The association has a breeding apiary located at the back of the lorry park on a warehousing site. Being within the security fencing it is safe from interference and approximately 3 miles from the teaching apiary.
Inspections have been taking place during April, noting the spring build up. Last week one hive had been found to be DLQ and it had been shaken out, leaving ten hives remaining.
This week the brief was to identify hives suitable for sale to new starters plus note those with desirable characteristics for breeding. Conditions were breezy but the hives are located in shrubbery which provides shelter. We found a couple of hives slow to get going but others were expanding, drawing comb, laying eggs, feeding larvae and showing healthy brood patterns.
The four very best (subjective judgement) we marked for breeding, three next best as suitable for sale when teaching apiary sessions start in May, the remaining hives being classed as needing more time/future monitoring. One of the latter group had a queen cell being drawn centre frame which we left intact as potential supercedure. No other queen cells found but a couple of play cups seen. A small presence of chalk brood in one of these slower hives.
Supers were placed on the hives which could benefit and spares left on site for quick addition to the others as soon as the nearby osr breaks into flower.
Inspections have been taking place during April, noting the spring build up. Last week one hive had been found to be DLQ and it had been shaken out, leaving ten hives remaining.
This week the brief was to identify hives suitable for sale to new starters plus note those with desirable characteristics for breeding. Conditions were breezy but the hives are located in shrubbery which provides shelter. We found a couple of hives slow to get going but others were expanding, drawing comb, laying eggs, feeding larvae and showing healthy brood patterns.
The four very best (subjective judgement) we marked for breeding, three next best as suitable for sale when teaching apiary sessions start in May, the remaining hives being classed as needing more time/future monitoring. One of the latter group had a queen cell being drawn centre frame which we left intact as potential supercedure. No other queen cells found but a couple of play cups seen. A small presence of chalk brood in one of these slower hives.
Supers were placed on the hives which could benefit and spares left on site for quick addition to the others as soon as the nearby osr breaks into flower.
