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'brown stripe across mid-section'? I've never looked at the belly, but the SHB I have here are solid black on top. I'm no expert though.

I should have asked this in the original post. Is it a picture worthy site?

I pulled a frame of open brood, some empty comb, and a feeder into a 5 frame medium nuc. I think I have ended up with a laying worker nuc. No worries, my fault (inattention and poor eyesite), but...

This is just a curiousity question.

When a hive is ready to swarm, has anyone noticed what time of day they tend leave?

Don't know if they are Russian or not. Bought a nuc from him last year. Most productive hive I have this year. Pulled a split from it this year, it's doing well. Both are easy to handle.

I have an 8 frame OB hive started from a split this April that is doing good. I have a 2nd year colony that is not doing so well. I would like to combine the OB and 2nd year colony keeping the OB...

I've read a lot of different methods of early spring summer manipulation but haven't been able find much on late summer and fall. I would be interested in techniques used in the No Ga. area.

This only my second year. Last year, at this time, with the lack of rain it was fairly easy to see that nothing was coming in. This year, heats been down, rains have been frequent, it appears that...

Stavros,

First, listen to Michael, I'm just starting so don't know what I'm talking about. But I had a thought, take a frame of capped brood from the strong hive and give to the weak hive.
...

You have been given some of the best advice already, read, read read. Michael Bush's site has been a very important site for me. Walt Wright is also intriguing, as well as the rest of the crew here...

I'm being lazy, but what are the laws people have run into shipping honey via UP
S, etc?

Maybe another way of looking at is, what would be the survival impetus for this type of behavior?

This is my second year and I have a question about spring management.

I've read about swapping the bottom brood box with the 2nd box, pollen related I think (Walt??). I did not do that this...

You might try Brushy Mountain.

http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com/prodinfo.asp?number=656

Thanks for the opinions. I havn't tried anything yet. I THINK Bjorn's thoughts coincide with what I wanted to accomplish.

Bjorn,

Can you give more details on how you use excluders for honey...

I would like to try using an excluder to see how it works for me and would appreciate your feedback.

Equipment is all 8 frame mediums. If you have 4 meduims on a hive would you place the...

If this is a repeat I apologize, searches didn't turn up the answer.

How much honey would you expect out of 7 medium frames fully capped?

Yesterday, I extracted 7 frames from one hive (4...

A few days ago I successfully caught my first swarm. (probably from my own hive though). I have a couple of questions;

1) Once in the box, is it normal to see more entrance activity than on...

Scads, raise their own.

Riverrat,

I have only seen a few drones flying, but a whole lot of capped drone brood.

My thinking is to wait until this weekend, or next, and make the split.

I'm just south of Chattanooga. Would it be too early to think about splitting this time of year? One of my hives, 4 8 frame mediums, is packed with honey and brood, some drone. I was thinking...

Jay,

Check out MB's site

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesnaturalcell.htm

I didn't realize that a cluster was that small.



Makes sense, if the cluster diameter is as smaller than the height of a deep. Something I didn't know.

You're assuming the grower is ignorant. Or worse, he's using your assumption that he is ignorant to cut his cost. Empirical evidence would be nice, not practical though, unless it's your living. ...

Are you thinking this is a situation where the bees are not given a choice, but have had to move/span the gap, lack of resources or just not that far from the cluster warmth? BTW, I've read about...

For those using PF120/100's, have you considered cutting holes in the bottom corners? Seems the bees do that on foundation. I assume to allow easier movement.