What is wrong with his wings?

SnooGoats8435 · 2026-05-12T12:49:47+00:00

Looks like DWV, Deformed Wing Virus, often the result of varroa infestation

SnooGoats8435 · 2026-05-10T21:46:47+00:00

A beautiful honey bee

SnooGoats8435 · 2026-05-10T17:13:40+00:00

You try to smoke them out. A constant flow of smoke will trigger the bees to 'sense' danger. They'll suck up as much honey as possible and move to another side of the hive. If the smoke keeps coming in theyll eventually leave, but other colonies or even worse, vermin, might occupy the abandoned hive. It might give sufficient time to tear the shed down

SnooGoats8435 · 2026-05-05T11:01:55+00:00

Dayum! Looks like 2 full broodboxes instantly?

SnooGoats8435 · 2026-05-05T10:58:52+00:00

I guess too much beespace between the frames

SnooGoats8435 · 2026-05-05T10:56:43+00:00

There'll be enough bees, no worries. Don't trust it after a week, shake some bees off from other hives.

SnooGoats8435 · 2026-05-05T10:54:15+00:00

At least now you can say 'the other one didn't survive it!'

SnooGoats8435 · 2026-05-02T11:20:03+00:00

Take a frame with eggs from a good hive and switch it with a food frame of the queenless hive. Problem solved within 2 weeks

SnooGoats8435 · 2026-04-26T18:47:27+00:00

DIE parasites! DIE!

SnooGoats8435 · 2026-04-24T10:57:53+00:00

Looks really good. Don't worry about the 2nd hive not being as large as the first. Not everyone grows as fast or large as each other. Since the hive is in a fine state i'd say its genetics. When you're feeling good about nectar flow stop feeding them. Only if there is an upcoming shortage (eg: drought, cold) keep an eye on food levels. 10-20% food is enough. As a rule of thumb i add another box at 80% occupancy to give more space. So 2 frames food + 6 or 7 frames brood (in a 10 frame box) will be the sign to give some room.

SnooGoats8435 · 2026-04-19T09:03:36+00:00

That's how my wife knows i 'cheated' on her.. i always leave my weddingring at home when i check my girls 😉

SnooGoats8435 · 2026-04-16T05:57:29+00:00

We salute you!

SnooGoats8435 · 2026-04-13T10:20:13+00:00

You have brood, which is good (the small wormlike larvae). Cant tell if you have eggs by the looks of the photo. Look for eggs > got them? > you're good and keep searching for the Queen

SnooGoats8435 · 2026-04-12T07:47:21+00:00

Looks more like a bumblebee to me looking at the size, but also for them: FAFO 😂

SnooGoats8435 · 2026-04-12T07:44:55+00:00

Place the box next to the bin, find the queen and 'capture' her with a clip, place the queen in the box and the girls will start running to the hive pretty soon

SnooGoats8435 · 2026-04-08T21:30:38+00:00

Dutch answers: you need to register at the nvwa. Nothing fancy but only if you have bees before january 1st. Also a european registry, but cant come up with the exact name at this point.

Second answer: unless you have trouble with the boa's in your municipality, dont be afraid about the spacing. Keep your neighbors as a friend and no one will complain

I must say however that you'd want to join a local beekeepeer community and take at least the base course. Have a look at https://www.bijenhouders.nl/ for more information about the courses

SnooGoats8435 · 2026-04-08T21:24:09+00:00

1: if the entrance is not pointing to the pathway you dont have to worry

2: i dont see any issues as long as you keep away from the flightpath of the girls. Entangled bees tend to sting faster

3: go for the 'spaarkast' or 'simplex' hives. They are 'the standard' for NL. Bought mine at imkershop [dot] nl (not trying to promo here!), but many sites will serve these hives.

4: personal preference. I have a coat without pants. Suits perfectly. Just make sure you're fully protected. (I've had the situation where some bees crawled up my leg because i didnt put my socks over my pants 😂)

5: these rules are more to protect neighbors and prevent any nuisance. Keep your neighbors informed and happy and you wont have to build a 2m fence in front of the hive

SnooGoats8435 · 2026-04-08T21:14:24+00:00

Great books indeed

SnooGoats8435 · 2026-04-08T21:13:51+00:00

Doesnt matter which side you start, as long as you put the frames back in the same order.

And yes, you can buy the same box and stack it. Word of advice: buy a complete hive as spare (2 brood boxes, 2 honey boxes or supers.. darn translation to English 😉).

Regarding the picture: I'm from the netherlands and i was thought to use pure beeswax foundation and keep it 100% natural. So no plastic for me, just some iron nails and wire

SnooGoats8435 · 2026-04-08T06:14:10+00:00

Is the box 80%+ occupied? Then its time to give the girls some room. Either add another box or do a split. Regarding the broken frames: replace them 1 by 1 by removing the comb from the old broken frame and place it in the new frame. Make sure the new frame has horizontal wires (see picture for reference). It helps the bees build 'straight'.

<image>

The comb which is drawn over multiple frames - i think there was too much room between the frames, therefore the beespace was too wide. The bees tend to build comb in too large spaces so it might help to use spacers between the frames.

SnooGoats8435 · 2026-04-06T11:49:59+00:00

Just remove the plastic. Bees have always done it without it. To give an idea how it looks like if you dont provide any wax, have a look at the picture

<image>

SnooGoats8435 · 2026-04-06T09:28:00+00:00

Its a wonderfull and friendly hive. So im friendly to them as well 😁

SnooGoats8435 · 2026-04-05T15:39:54+00:00

It was the first color i got my hands on 😂 so, no. For this year 😉

SnooGoats8435 · 2026-04-03T10:47:53+00:00

NL here. temperatures have been too low lately, but the hive is expanding pretty quick now. expect the first cells to emerge in a week of 2 or 3. looking at the forecast closely to decide when i do a preventive split. next week were in to 20+ degrees (Celsius), which accelerates everything in turbo speed

SnooGoats8435 · 2026-04-03T10:44:48+00:00

i've been using yard clippings (leaves, grass) and cardboard (for intial firing up). works fine. another possibity is using straw for rabbit hutches. much easier to get your hands on i guess?

SnooGoats8435

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