Chris Slade asked why I was reluctant to enter a brood box at this time
of the year to dispatch a queen.

Several reasons:

General advice suggests that entering a box after wintering preps. have
taken place seems to reduce the chance of survival over the long winter
period, when bees may find it impossible to have any flight time (from
Nov. till mid April).

Looking for a queen on combs that are fairly well propolised is asking
for a crushing experience - I might manage to kill the required queen,
then accidentally dispatch the second one as well.

Combs are not even in their surface, filled with honey, syrup. Pulling
them out will roll lots of bees - valuable winter stock.

Chilling of brood box contents.

Possible balling of queen.

Agree or disagree with the above! - unless forced to, I leave the brood
box to itself.

 From where Chris is situated, I know that it is possible to enter and
still have the weather allowing bees to recover from such a procedure.
Here - minus temps. for a few days, back up to 10 plus, then back to
flurries. We are just about to enter the arctic fridge. Living here in
winter is like sitting in a freezer with the light on!!!!

I have made lots of mistakes this season, learnt a lot, hope to might
fewer next.

Regards,
Peter

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