Recent content by SamT

I had hives stolen and vandalised last year near Ipswich, Suffolk. Another beekeeper close by had the same. So it definitely does happen in our area

Using the Cloake board method you’re temporarily making them queenless and concentrating more bees into the box where your cells will be built. You can raise many more cells If you only want a few then the Ben Harden method is fine. Make sure there is a flow on or you’re feeding close to the...

Hi FidoDido, you mentioned Suffolk. Whereabouts do you live in Suffolk? We have a good beekeeping association here with some lovely members. We meet once a month in Kesgrave and the next meeting is next Wednesday. It’s a good place to meet people There’s a yearly course ran for new beginners in...

When you pull frames and look at the comb do they have jagged edges round the cells rather than smooth? Robbing bees don’t care or have the time to do it neatly

I suspect they were robbed out. They had probably already been robbed when you found them bone dry in the first place. The high activity you saw may have been another bee colony robbing them out, it’s not just wasps that do this! Other bee colonies that find a weak colony will soon empty them...

Do you have any of the nuc boxes left? I sent you a PM a while ago and had no reply. Cheers