Well its bad.... and very sad
American Foul Brood is in an area close to me!

This is a nasty disease and if your bees get it you MUST notify DEFRA!

It kinda turns the brood - (grubs) into a sticky goo! works its way through the hive. There will be no young bees to replace the old ones and the colony will die out. This disease spreads!

Inspectors contact local keepers and visit to check hives, if found then its a very sad case of -
digging a pit
killing all the bees
burning the hive and all parts
filling in the pit

I am not sure I could cope with that very well- they are 'my girls' after all.

My friend has been contacted by the inspector as foul brood has been discovered in her area (also, not far from me)
She has the inspector coming on Friday - I am booking a visit too, just to be on the safe side.

I really do hope the best for you and your girls HF, I saw about this on telly a while a go, not good news.

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A simple dude trying to grow veg.

http://haywayne.blogspot.com/ - UPDATED - 8th May

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Oh Headfry,

How very very sad I do hope your girls are ok. You are doing the right thing by booking an inspection but it must be so very hard.

Let us know how you get on.

Thinking of you all, Mandy x

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No mater when time you set out, you always get there at the same time

Oh dear Headfry I realy hope you don't have it, I know how much your "girls" mean to you and - I might add, me too. I love reading your posts. Is there anything you can do to protect them?
Fingies crossed for you and your friend and all the other bee keepers in the area.

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A garden is a lovesome thing, God wot! (Thomas Edward Brown)

That's absolutely terrible news....really don't know what to say.

I'm keeping everything crossed that your girls will be free from this horrid disease.

Thinking positve thoughts for you all xxx

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Always aim for the best result possible not the best possible result

Peanut aka Joanna

Keeping everything crossed for you Headfry. Why is it the poor bees seem to be bombarded by diseases from all sides?

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All at once I hear your voice
And time just slips away
Bonnie Rait

Hope your buzz-om pals get the all clear and stay that way.

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Happy Gardening,
Shirley

http://www.honeyjukes.co.uk

one more thing that attack bees, bad nasty thing! keep hope headfry, I am with you!

Thank you all so much. You are lovely people!
Bee Inspector is to call on Tuesday evening- weather permitting. please please weather be kind to me.
More not so good news though (one of those days!) European Foul brood is very close to where I live also....gulp!
At least the Inspector, Margaret will check for all things.
Tuesday seems so far away..... my poor girls.
All I can say is that they look fine and well, often the way though.
Fingers and toes all very much crossed here!
Thank you, and sorry for being so silly about this.

Don't you dare apologise for caring, you're obviously a very lovely person who cares passionately about your girls and Bees in general.


I think the world would be a much better place if there were more people like you in it!

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Always aim for the best result possible not the best possible result

Peanut aka Joanna

Hello Headfry

I've only been a member of the grapevine for a few weeks and as such don't really feel as though I have the right to comment on your problem. That said, I just wanted you to know that others are thinking of you and the bees and hope that your hives are given the all clear. All of us gardeners need the bees and by extention need bee keepers.

Stories like this bring back bad memories of the foot and mouth outbreak a few years ago. A good friend of mine that kept sheep as her pets on a piece of land she rented in Scotland had to lose her small flock. She was devastated and had to move away from the area because she couldn't stand to see the empty field.

Best of luck.

Don't be daft, the world could do with more people that are as caring as you! You're love of bee's is infectious, only yesterday lunch time I was in Sainsburys buying some provisions and whilst selecting a number of beers to see me through the week, I found myself strangely drawn to two in particular: Waggle Dance (something bees do apparently), and Honey Dew. It's your fault HF!

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A simple dude trying to grow veg.

http://haywayne.blogspot.com/ - UPDATED - 8th May

http://www.sloganizer.net/en/style2,HeyWayne.png

Snuffer, I really do feel for your friend, its so sad, I think worse in one way if they are 'pet flocks' worse in another if it's your income. All sad however you look at it.
How is your friend now, my love to her.
HeyWayne ah Waggle Dance - I was watching on of my girlies do just that on Saturday.
It is their way of telling other bees where the food is, which way to fly and how far. They don't really know quite how it works yet.
They kind of go round in small circles waggling their bottoms, its sooo cute. just needs a good backing track!
I spend ages chatting to them and watching them, for me it's pure heaven.

*Keeping fingers and toes crossed*

I hope your Bees are okay.

Like this: YouTube - Groove Armada - I See You Baby (Fatboy Slim Remix)

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A simple dude trying to grow veg.

http://haywayne.blogspot.com/ - UPDATED - 8th May

http://www.sloganizer.net/en/style2,HeyWayne.png

Oh Headfry, you must be terrified - is there no treatment available?

Oh god Headfry, I genuinely hope everything is okay...

And on a wider scale that's bad news... bees are struggling to survive as it is at them moment without disease like this

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Shortie

"There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children; one of these is roots, the other wings" - Hodding Carter

Maybe Bees bums were the inspiration for the video

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Shortie

"There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children; one of these is roots, the other wings" - Hodding Carter