Lost hives to a large animal. Rebuilding taught me that the defences people recommend are not equally effective and the cheap half measures are worse than nothing. Works Electric fencing, done properly. The only thing…
One hive, second season, and there is finally capped honey in the super. About seven frames of it. Every guide assumes an extractor. The cheapest one I can find costs more than everything else I have spent on this hobby…
Full time job, one small child, and the realistic window I can offer is about ninety minutes on a weekend afternoon most weeks. I keep reading that beekeeping is a light hobby and also that you must inspect every seven…
Installed a three pound package in late April on all new foundation. Fed sugar syrup for the first month and then stopped when the dandelions came out. By mid July they have drawn six frames of the ten and the queen is…
Suburban lot, the hive stand is about twelve metres from the nearest fence line, and I have one colony that came through the winter well. I am tempted to split it into three next spring. The neighbours on one side have…
Brood box is full, eight of ten frames wall to wall brood and stores, and there is clearly a flow on because the brood box gained weight. Put a super of fresh foundation on four weeks ago with a queen excluder. The bees…
Second season, one colony, and all the capital items are bought and paid for. I want to build a realistic annual budget rather than being surprised each spring. Specifically I am after the recurring items: mite…
One colony going into its first winter with me. Local low is around minus 20C for a couple of weeks in January and we get a lot of freeze thaw either side. I have enough material to build a quilt box with wood shavings,…
Two hives, both strong, both with supers still on. Did my first proper alcohol wash on both and got nine and eleven mites per 300 bees. I know that is high but I do not know how high, and I do not know what I can…
Single hive, second year, ten frame box with a super. Opened up on Sunday and found six capped cells hanging off the bottom bars of two brood frames. I saw a lot of bees but did not spot the queen and I did not see…