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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…
First extraction ever. The honey looks cloudy rather than clear gold. Is it spoiled or is this a crystallization / air bubble thing? Extracted through a double sieve, fil…
Pulled a rosemary monofloral in April, jarred and stored cool. By June it had crystallised into solid white blocks. Buyers are asking if it's gone bad. Is this normal for…
Installed my first package Saturday. It hit 31°C today and there's a big beard hanging off the front. Total panic or totally fine? Box is single deep, 5 frames drawn comb…
Volleyball-sized swarm hanging from a low branch yesterday evening. Boxed them, dropped them in a single deep with foundation + one frame of brood from another colony. Ho…
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