Buckfast Queen Introduction

29/05/2026 - Introduced a 2026 Buckfast queen a frame (Langstroth) of bees and brood (at different stages of development) to 12x14 box.

25-26 April 2026 Inspection

Temperature 16°C, overcast.

National Hive 2 - Drone layer or worker layer. Scattered drone with perforations. Ample stores.

Langstroth Hive 1 - Stand thoroughly scrubbed cleaned to almost new. Queen observed and laying nicely.

Langstroth Hive 2 - Stand thoroughly scrubbed cleaned to almost new. Added new shallow super. Queen not spotted. No signs of pre-swarming preparations.

Langstroth Hive 3 - Stand thoroughly scrubbed cleaned to almost new. Added new shallow super. Queen spotted and laying nicely. Queen spotted. No signs of pre-swarming preparations. Drone brood destroyed.

Horizontal Hive 1 - 2kg sugar candy. 

Horizontal Hive 2 -  Redundant.

24-01-2026 - Winter Feed

 

Temperature 7°C, overcast.

National Hive 2 - 2kg sugar candy

Langstroth Hive - 2kg sugar candy

Langstroth Hive 2 - 2kg sugar candy.

Langstroth Hive 3 - 2kg sugar candy. 

Horizontal Hive 1 - 2kg sugar candy. 

Horizontal Hive 2 -  Redundant.

29 September 2025 - Creation of National Hive 1

Introduced a Carnica mated queen in a three frame 'nuc' placed above National Hive 2 and separated by a clearer board with stapled  mesh over the two bee Porter escapes holes.

28 September 2025 - Carnica Queens Introduction

Autumn Feeding - 14-09-2025

Temperature 17°C, SUNNY.

National Hive 2 - Queen spotted BUT not laying. 5 litres sugar syrup feed.

Langstroth Hive 1 - Queen spotted BUT not laying. 4 litres sugar syrup feed.

Langstroth Hive 2 - Queen laying. Brood at all stages observed. Moved a frame of brood at all stages of development to Horizontal Hive 2. 4 litres sugar syrup feed.

Langstroth Hive 3 - 4l 2:1 sugar syrup. Not inspected.

Horizontal Hive 1 - 2 litres sugar syrup feed. Introduced a carnica queen with travel attendants.

Horizontal Hive 2 -  Added three frames from other hives with stores and one (Langstroth 2) with brood at all stages of development. Introduced a carnica queen with travel attendants. 2 litres sugar syrup feed.

Winter Feeding - 24-01-2026

Temperature 7°C, overcast.

National Hive 2 - 2kg sugar candy

Langstroth Hive - 2kg sugar candy

Langstroth Hive 2 - 2kg sugar candy.

Langstroth Hive 3 - 2kg sugar candy. 

Horizontal Hive 1 - 2kg sugar candy. 

Horizontal Hive 2 -  Redundant.

29 August 2025

Temperature 12°C, overcast.

National Hive 2 - Queen spotted and laying. Nectar and honey stores in progress rather slowly. Colony still very active. Jumbo super continuing being worked on.

Langstroth Hive 1 - Queen not spotted and no ftesh brood/eggs observed. Nectar and pollen coming in most probable himalayan balsam in small amounts. Colony not as progressive. Queen cell left in-situ last week hatched, but no eggs observed.

Langstroth Hive 2 - Hive still active. Nectar storing in slow progress. Definitely reduced nectar flow. Queen not observed but laying.

Langstroth Hive 3 - Colony still depleted despite combined with split.

Horizontal Hive 1 - Combined with split and small fresh brood observed.

Horizontal Hive 2 -  Redundant.

17 August 2025 Inspection

 

Temperature 26°C, sunny, very hot.

National Hive 2 - Queen not spotted but laying. Nectar and honey stores in progress. Colony still very active. Jumbo super continuing being worked on.

Langstroth Hive 1 - Queen not spotted and no ftesh brood/eggs observed. Nectar and pollen coming in most probable himalayan balsam in small amounts. Colony not as progressive. Two charged queen cells observed, one transferred to Horizontal Hive 1. Another left in-situ.

Langstroth Hive 2 - Hive not as active. Nectar storing in slow progress. Definitely reduced nectar flow. Brood box not inpected. Top super box removed for storage.

Langstroth Hive 3 - Combined with split created four weeks ago. Colony very depleted.

Horizontal Hive 1 - Combined with split from three/four weeks ago. Also added a frame with a charged queen cell from Langstroth Hive 1.

Horizontal Hive 2 -  Made redundant.

10 August 2025 - Inspection

Temperature 20°C, sunny/overcast.

National Hive 2 - Queen not spotted but laying. Nectar and honey stores in progress. Colony still very active. Jumbo super continuing being worked on.

Langstroth Hive 1 - Queen not spotted but laying. Plenty of nectar and pollen coming in most probable himalayan balsam. Colony not as progressive.

Langstroth Hive 2 - Hive congested and very active. Nectar storing in full progress. Definitely reduced nectar flow. Queen present but not spotted, and laying. Plenty of brood at all stages of development.

Langstroth Hive 3 - Queenless definitely. Colony not as active, depleted. 

Horizontal Hive 1 - Queenless for sure. Nectar and honey stores  still ample. Pepper pot brood definitely cleared.

Horizontal Hive 2 -  Nuc from three weeks ago still does have a virgin queen (spotted). Not started laying as yet.

New Split - No sign of a virgin queen.

2 August 2025 Inspection

Temperature 18°C, overcast.

National Hive 2 - Queen not spotted but laying. Nectar and honey stores in progress. Colony still very active. Jumbo super continuing being worked on.

Langstroth Hive 1 - Colony a wee feisty today  (possibly nectar flow depletion). Queen not spotted but laying. Plenty of nectar and honey storing. Colony progressive.

Langstroth Hive 2 - Hive congested and very active. Nectar storing in full progress. Definitely reduced nectar flow. Queen present and laying.

Langstroth Hive 3 - Queen not spotted and not sure if laying. Colony not as active. 

Horizontal Hive 1 - Queenless for sure. No eggs/fresh brood. Nectar and pollen stores  still ample. Pepper pot brood appears to have cleared.

Horizontal Hive 2 -  Nuc from two weeks ago still does not seem to have a virgin queen. 

New Split - No sign of a virgin queen.

24 July 2025 Inspection

Temperature 19°C, overcast.

National Hive 2 - Queen not spotted but laying. Nectar and honey stores in progress. Colony still very active. Jumbo super continuing being worked on.

Langstroth Hive 1 - Queen not spotted but laying. Plenty of nectar and honey storing. Colony progressively increasing.

Langstroth Hive 2 - Hive congested and very active. Nectar storing in full progress. Combined colonies very hyperactive. Unable to properly inspect the colony because of the hyperactivity.

Langstroth Hive 3 - Queen not spotted but laying. Nectar and honey stores in progress. Colony still very active. 

Horizontal Hive 1 - Queen NOT. Nectar and honey stores in progress. Colony active. Pepper pot brood appears to be getting less and less. Numerous queen cells (capped/open). Created another split.

Horizontal Hive 2 -  Nuc from last week still does not seem to have a virgin queen. Added a frame of brood frame with one capped queen cell.

New Split - Added another frame of brood with a capped queen cell to existing split.

20 July 2025 Inspection

Temperature 20°C, overcast.

National Hive 2 - Queen not spotted but laying. Nectar and honey stores in progress. Colony very active. Jumbo supper being worked on.

Langstroth Hive 1 - Queen not spotted but laying. Plenty of nectar and honey storing. Colony very active.

Langstroth Hive 2 - Hive congested and very active. Nectar storing in full progress. Combined colonies appear to to have successfully merged. Newspaper barrier chewed open. To check for queen acceptance at next inspection.

Langstroth Hive 3 - Queen not spotted but laying. Nectar and honey stores in progress. Colony very active. 

Horizontal Hive 1 - Queen NOT spotted but laying. Nectar and honey stores in progress. Colony active. Pepper pot brood appears to be gettjnv less and less. Numerous queen cells (capped/open). Created a split.

Horizontal Hive 2 -  Nuc from last week still does not seem to have a virgin queen. To check in 3 days for progress.

New split from Horizontal Hive 1 - Frame of brood with capped queen cell. To feed with sugar syrup tomorrow.

18 July 2025 - Hiving new split to Horizontal Hive 2

Hived split from 2 weeks ago to empty Horizontal Hive 2. Neither queen nor egss/brood spotted. Fed with sugar syrup.

17 July 2025 Langstroth Hive 2 Combine

Temperature 20°C, overcast. Humid.

Langstroth Hive 2 - Queenless and combined with queen right split from Horizontal Hive 2.

13 July 2025 Inspection

Temperature 24°C, sunny.

National Hive 1 - Decommissioned.

National Hive 2 - Queen spotted but laying. Nectar and honey stores in progress. Colony very active. Jumbo supper being worked on.

Langstroth Hive 1 - Queen not spotted but laying. Plenty of nectar and honey stores in progress. Colony very active. 

Langstroth Hive 2 - Queenless but hive congested and very active. Nectar storing in full progress. Will be combining with queen right split from a few weeks ago.

Langstroth Hive 3 - Queen spotted but laying. Nectar and honey stores in progress. Colony very active. 

Horizontal Hive 1 - Queen NOT spotted but laying. Nectar and honey stores in progress. Colony active. Pepper pot brood still not cleared. Uncapped queen/cups destroyed.

Horizontal Hive 2 -  New queen mated and laying. To combine with Langstroth Hive 2.

Split/'Nuc' from two weeks ago. New 'queen' not spotted. To check in 3 days.

28 June 2025 - Routine Inspection

Temperature 19°C, overcast. ☁️ 

National Hive 1 - Decommissioned.

National Hive 2 - Queen not spotted but laying. Nectar and honey stores in progress. Colony very active. 

Langstroth Hive 1 - Queen not spotted but laying. Nectar and honey stores in progress. Colony getting very active. 

Langstroth Hive 2 - Queen not spotted. Numerous queen cells, some capped but doubt swarmed. Nectar storing in progress. Split using two capped queen cell in new nucleus. Rest of queen cells destroyed.

Langstroth Hive 3 - Queen spotted but laying. Nectar and honey stores in progress. Colony very active. 

Horizontal Hive 1 - Queen NOT spotted but laying. Nectar and honey stores in progress. Colony active. 

Horizontal Hive 2 -  New split not inspected today. Bees flying in and out.

24 April 2025 - Easter Inspection

 National 1: Colony steadily building up.

Horizontal Hive 1: Plagued with 'Chalk brood'? Spotty brood.

Langstroth 1: Colony steadily building up.

Langstroth 3: Colony steadily building up.

Langstroth 2: Colony bristlingly building up. Added a frame of drawn foundation. Patches of capped drone brood destroyed.

Pollen Pate Feed

Langstroth Hive 1: 500g

Langstroth Hive 2: 500g

Langstroth Hive 3: 500g

Horizontal Hive 1: 500g

National Hive 1: 500g

Early Spring Stimulus Feed

Outside Temperature about 8 degrees, overcast. Fed all hives with sugar syrup (1:1). Sugar candy still abundant in hives. 

4 August 2024 - Routine Inspection

  Temperature about 18°C, overcast. ☁️ 

National Hive 1 - Decommissioned.

National Hive 2 - Queen spotted, laying. Nectar and honey storing in both boxes in progress less. Colony still very active. 

Langstroth Hive 1 - Queen not spotted but laying. Nectar and honey storing in brood and deep super in progress albeit less. Colony very active. 

Langstroth Hive 2 - New queen not spotted but laying. Nectar stores slowly increasing.

Langstroth Hive 3 - Queen spotted and laying. Nectar and honey storing in both brood and deep super in progress but slowly. Queen cells (3 uncapped) destroyed. Colony very active.

Horizontal Hive 1 - Queen NOT spotted but laying. POLLEN (a lot) and honey storing in progress. Colony very active. 

Horizontal Hive 2 -  Queen not spotted but laying. Nectar/pollen and honey storing progressing.

19 July 2024 - Routine Inspection

 Temperature about 20°C, overcast. ☁️ 

National Hive 1 - Decommissioned.

National Hive 2 - Queen spotted but laying. Jumbo super with rogue comb with hew brood (another queen in the super???).Nectar and honey storing in both boxes in progress. Colony very active. 

Langstroth Hive 1 - Queen not spotted but laying. Nectar and honey storing in brood and deep super in progress. Colony very active. 

Langstroth Hive 2 - New queen not spotted but laying. Nectar stores low but in progress.

Langstroth Hive 3 - Queen spotted and laying. Nectar and honey storing in both brood and deep super in progress. Colony very active.

Horizontal Hive 1 - Queen NOT spotted but laying. Nectar and honey storing in progress. Colony very active. 

Horizontal Hive 2 -  New queen spotted laying. Nectar and honey storing low. Nectar flow on.

2 September 2023 Inspection

 

 Temperature about 20°C, overcast. ☁️ 

National Hive 1 - Decommissioned.

National Hive 2 - Queen not spotted but laying. Sugar syrup feed 5l (2:1).

Langstroth Hive 1 - Queen not spotted. Eggs and brood observed. Queen not spotted. Sugar syrup feed 4l (2:1).

Langstroth Hive 2 - Queen not spotted. Lots of eggs and open and capped brood. Sugar syrup feed 4l (2:1).

Langstroth Hive 3 - Queen not spotted but laying. Sugar syrup feed 4l (2:1).

Horizontal Hive 1 - Very active colony. Queen not spotted. Sugar syrup feed 4l (2:1).

Horizontal Hive 2 -  Queenless. Deliberate allow to naturally perish. 

10 August 2023 Inspection

 Temperature about 24°C, overcast. ☁️ 

National Hive 1 - Decommissioned.

National Hive 2 - Queen spotted and laying. Sugar syrup feed (2:1).

Langstroth Hive 1 - Colony now queen right. Eggs and brood observed. Queen not spotted. Few frames (deep/shallow) harvested. Sugar syrup feed (2:1).

Langstroth Hive 2 - Colony still very prolific. Queen not spotted. Lots of eggs and open and capped brood. Lots of drones. No queen cells. Supers (deep + shallows) being filled with nectar. Harvested 1 deeper super and 1 shallow super.  Sugar syrup feed (2:1).

Langstroth Hive 3 - Queen spotted but laying. No queen cells. Supers slowly being filled with nectar. Sugar syrup feed (2:1).

Horizontal Hive 1 - Very active colony. Queen spotted. Fair nectar storage continuing. Sugar syrup feed (2:1).

Horizontal Hive 2 -  Queenless. No eggs/brood observed.

4 August 2023 Inspection

 Temperature about 17°C, overcast. ☁️ 

National Hive 1 - Decommissioned.

National Hive 2 - Queen spotted and laying generously.

Langstroth Hive 1 - Colony now queen right. Eggs and brood observed. Queen spotted. 

Langstroth Hive 2 - Colony still very prolific. Queen spotted. Lots of eggs and open and capped brood. Lots of drones. No queen cells. Supers (deep + shallows) being filled with nectar.

Langstroth Hive 3 - Queen not spotted but laying. No queen cells. Supers slowly being filled with nectar. 

Horizontal Hive 1 - Very active colony. Queen spotted. Good nectar storage continuing.

Horizontal Hive 2 -  Queenless. No eggs/brood observed.

29 July 2023 Inspection

 Temperature about 16°C, overcast. ☁️ 

National Hive 1 - Decommissioned last week. 

National Hive 2 - Now fully combined with Hive 1. Queen spotted and has started laying generously.

Langstroth Hive 1 - Colony queenless still. Capped brood from Horizontal Hive 1 beginning to hatch. No queen cells.

Langstroth Hive 2 - Colony still very prolific. Queen spotted. Lots of eggs and open and capped brood. Lots of drones. No queen cells. Supers (deep + shallows) being filled with nectar.

Langstroth Hive 3 - Queen spotted but laying well. No queen cells. Supers slowly being filled with nectar. 

Horizontal Hive 1 - Very active colony. Queen not spotted. Good nectar storage continuing.

Horizontal Hive 2 - Queenless. Presume new virgin queen present but not spotted. No eggs/brood observed.

22 July 2023 - Colony combine

Temperature about 16°C, overcast. ☁️ 

National Hive 1 and National Hive 2  combined using the newspaper method. Hive 1(queenless) on top of queen right Hive 2 brood box.

21 July 2023 Inspection

Temperature about 18°C, overcast. ☁️ 

National Hive 1 - No eggs/open brood. Queenless. 

National Hive 2 - Queen observed. Queen spotted and has started laying.

Langstroth Hive 1 - Colony queenless. Transferred a frame of eggs/open and closed brood from Horizontal Hive 1.

Langstroth Hive 2 - Colony very prolific. Queen spotted. Lots of eggs and open and capped brood. Lots of drones. No queen cells. Supers (deep + shallows) being filled with nectar.

Langstroth Hive 3 - Queen not spotted but laying well. No queen cells. Supers slowly being filled with nectar. 

Horizontal Hive 1 - Very active colony. Queen spotted. Good nectar storage continuing. Transferred a frame of eggs/open/capped brood to Langstroth Hive 1.

Horizontal Hive 2 - Queenless. Previous capped cell cut open. Presume new virgin queen present. No eggs/larvae. 

16 July 2023 Inspection

Temperature about 18°C, overcast. ☁️ 

National Hive 1 - Queen not spotted. No eggs/open brood. Definitely queenless. Spotted/haphazard drone brood. Worker layer?

National Hive 2 - Queen observed. Queen spotted and has started laying.

Langstroth Hive 1 - Colony queenless? No eggs/open brood. 

Langstroth Hive 2 - Colony very prolific. Queen not spotted. Lots of eggs and open and capped brood. Lots of drone brood and drones. No queen cells. Supers (deep + shallow) being filled with nectar.

Langstroth Hive 3 - Queen not spotted and laying well. No queen cells. Supers slowly being filled with nectar. 

Horizontal Hive 1 - Very active colony. Queen spotted. Good nectar storage continuing. Placed QX in situ.

Horizontal Hive 2 - Queenless. Previous capped cell cut open. Presume new virgin queen present.

9 July 2023 Inspection

 Temperature about 21°C overcast/sunny.

National Hive 1 - Queen not spotted. No eggs/open brood. Queenless perhaps?

National Hive 2 - Queen observed. No eggs/open brood. Mated?

Langstroth Hive 1 - Colony queenless? No eggs/open brood. 

Langstroth Hive 2 - Colony very prolific. Queen spotted. Lots of drone brood and drones. No queen cells. Supers (deep + shallow) being filled with nectar.

Langstroth Hive 3 - Queen (black) spotted and laying well. No queen cells. Supers being filled with nectar. 

Horizontal Hive 1 - Very active colony. Queen spotted. Good nectar storage continuing.

Horizontal Hive 2 - Queenless? One massive capped queen cell in-situ.

1 July 2023 Inspection

Temperature about 16°C overcast/rainy.

National Hive 1 - Queen not spotted. No eggs/open brood. Preciously transplanted queen cells not accepted?

National Hive 2 - Virgin queen observed. No eggs/open brood.

Langstroth Hive 1 - Colony quiet. No eggs/brood. Put in-situ frame with capped queen cell from Horizontal Hive 2.

Langstroth Hive 2 - Colony very prolific. Queen spotted. Lots of drone brood and drones. No queen cells. Supers (deep + shallow) being filled with nectar.

Langstroth Hive 3 - Queen laying well. No queen cells. Queen not spotted. 

Horizontal Hive 1 - Very active colony. Queen spotted. Good nectar storage.

Horizontal Hive 2 - Colony still very slow in progress. Few queen cells. Queen not spotted. Frame with two capped queen cells placed in-situ in Langstroth Hive 1.

24 June 2023 Inspection

 Temperature about 22°C overcast.

National Hive 1 - Queen not spotted. Queennot spotted. No eggs/open brood. Two Queen cells (one open and another capped) transplanted from Langstroth Hive 1.

National Hive 2 - Previously two capped  swarm  cells hatched. Virgin queen observed. No eggs/open brood.

Langstroth Hive 1 - Colony very active in almost swarm mode. Few swarm cells observed (two transplanted to National Hive1).

Langstroth Hive 2 - Colony very prolific. Queen spotted. Lots of drone brood and drones. No queen cells. Supers (deep + shallow) being filled with nectar. Added two frames of foundation. 

Langstroth Hive 3 - Queen laying well. No queen cells. Queen not spotted. Added frame of foundation. 

Horizontal Hive 1 - Very active colony. Queen spotted. Good nectar storage. Added two frames of foundation. 

Horizontal Hive 2 - Colony still very slow in progress. Few queen cells observed and destroyed. Queen spotted.