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Second year but effectively restarting — lost my only colony over winter (long story, mostly my fault, we've all read my chalkbrood thread). Local supplier in Galway just…
Walking fence line on the back forty yesterday and heard them before I saw them — good-sized colony maybe 12 feet up in a hollow post oak, entrance the size of my fist, t…
Kent, third year, four colonies. Yesterday's inspection of my best honey producer turned up six charged swarm cells along the bottom bars, larvae swimming in royal jelly,…
Second year, three hives near İzmir. Opened hive two yesterday evening and the sound was different — not the usual even hum but louder, higher, kind of an unsettled roar …
Third year in North Carolina. One of my five colonies has been queenless nine days (my fault, rolled her), no laying workers yet, and I've got a mated Italian queen shipp…
Second year in Vermont, trying to do varroa IPM properly instead of just reacting in August like last season. I put a green drone frame in each of my three hives at the e…
First year, two hives in Minnesota. Been inspecting in a veil-jacket combo, regular jeans, and cheap nitrile gloves from the hardware store. Yesterday a guard bee nailed …
The black locust (robinia) flow ended maybe five days ago and it was a good one this year — my six colonies each packed a super and a half. Problem: nights here have been…
First year, one hive, Yorkshire. Every inspection I hold frames up and stare into cells until my arms shake and I have never once confidently seen an egg. I see larvae fi…
Every June I answer the same timing questions at our local club, so here's the table I make every beginner copy out by hand. 18 years in Tyrol and I still count on my fin…
Seven seasons in and I'm getting schooled. Twelve colonies here in Perthshire, and this week the apiary has thrown a prime swarm on Monday and two casts since, all tracea…
First winter for my colony. Currently warm-ish days (12–18°C) but nights hitting –2°C. Locals are starting to wrap. When does wrapping help vs. hurt? Bee Cozy vs. tar pap…
I'm worried I'm overdoing it. Currently going in every 7 days, all frames out, queen check, brood check, food check. Single deep, package install in May. Club mentor said…
Did an alcohol wash this morning on my strongest hive and counted 9 mites. Main nectar flow has maybe 2 weeks left. Do I pull supers and treat with formic now, or risk th…
Went in today, found a tidy laying pattern and single eggs standing up in the cells. Never actually saw her majesty though. Safe to assume I'm queenright? I really don't …
Cold-climate keepers, what's your winter entrance setup? I've read everything from "leave a top entrance for ventilation" to "top entrance = heat loss disaster". Average …
Lost a swarm last week — saw it leave, couldn't catch it in time. Want to set up bait hives to catch others (mine or neighbours'). What's working for you? Lemongrass? Old…
Went all-in on foundationless in 2023, sold my excluders and starter strips. Three years later: drone comb everywhere, inspections take longer, swarm management is a nigh…
First time I've seen SHB in this apiary. Two adults running across the top bars. Strong hive, double deep + super. Is eradication realistic in Mediterranean climate or am…
First year doing serious heather. The thixotropic honey is unreal — won't spin out of frames at all. What are people actually doing? Pricker + spin? Pressing? Selling cut…
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