Recent content by Niv

When I told her where my other hives are (on the Somerset levels) she said they were fine and she didnt need to visit there.

She rang me about two weeks ago due to disease in the area, maybe not efb then. It was for my hives that were based by the ymca so Durlegh side of Bridgwater.

I know the SBI wants to inspect hives in Bridgwater too. I have given up my out apiary there so doesn't affect my current hives but have given a heads up the beekeepers I know in the area

I like that idea. Only downside I can see is if I do not find time to check then I could end up with an extra mated queen. I am sure I have a couple of coverboards laying around and a plastic queen excluder I can cut up.

I use my solar oven with a j cloth filter. Chuck them in then forget about them. When its cool I have a block of wax ready for further cleaning

Undertook two Demaree's in the home apiary. Went well (only the second and third I have done). Hoping that will keep them quiet for a few weeks! Will be checking for cells and releasing drones in a few days.

I have been going through my supers and found that some mouldy pollen in some frames. Should this just be dumped? Or is it fine to give to the bees to clean up? I was considering dumping it, not melting out the wax even but thought it worth checking.

Hefted my hives after some of the starvation news in this thread and found they were still on two fingers so all good for now. No loses to report, which is nice.

Its reassuring to read that its fairly common practice to let the bees decide which queen to keep. I have often thought it was a good way for some of the reasons mentioned in this thread but had been put off it by some saying that the surviving queen can get injured then both get killed off.

As I have just shared in my related thread, I am using a vivarium temp controller connected to a ceramic heater. It is my first time needing to warm honey and so far so good.

Found an old temp controller and ceramic heater for a vivarium so heating has commenced!

I have a small chest freezer i could convert actually. Its only for freezing bee related stuff so maybe it can be converted for duel purpose!

That's where we do the weekly shop so that should give us a chance... also, as a local... how did you let that typo get through haha

Yes I do have an electric oven, so that could work. It does sound like those silvercrest jam makers are a popular choice too, so will keep an eye out for one of those.

Thanks for the feedback and options offered. It is a 30lb bucket. I have been keeping bees since 2017 and this is the first time I have had this issue. Normally I jar it up fairly promptly after extraction but this year I have had some personal issues that has delayed me. The jam maker looks...