Search results

Beeks, we've been doing it wrong. Apparently all you need to stop a hive mid-swarm, is to put a super on... Seriously who is in charge of the BBKA Twitter account???

Saturday's inspection revealed a single queen cell in my double brood colony, the resident queen (still there) is at least 3 years old. All the text book signs of supercedure, BUT, it's June so no way are they superseding, it must be the early signs of swarming... Right? I calculated that the...

BBKA advice on Twitter to the general public: "No confirmation yet of Asian Hornets in UK - all suspected must be swatted - " Can you believe this? General public can barely tell the difference between a wasp and a bee... If this upsets you as much as it does me, complaints via Twitter to...

I need help. I plan to kick off a school project this year at their apiary. The plan is for them to observe the pollen loads each morning, and identify the forage. They will then use this info as well as other info (beeline and Google Earth etc) to physically track down the plants being...

I am hoping that Karol will respond to this, but rather than a DM thought it a good chance for the rest of us to learn something. I went to a friends house to see if he had a wasp nest, based on reports of a ton of wasps on a tree. Turned up, definitely no nest the tree is too small to hide...

Thankfully none at my apiaries yet, but I have never seen so many around. They are decimating the greenfly on my plum tree, which is a good thing - but I can't help thinking how long before they want carbs instead of protien... Is this the year of the wasp? And are we ready to batten down the...

I have picked up some new poly hives, 2x double brood and plenty of supers. I intended to move two of my colonies into them this weekend. After painting and stacking them, I notice there is a one mm gap all the way round on all of them (except the corner pillars). After phoning the store they...

Had a call from my out apiary at 1300hrs, bees clustered on the front of the hive estimated at a couple of hundred. Clear sunny day, 14 degrees but gusty. Of course when I turn up there is nothing to see but business as usual... Quick check around and no sign of a swarm, plus land owner has...

I have two deeps, both filled with stores, pollen and uncapped honey. I want the bees to take the stores out an leave me two deeps with empty drawn frames. I am thinking of putting them above the crownboard, with a little hole for access... How long do you think it will take to clear down? Or...

I have a colleague who is very interested in letting a beekeeper put a couple of hives at the end of her garden. Location backs onto fields, and is quite a large garden. I would use the site but it is too far from me to be of any use, is there anyone here interested? Would suit an Beek with...

Was looking around a potential site for a second apiary today. Nice farm, lots of OSR :) The farmer very kindly walked me round and pointed out sites he had in mind. However site A turned out to be (on further inspection) the centre of a badger set. All subsequent sites had trails running...

Bloody things, popped to the apiary the see my girls, mainly to see pollen going in. In one hive I saw three wasps get in. They did not make it out though so hoping they met a grizzly fate. Reduced the entrance to once space. Can we have a frost please?

Nuc hived 6th May: Queen seen, BIAS and eggs on 3 frames, 2 frames stores, (added 2 frames of stores and 3 drawn combs) Inspection 13th May: Queen seen, BIAS and eggs on 4 frames, 4 frames stores. 20th May added second brood box below to allow for expansion, without inspection due to poor...

Idiots corner has begun! Couple of questions that my books dont answer, and that I want your thoughts on: 1. When weather is changeable, bees fly out when sunny, do they get caught out when it rains? Or, do they think... Hmm that cloud looks moody - I'm off home! 2. Bees always return to the...

As the thread states, but willing to travel quite far! Message me for confirmation.

I have been given some land to use as an out apiary. As I prepare hives and make plans for world domination... Or at least expanding operations up to half a dozen hives, I keep coming back to security. Now I have a couple of large shipping pallet, close boarded, very heavy, about 8foot by...

Sone of you may be familiar with my scenario, as I took advice from here earlier. Two weeks ago, I rescued a neglected hive, a wooden national with a poly roof which is so propolised it will not come off without MAJOR FUN ensuing. So the old BB was placed on a new BB in the hope that when the...

Saw a post a while ago from a Beek who was getting overwhelmed by his Bees, after going double brood. Made me think about ways of controlling colony sizes. It seems sensible for honey production that bigger is better. But for a hobby and an urban keeper, there would be benefits in keeping a...

Well my hive is now beetight, and all is repaired. I lost a lot of bees due to the accident, but the hive is still active. This weekend is 1st inspection, I will find out if the Queen survived the chaos. Fingers crossed! And thanks for all the support, you guys have been great.