Beekeeping Podcast - Let's Talk Bees - Episode 62

Let's Talk Bee - Episode 62

Welcome to Let’s Talk Bees – your place to catch up on all the buzz from our live Q&A beekeeping podcast, hosted by Laurence Edwards of Black Mountain Honey.

Every other Friday at 7:30pm BST, Laurence goes live on YouTube to answer your questions in real time. The livestream is called Let’s Talk Bees, and it’s a friendly, no-nonsense Q&A format that’s perfect for beekeepers of all levels. Whether you're a first-time beekeeper or running dozens of colonies, there's always something new to learn.

In this blog, you’ll find the full video replay of the latest session at the top, followed by a complete written summary of the questions and answers covered during the stream. It’s ideal for those who prefer to read, take notes, or quickly revisit specific advice.

Got a question of your own? Tune in live and ask away. Let’s Talk Bees is where the UK beekeeping community comes together – one question at a time.

Q: The queen I received is piping constantly since she arrived. She’s in a cool, dark dining room — is that normal?

A: Yes, totally normal. Queens pipe often, not just virgins. Get her into the hive ASAP so the bees can regulate her temperature and look after her properly.

Q: I’ve never heard a queen pipe before. Is it supposed to sound like that?

A: Yes, it’s a cricket-like sound. Once you know it, it’s lovely and reassuring — a normal part of queen behaviour.

Q: I bought two Black Mountain Honey nucs four weeks ago and they’ve already filled 12-frame brood boxes — should I be worried about swarming?

A: That’s normal in spring with good genetics and forage. Watch for swarm signs and consider splitting or adding space.

Q: I’ve done a split and think multiple queens might have emerged. What do I do with extra virgin queens?

A: Emerged virgins are hard to manage. I recommend introducing queen cells a day before emergence inside a queen cell protector. That yields better acceptance.

Q: I introduced new queens into two hopelessly queenless hives — how long before they calm down?

A: It’s not instant. Aggression from the old queen’s daughters will persist until they die off — around 4 weeks. Then new calm bees will emerge.

Q: I think my hive has a laying worker. We’ve searched and there’s definitely no queen. What should we do?

A: Shake all the bees out away from the hive and let them drift into neighbouring colonies. That’s the best method for dealing with laying workers.

Q: What’s the fewest number of brood frames you’d take for a split in June?

A: One frame of brood, one of stores, and a shake of bees is fine in June. You can also go up to 10 frames if you want a large split.

Q: How do we encourage bees up into the supers? They’re on double brood and ignoring the super.

A: You don’t need to encourage them. They’ll go up when they need to. Consider putting the queen below both broods, adding a queen excluder, and letting the upper box turn into a honey super.

Q: What are your thoughts on the rolling Demaree method for swarm control?

A: It works well if you have time. Move brood frames up, replace with empty comb or stores, and repeat weekly. It prevents swarming and boosts honey production.

Q: My hive faces south but gets shaded in the afternoon by a forest. Bees go quiet even when it’s sunny. Is that normal?

A: Yes, bees work less in the shade. Full sun gives maximum productivity, but it’s not a big issue.

Q: When does spring end and summer begin for honey production? Is it all summer honey this year?

A: The “June gap” usually marks the shift. Everything before the gap is spring honey (rape, hawthorn), after is summer (bramble, lime, clover). This year still counts as spring crop.

Q: I did a Demaree, but they swarmed anyway three weeks later. What did I do wrong?

A: Bees can swarm again once the three-week buffer ends. You can repeat the Demaree or roll it forward each week to keep creating laying space.

Q: Can I add a second brood box at 90% full to prepare for a summer split?

A: Yes, and in fact, I now recommend 70% as the trigger. Give them space early to reduce swarm risk and support rapid growth.

Q: Have you had issues with green plastic queen excluders? My bees won’t go through.

A: I haven’t had problems, but there are faulty batches out there. Worth checking with other suppliers if yours seem too tight.

Q: Is it risky to do a Demaree near the May–June gap if there’s not much nectar?

A: Yes. I prefer to finish a Demaree just before the gap. That lets me respond if needed — adding boxes, feeding, or making changes.

Q: My hive is backfilling the brood box — what can I do?

A: Common issue right now. Pull frames up, give laying space, or use a rolling Demaree. Manage space proactively.

Q: Should I sacrifice a honey super to get foundation drawn in a second brood box?

A: No. Honey supers are more valuable long term. Get them drawn and filled. Brood combs get replaced every few years, supers last indefinitely.

Q: Is there a brand of thymolated syrup you recommend for autumn feeding?

A: Yes — Hive Alive. It prevents fermentation and contains seaweed extracts the bees seem to love. Mix it with invert syrup for best results.

Q: Can I use a second brood box instead of a super to allow for a later summer split?

A: Yes. Use two brood boxes instead of supering if you want to build up colony strength for future splits.

Q: What’s your experience with the Obsidian Star queens?

A: They’re a dark cross of Caucasian and Carniolan bees. Great temperament and productivity. I’m building them up for broader use.

Q: Wasps and hornets were terrible this year. Any tips for protecting bees?

A: Get entrances right early and reduce them. If you feed inside, bees don’t need to fly much — which helps avoid hawking hornets.

Q: How long should I leave it before checking a colony post-Demaree if they’ve swarmed?

A: Three to four weeks minimum. Don’t rush — you risk disturbing new queen establishment.

Q: Is drawn comb more valuable than foundation even in brood boxes?

A: Yes for supers — drawn comb can last indefinitely. Brood comb only lasts a few years. I wouldn’t sacrifice a honey crop just to draw brood comb.

Q: Is it worth adding Hive Alive to invert syrup?

A: Yes. It stabilises the feed, reduces fermentation, and helps bees take it down more efficiently.