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Not using queen excluders was the best thing I ever did. Totally agree. Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

Nothing wrong with a large colony going into winter, just make sure they have enough food. I haven't used excluders for years, most of my colonies are roughly like yours at the moment. Consider nadering the shallow box in a couple of weeks and feed feed feed. Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

Great. I thought there was too much of the stuff. Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

I have been on the insemination course this weekend. Happy with my Loc instrument. The insemination part is not too bad, but sement collection can be pretty frustrating for sure. Many thanks for all the advice given. Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

In my experience it makes no difference whether she has attendants with her or not. Pheromones are also passed from worker to worker. Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

Was lucky enough to have my phone at the ready when this queen decided to lay an egg. Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Definitely true in my area. My bait hives get filled with swarms containing hardly five frames of stingy, runny dark bees this time of year. I am not a fan of our "local' bees. The difference between them and properly bred bees is like day and night. Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Definitely true in my area. My bait hives get filled with swarms containing hardly five frames of stingy, runny dark bees this time of year. I am not a fan of our "local' bees. The difference between them and properly bred bees is like day and night. Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Totally agree, I bought one Romanian queen, very angry bees and tried to swarm early March. Worth waiting for the German girls. Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

It's the best thing I ever did. I have larger colonies, therefore more honey, less swarming and simpler beekeeping. Downsides are more frames to go through to find the queen or check for cells. You quickly get a lot better at "predicting" where she is though. You can remove and reorganise...

Perhaps: Clip your existing Queen, destroy one queencell. If they want to swarm you are likely to loose your old queen but retain your bees with the new queen. If they want to supercede they will, with the same result. If the queencell is a dud, you still have the old queen. Just a thought...

This might be an interesting read for you. http://www.dave-cushman.net/bee/inducedsupersedure.html The few times I tried it in late Summer it worked most of the time. (the protected Queen cell method described by DC) Not strictly in line with the OP but relared:Where bees are making swarm...

Many thanks all! Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

I am getting the forceps. Mine will be compatible with a Harbo syringe and I intent to buy one - is Schley the best place to get them from? Many thanks for the advice. It's a shame it is so difficult/expensive to get hold of all the gear. Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Funny you should stay that. My first question to them was whether you could use it left or right handed and the answer was that the instruments were precision engineered and therefore no. They were then going to check with the engineers and possibly, maybe, build a few. I have ordered one now...

Many thanks B+, very welcome advice. I seem to be on YouTube more than my teenage son these days. A very engaging little project. Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

I am awaiting a Loc instrument. I am left handed and have been in touch with most manufacturers, there was a possibility of Schley making a few lefties but it seemed to involve a lot of committee meetings. In the end I bought the Loc from Abelo on advice from Sue Cobey. It has a handle that you...

I have booked on an II course and are looking into some options regarding the CO2 part of the setup. I am sure we will be advised on the course but in the meantime I am trying to get my head round a few things. Would be grateful if those with experience have any advice and tips regarding...

I bought two and just introduced queens with them. Checked two days later. In one the bees chewed a whole in one corner and filled the cage completely. The queen was fine so I released her and she started walking across the frame like she was born there. The other one worked exactly as planned -...

Checking if everybody had enough stores........ and found this cluster odd different Ladybirds next to my crownboard. Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk