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​@@alexward8510 thanks for taking the time to watch and comment Alex. Three big colonies is about enough for me, so depending on how many survive, I may find homes for the nucs, then do some more splits. I find doing splits and watching the results fascinating, though they don't always work out! Cheers.

Cheers Matt, but checked today and not too hopeful, looks like laying worker or a drone laying queen, will be putting out an update soon. 😊

@@OB1220BUNNY thanks Lori, they are both rescues from Romania

@@thomasvitrebert4410 thanks Thomas, she is a rescue dog from Romania, so a bit of a mixture, some terrier and some other, very good natured though!

@@thomasmaul6723 Cassie and Tima (cat) say thanks🐶🥳

@@eastsussexbeesandwildlife5801 give vadder and tima a big bussie 😗

@@davidianoliver ta David, actually a daughter of a BMH, got some grandaughters also, the genetics still seem good!

@@نریمانذاکری-ر6ن thanks very much, you must be an animal lover!

That's very helpful, ta for being so constructive.😊

@@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario ta Scotty, it's all a bit of fun!

@@alexward8510 thanks Alex, they are nice and quiet, be good if I can get them through the winter.

@@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724 thanks Chris, definitely need the runners plus some newer equipment, though I never like to loose a swarm, they always seem to thrive. Hed a few nice roach yesterday, just doing the edit. 😆

@eastsussexbeesandwildlife5801 Excellent Peter I'll keep an eye out for the video 👍

@@olddave4833 thanks David

@@martindale7559 ta Martin, I have tried hard to prevent swarming this year by doing splits and inspections, but obviously took my eye of the ball, wasn't expecting the colony to swarm. Lucky that I was about when they swarmed or else I think they would have gone fairly quickly.

I am not far from you and lost one so quick, the one day gone the next​@@eastsussexbeesandwildlife5801

@@chrismatthewsflyfishing7724 thanks for the advice Chris, didn't think of that, much appreciated.

Just looked in the brood box, four queen cells, so just left the one. Hope it survives, if not I have a couple of spare nucs, so can use one of those queens.

@@alexward8510 ta Alex, as the weather is lousy I have now given them a bit of feed to help them out, but don't want to overdo it, will do an update in a week or so to show how they are progressing. Ta for taking the time to watch and comment.

Thanks David. Yes, if I see a mated queen I use a crown of thorns cage and mark her. I don't have the confidence to pick them up but may try this, also I tend to use thicker gloves as I don't react well to stings! This does limit me somewhat. Look forward to a clip of yours sometime!

Thanks Chris, very helpful. Hadn't thought of that.

Thanks Alex, will keep you updated, good or bad. If all fails, can always buy in a mated queen.

Thanks David. Had a good look for a queen but could not see her, but perhaps I did miss her. I will check the frame in a few days to see if that gives an answer. Or perhaps the nuc is just a bit too small and now a bit old to be viable. Hope it's not too hot where you are today.

@@eastsussexbeesandwildlife5801 I did read that you really need a reasonable size hive to draw decent queen cells so I suppose the size of the nuc may be a contributing factor as you say. I’m surprised they didn’t even try to draw some though. Weather here is great…bees busy on the bramble, clover and especially the lime which has just started to flower

@@davidianoliver thanks David. Hope you manage to get some honey soon! My attempts at nucs are a bit experimental, suppose it would be easier just to buy in a mated queen or two, but I enjoy trying things for myself, even if they do fail!

The bees are quite clever and can create multiple queen cells. All the best to you

Thanks so much, just had a quick look today, even more bees, plus a few emergency cells now up the top which I can use elsewhere! Ta for viewing and commenting.

They certainly teach beekeepers a thing or two!

They can have their bad days! I did buy in a mated Buckfast a couple of years back, all my colonies are now headed by her daughter's or granddaughters, I think the calm genetics are living on, but suppose depends on my local drones. All the best.

Thanks Chris. Be nice to get a bit of honey this year. I am also hoping that my nucs will be ok as I think lost a couple of virgins on mating flights.

It has been a real struggle for the queen breeders. Almost no suitable mating days.

Thanks Alex. Have a good weekend

Thanks Scotty. Yes, I could have done that but by putting right up the top, well away from the queen, they should make a few emergency cells which I plan to harvest. Will keep you updated.

@@eastsussexbeesandwildlife5801 Ok, Yes I re-watched this and I heard you mention making a cell in the top, good idea.

I start with a few balls of newspaper then dry rotten wood, also have used a mixture of woodshavings and wood pellets. It's good to get the smoker going really well first before inspecting the bees. Ta for viewing.

Thanks​@@eastsussexbeesandwildlife5801

Thanks David. Can always use an entire frame, but that can be a bit over the top if resources limited.

Thanks David. It's only a short river the sea is about 6 miles away, wish I could go back in time to when there would have been a run of sea trout! Hope your bees are ok.

Amazing to think there would have been sea trout on such a small stream. Do you go sea fishing as well? What a great location you’re in! My bees are ok but I’ve had to feed two of my four colonies. The weather seems to have turned a corner in the last couple of days though so hopefully things are looking up!

@@davidianoliver glad your bees are ok. The stream is one of the maintenance tributaries of the Cuckmere, sadly some old mills prevent upstream passage of migratory fish, perhaps one day fish ladders will be installed. Only done freshwater angling.🙂

Thanks Chris. I had intended to use worms, but stupidly left them at home, so hopefully will do better next time!😊

Thanks Alex. Just hope the weather gets better so that she can have a good mating flight.

Thanks Charlie. I quite like making a few splits each year, they don't always succeed, but helps minimise swarming of my main colonies. All the best to you.

Thanks. She is a daughter of a bought in Buckfast, so has mated with local drones, so will just have to see how she progresses!

Found quite a decent capped queen cell in another colony today so have put it in the nuc, as a bit of an experiment, might work, might not!

@@eastsussexbeesandwildlife5801 lots of trial and error the things you don't think will work sometimes do and vice versa

Thanks Doug. Will keep you posted.