thanks Bill O.

Could you spread Apiguard paste directly on to the top of the frames if you don't have an eke handy?

Thanks Craig, what's the thinking behind that? Won't they draw queen cells and if so wouldn't they just make emergency QCs from the 2 day old eggs that went in with the queen right colony when united?

Thanks for the advice. Knocked down all of the queen cells but the bees had already got through the paper. Today looked in the hive and the queen was being balled. What now?

Went in Thursday.

AAAAgh! Even if they were uncapped?

Am I missing someting here? "Unbrella up" what do you mean? :willy_nilly:

Have a queenless hive (test frame and queen cells drawn). United another colony using the paper method but now realise I forgot to knock down the queen cells on the test frame! Am I right in thinking once they get through the paper they will tear down the queen cells or do I need a quick visit...

Mine did, I said that I was working alone sometimes away from populated areas. He was a bit reluctant and as the pens have expiry dates you will need to go back to get further prescriptions.

Thanks for your replies I am not taking any risks and have made an appointment with my doc. Don't want to even think of having to give up beekeeping.:(

Admin - He's got 40+ hives and has been doing it for 37 years however, he still says he doesn't know it all although he was annoyed at the QX. I for one won't be doing that again. Beebreeder - won't the queen be slimmed down for swarming therefore be able to get through the excluder anyway?

Was told today in no uncertain terms by very experienced mentor that to put a QX under the brood to stop the queen leaving is very bad practise and causes the colony great distress.