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And which exactly queen excluder works best?

Personally, I usually paint them with Ronseal Garden Paint because of the colour choice. Cuprinol do something similar, but I haven't tried it. Any water based gloss usually goes on ok. A cheaper alternative is to just paint with masonry paint and it works fine. Do paint though, because UV from the sun degrades the poly if it's not painted.

I use standard sized national wired excluders; the unframed ones. Works fine for me.

I store them in my shed, covered down. The moth isn't too keen on going at wet comb so I don't have much problems.

Mullingar

@@diaryofanirishbeekeeper that you from sligo

I buy rolls of it and I cut to size....most hardware stores usually have it, although the quality of the foil can vary. The German retailers get it in from time to time and the quality is usually very good.

Very much appreciate the comment 👍

I haven't tried the three frame nucs out but I hear that they work great for getting Queens mated. But I would think that a 3 frame nuc is not really of benefit, over 5 and 6 frame versions, if you are looking to get a production colony out of it. Overwintering success as a 3 frame nuc also might not be great. I generally make my splits 2 or 3 frame....with the remaining frames made up of foundation or drawn comb, if I have it. This gives the colony room to grow and then when they fill that you have a well established colony, usually with 3 to 4 full frames of brood, to transfer in to a full size box, which you are not going to have with a 3 frame nuc.

Thanks 👍

Unframed wire excluders are best for this hive. Plastic or other flimsy type excluders would likely sag down and framed wire excluders will double the top bee space leading to the bees building brace comb.

Oh, I have bees like that too! I tend to ship them out to the out apiaries.

Will you be have gueens for sale? Thinking to change my ones. I leave in Edgeworthstown. Peter

Maybe later in the summer....depending on how organised I am and the weather!

Totally agree regarding the red text.

Thanks for the feedback. I'll bear that in mind for future.

👋 Thanks for watching

Thanks 😊

Thanks

Thanks 👍👋

Yes, the last number of weeks has really taken a toll on any colonies that were in any way on the weaker side. Hopefully the weather improves soon and your bees hang in there and then the bad start to the season will soon be forgotten about.

My answer very much depends on your location and whether you have a flow on or not. If you are experiencing similar weather conditions to what I have going on currently and which has basically stymied any flow but your colonies are growing, a suitable approach is to place the super box with foundation underneath the brood chamber. That way the cluster has room to expand and by default some work, even if it's just housekeeping, will take place. Just remember to switch the super up top as soon as your flow does start. It will then be a little more attractive to the bees as they've already been working on it. If you do have a full flow on or it's about to start, just place the box up top without queen excluder....pop QE on as soon as you see them starting to draw the foundation.

I suppose you could try fitting the foundation before bottom bars, especially if you're using plastic foundation. I have never tried but I use wax foundation and I prefer not to fit it until right before I need it.....the frames I am making up to have a bank of assembled frames ready for later in the season when I will need them.

@diaryofanirishbeekeeper Makes sense. I haven't been able to get ahead enough to put any back yet. Panic building today infact..

Sounds reasonable.

Indeed I might try that 👍

Thanks for the comment. Yes I do use queen excluders.

Thanks very much for the comment.

Many thanks

Thanks for the comment. You're correct.... it's an ornamental heather which flowers during the winter and into early spring. Good early forage plant, but is not the yielder of the famous heather honey!

Many thanks. Best wishes for your first year...

Thank you very much!

Excellent 👍. Thanks for the comment.

Based in Westmeath

Thanks for the comment. In late March I would feed syrup if I was feeding all colonies, but as I am only selectively feeding I think fondant to be the better choice. Feeding syrup leads to robbing unless all colonies in the apiary get it at the same time.....in my experience.

Precisely that - I find the flat head of the panel pin allows for easier removal and the nail isn't left behind in the sidebar. I'll even reuse the nail in most instances; that's the miserly beekeeper in me!

Thank you 👍

Thank you