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Thank you! Would you go in on day 4-5 and take anything down that they’ve made up to that point or just go in asap after day 7? Thanks

Hi All, I did my first Demaree today on a booming colony. Due to work commitments, I’m not going to be able to go into the hive between day 6 and day 9 after today. I’d ideally like to make some nucs assuming they draw out some queen cells in the top box. Will doing this on day 5 work, or...

Just done my first Demaree. Absolute sky scraper. Wishing the hive was on the floor as opposed to a stand now and considering rigging guy ropes. Going to make some splits using cells if they draw any out in the top boxes (it was double brood).

Hah an accidental one! Angry bees (raining) but needs must. Wearing a jacket rather than my normal full suit. Rode up to expose a little too much and one got underneath the hem. Lesson learnt

Went to put a spare frame of stores in one of my hives that is booming but rather light - don’t want any starvation issues to arise before weather improves next week. Took a sting to the belly button. New one for me. Seemingly much worse than the ones to the hands. Very much looking forward...

Hoping to inspect after work tomorrow. Slightly on the cooler side (12-13 degrees) but it’s been 10 days of rain and single figure temperatures so need to get into them. Going very much armed with a poly nuc for the inevitable. Although I’m very much just hoping they’re bumbling along nicely...

I was down near the bees today so thought I’d pop in. Too cold to do any inspecting of the brood, but I couldn’t resist lifting the lid. They’re now just starting to draw a second super. First is pretty much full. I was pleasantly surprised at this given that the weather has continued to be...

Thanks all, this is reassuring as my queen finding skills need some work. Sadly I don’t have any drawn comb to spare. We’ll see how we get on.

Hi folks, I’ve got a thriving double brood colony that I’d like to demaree over the next few weeks. I can’t, however, find the unmarked queen (marking must have come off). Is there any reason why I can’t just shake all of the bees from the two brood boxes into a box of fresh foundation with 1...

Reconfigured to double brood, I’ve split the brood over the two boxes as suggested. Thanks all!

Double brood it is then! Thanks all - I’ll go back to them after lunch.

Thanks for your replies so far. I’ve got 4 brood frames of stores that I could extract but some of it will be crystallised I expect. A few weeks back I swapped a couple of brood frames out for foundation and they’d drawn that in 3-4 days so they’re clearly willing to draw if required.

Fully laid up with brood - tiny corners of stores on a couple of frames

Hi folks, I’d really value your advice on next steps for my hive. First full inspection this morning having chucked a super on them about 10 days ago when they were bubbling over their single brood. Current set up: single 11 frame national BB with single super (10 frames). inspection today...

Popped over to have a look at my hive today. Firing on all cylinders with plenty of pollen and nectar coming in. Bees boiling over so super added. Checked the couple of frames of foundation I put in 10-14 days ago to give the colony extra space - fully drawn out and laid up/BIAS. Really...

Beautifully nice day in Dorset today. 16 degrees, ‘short sleeve’ warm. Took the opportunity to nip into my double decker nuc and I’m very glad I did - completely stores bound. With eggs laid in bits of brace comb etc. Drone brood between the two boxes. 5.5 frames BIAS. Put them into a...

Lots of pollen coming into my double brood poly nuc. Remains really quite heavy. Probably fed excessively by a beginner beekeeper… I’m now worried about blocking brood space - should I be worried? I don’t want to go and break the two boxes apart to remove spare stores frames in the lower box to...

No, I’ve not done so before

Hi folks, Does 2:1 syrup go off? I’ve got a whole load from last autumn which I made up and didn’t use and was therefore thinking about diluting it down for some spring feeding. I’ve heard about it fermenting - the bottles haven’t blown up or anything. Thanks

Pollen flooding into my hive today. Fed them some fondant earlier in the winter when it was much colder to ensure I didn’t have to open them up to give more. Takeaway tubs are now full of brace comb. Hive is still pretty heavy and therefore decided against giving more fondant. Given brace...