Queen rearing is something that all beekeepers should do as part of summer management. The benefits of raising our own queens far outweigh the effort we put into it. Here is how to do it if you want to give it a go!
More
Queen Rearing for Beginners – Breeding Quality Queens
How to Get Your Bees to Draw Comb
Drawn comb is gold dust to beekeepers. Frustratingly, it is sometimes as difficult to obtain as it is valuable. In this extensive article, originally published in the Irish Beekeeper’s Magazine, An Beachaire, we will look at comb and discuss how best to get the bees to build it.
More
Feeding Bees – Winter & Spring
Late winter and early spring is the time of year when honeybees are most at risk of starvation. It is therefore of utmost importance that beekeepers are vigilant and check their colonies for stores and feed if necessary. Read on to learn how to give emergency feed to bees in winter and spring.
More
Bees in Chimneys: Identification, Removal and Prevention
Discovering bees in your chimney can be a cause for concern. While bees are beneficial to the environment as pollinators, having them in your chimney can pose risks to your home and family. In this comprehensive blog post, we will cover various aspects of dealing with bees in chimneys.
More
Save our Superheroes – Make a Difference this World Bee Day
World Bee Day is a wonderful opportunity to highlight the importance of our bees. It is also a great time to give individuals and communities tools to take action to protect these important pollinators and ensure that they continue to thrive.
More
Swarm Alert! – What to do when you see a Swarm of Honeybees
If you spot a swarm of honeybees, don’t panic. Stay calm and keep your distance. Swarming bees are not looking to harm you, they are simply looking for a new home. Contact a local beekeeper who can safely remove the swarm and relocate it to a more suitable location.
More
Honeybee Removals & Cut-Outs
As a beekeeper, I often get called on to do removals. It has taken me to some pretty strange places, from a chimney on a three-storey house, numerous compost bins and a boat. as well as to the top window of a 600-year-old castle and a buzzing ESB substation! Not your average working day! Here I share some of my methods for bee removal and give some tips for how to do a cut-out using a modified Maisemore poly nuc.
More
Beekeeping – Spring Preparations & First Inspection
For many beekeepers, the start of spring is usually one big, long, drawn out wait for good weather. Weather warm enough and calm enough for the beekeeper to spring into action for the first inspection of the year. It may come at the end of March, but it may equally be April until the conditions are right, and we can finally don our bee-suits. Read this article to find out how to get your spring preparations underway and all you need to know for that all important first inspection of the year.
More
Hot Hives: How to Deal with Aggressive Bees
One of the most effective ways of dealing with an aggressive or defensive colony is bleeding it of its flying bees. The flying bees are the ones who typically display aggressive or defensive behaviour. A colony depleted off its older workforce are much easier to handle.
More