{"id":8481,"date":"2023-12-07T19:30:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-07T19:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/?p=8481"},"modified":"2026-01-25T15:09:24","modified_gmt":"2026-01-25T15:09:24","slug":"winter-social-tips-tricks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/?p=8481","title":{"rendered":"Winter Social-Tips &amp; Tricks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<style> \nh2, h3, h4 {color: green;} \n\n.maxwidth {\n  max-width: 800px;\n  margin: auto;\n}\n\n.image-container5 {display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; justify-content: center; } \n.card5 { padding: 5px; display: inline-block;  font-size: small; color: green; text-align: center;} \n.card5 > img {border-radius: 5px; }\n\n\n\n<\/style>\n\n<div class=\"maxwidth\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">My Beekeeping &#8211; Tips and Tricks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A talk by Nick Silver at the EDBK winter social<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">7th December 2023<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"474\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/NS23-Roncombe.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8453\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/NS23-Roncombe.png 600w, https:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/NS23-Roncombe-300x237.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I started beekeeping in 2015 and now have 16 colonies (9 for production plus 7 nucs) spread around four apiary sites. The aim is to produce good quality food products. This year I had 550 lbs of honey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:41% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"431\" height=\"418\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/NS23-April.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8440 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/NS23-April.png 431w, https:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/NS23-April-300x291.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 431px) 100vw, 431px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I use double National brood boxes on production hives. Management starts early in the season. In April, all colonies are checked carefully for disease (Module 3 is extremely useful for this).<br>Now is the time to carry out replacement of old, diseased and distorted frames. Select the 7 oldest frames, usually found in the lower brood box, and replace with fresh foundation. Make sure all the new foundation is in the upper brood box or swap the boxes if its easier. This ensures a maximum of 3 years for frame rotation. Incidentally, there is no need for Bailey frame change or feeding.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Starter strips\u2002for drone brood<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In spring, the bees are desperate for drone comb, so insert frames with starter strips between two drawn combs.\u2002These will be preferentially used for drones, protecting your brood frames from disruption. It is also a good trick if you are low on foundation!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"image-container5\">\n<p class=\"card5\" ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/NS23-StarterStrip.png\" alt=\"Starter strip\" width=\"374\" height=\"200\">Starter strip<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"card5\" ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/NS23-UsedStarter.png\" alt=\"Old starter strip\"  width=\"361\" height=\"200\">Old starter strip<\/p>\n\n<\/div> <!-- end of image.container5 -->\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:35% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"551\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/NS23-Dummies.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8450 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/NS23-Dummies.png 600w, https:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/NS23-Dummies-300x276.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Use of dummy boards<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I use three different widths in order to adjust the space available to the bees. I find this useful if the colony is a bit small. Alternatively, if you are greedy, you can force more honey into the supers.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Queen rearing and making increase<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Again, start early! This schedule worked for me in 2023:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><tbody><tr><td>Mid April<\/td><td>Select a strong colony.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>20th April<\/td><td>Remove Q into a nuc.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>25th April<\/td><td>Remove 6 frames, all with QCs, <br>distribute into 3 more nucs.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>24th May<\/td><td>Donor colony has new laying Q.<br>Went on to produce 2 full supers of honey.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>29th May<\/td><td>All three mating nucs have laying queens.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Result from one colony: 4 viable nucs, 4 new\u2002queens, 2 supers honey<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"image-container5\">\n<p class=\"card5\" ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/NS23-FourNucs.png\" alt=\"Making increase\" width=\"184\" height=\"200\">Making increase<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"card5\" ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/NS23-SpringCrop.png\" alt=\"Taking a spring crop\"  width=\"332\" height=\"200\">Taking a spring crop<\/p>\n\n<\/div> <!-- end of image.container5 -->\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Take a spring crop<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Oil seed rape now quite common (see graph above).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Take off this crop and the bees will work harder.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>More total honey per colony.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You need to learn how to store and process OSR.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Don&#8217;t lose valuable drawn comb with hard set OSR.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>We need to train our customers to like it. Younger people often prefer it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:auto 41%\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Unite and \/ or boost before the flow<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It&#8217;s easy to build up your honey production colonies using nucs as donors. This is effectively a simple two queen system. If you then move the nucs to another part of the apiary, the honey producing colonies will gain the flying bees as well! If this is done early enough, the nucs will recover during the rest of the season.<\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"601\" height=\"506\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/NS23-Boost.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8445 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/NS23-Boost.png 601w, https:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/NS23-Boost-300x253.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 601px) 100vw, 601px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:15% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"207\" height=\"586\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/NS23-DoubleNational.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8442 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/NS23-DoubleNational.png 207w, https:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/NS23-DoubleNational-106x300.png 106w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 207px) 100vw, 207px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Using double National brood boxes &#8211; May, June, July<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ensure you can double up during May, June and July. Advantages are;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The arch of honey in the upper brood box protects the supers from pollen.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Supers can be removed anytime without concerns over starvation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bees respect the bee space between the brood boxes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Swarm cells tend to be built between the brood boxes.\u2002Thus no need for full inspections. Just tilt and smoke.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:14px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:15% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"229\" height=\"418\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/NS23-August.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8441 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/NS23-August.png 229w, https:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/NS23-August-164x300.png 164w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 229px) 100vw, 229px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Using double National brood boxes &#8211; August<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By August, the bees have their arch of honey in the upper brood box and the brood area is reducing. Himalayan balsam will boost the nectar flow. Varroa treatment can be administered if needed, otherwise it is safe to go on holiday!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:15% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"229\" height=\"418\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/NS23-September.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8443 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/NS23-September.png 229w, https:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/NS23-September-164x300.png 164w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 229px) 100vw, 229px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Using double National brood boxes &#8211; September<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You will need about 20kg of stores in your hive by the middle of October when feeding ceases. The theoretical maximum for one\u2002National brood box is 25kg, so a single brood box hive would only have a couple of frames for the bees to live on with 20kg stores.<br><br>Alternatively, leave them a super of honey but this raises questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Do you leave the queen excluder in or out?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What do you do in the spring?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What do you do with any honey left in the super?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It may be contaminated with varroa treatment products.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:26% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"508\" height=\"677\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/NS23-DoubleBrood.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8449 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/NS23-DoubleBrood.png 508w, https:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/NS23-DoubleBrood-225x300.png 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 508px) 100vw, 508px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Double brood &#8211; disadvantages<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Harder to move double brood hives.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hives can get rather high.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Can lead to very strong colonies which could be daunting to newbies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Requires more boxes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These could be good problems to have!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Swarm control with double brood boxes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are so many options! Here are a few suggestions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Move top box onto a new floor (Pagden)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Remove queen into a nuc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Remove queen cells into a nuc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Snelgrove or Demaree.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Basterfield vertical split (Q in the bottom).\u2002<a href=\"https:\/\/bbkanews.com\/issues\"><strong>Link &#8211; BBKA<em>News<\/em><\/strong><\/a> Nov 2013 p19<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>And many others&#8230;..<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Other Tips and Tricks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bait Hives and Swarm Attractants<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For those situations where you need to attract and catch a swarm, attractants just work surprisingly well. All you need is a brood box, two old frames and swarm attractant. Put the box in a suitable place and wait. The pictures show the hiving of a swarm just driven out of a chimney by lighting the fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"image-container5\">\n<p class=\"card5\" ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/NS23-BaitHive.png\" alt=\"Bait hive\" width=\"283\" height=\"200\">Bait hive<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"card5\" ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/NS23-SwarmAttractant.png\" alt=\"Swarm attractant\"  width=\"251\" height=\"200\">Swarm attractant<\/p>\n\n<\/div> <!-- end of image.container5 -->\n\n\n\n<div class=\"image-container5\">\n<p class=\"card5\" ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/NS23-Swarm.png\" alt=\"Swarm on chimney\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\">Swarm on chimney<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"card5\" ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/NS23-Caught.png\" alt=\"Swarm on bait hive\"  width=\"200\" height=\"200\">Swarm on bait hive<\/p>\n\n<\/div> <!-- end of image.container5 -->\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Returning the queen to the hive after handling her<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:auto 38%\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The problem is the odour from your queen clip or your hands may cause the queen to be killed if she is just put straight back into the colony. To avoid this happening, take a frame with some brood, shake off the older bees, and release the queen onto the frame. It is now easy\u2002to see if she is accepted or rejected. If accepted, put the frame with her on gently back into the hive.<\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"451\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/NS23-Queen.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8452 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/NS23-Queen.png 600w, https:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/NS23-Queen-300x226.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Clearing bees from supers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:37% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"485\" src=\"http:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/NS23-Clearer.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8448 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/NS23-Clearer.png 600w, https:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/NS23-Clearer-300x243.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I use rhombus bee escapes with an eke below so that the bees have space to go down into. They should all be down overnight. Note; the image on the left is upside down<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Porter bee escapes in the crown board are fiddly, slow and prone\u2002to propolising. If you are in a hurry, shaking bees off capped honey is surprisingly easy and efficient. The frames need to be immediately placed in a covered container.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Feed Calculation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Feeding large numbers of colonies is hard work, so make things easier for yourself.<br>Always have spare syrup to carry with you.<br>Over-feeding creates extra work next spring.<br>Feed what they need &#8211; no more &#8211; no less.<br><br>To calculate the quantity of stores in your colonies:<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Both sides of a full BS brood frame equals 2.3 kg stores (5 lbs).<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Estimate the value for partially filled frames.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Total all the values together. Should be around 20 kg (44 lbs).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thanks, Nick, for a thought provoking talk. Beginners through to experienced beekeepers can find something there to improve their hive management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<script>\nconst scrollToTop = () => {\n\nwindow.scroll({\n    top: 0, \n    left: 0, \n    behavior: 'smooth' \n});\n};\n<\/script>\n<input type=\"button\" value=\"Scroll to top\" onclick=\"scrollToTop()\">","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>My Beekeeping &#8211; Tips and Tricks A talk by Nick Silver at the EDBK winter social 7th December 2023 I started beekeeping in 2015 and now have 16 colonies (9 for production plus 7 nucs) spread around four apiary sites. The aim is to produce good quality food products. This year I had 550 lbs [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8481","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reports"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Winter Social-Tips &amp; Tricks - East Devon Beekeepers<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A personal view of a beekeeping endeavour to produce good quality honey and other hive products for sale to the public.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eastdevonbk.co.uk\/?p=8481\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Winter Social-Tips &amp; 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