Bee honest…did you inspect this weekend?

[BeekeeperBob]

My local BKA has just put out a leaflet from the NBU recommending we look into our colonies late Feb/early March

And I would agree with them in many instances.

 

[Ringlander]

You obviously did the right thing with the bees confirming it. I intend giving a little syrup to see how mine react, they have not been ploughing into the fondant.so just to make sure. Did you have fondant on ?

There was a little fondant on two I was worried about from the week before but they hadn't done much more than sniffed it. I took it off and put the syrup on and they woofed that down straight away! I'd be interested to hear if yours do the same.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

 

[Penninetrader]

There was a little fondant on two I was worried about from the week before but they hadn't done much more than sniffed it. I took it off and put the syrup on and they woofed that down straight away! I'd be interested to hear if yours do the same.

Tis the reason I was asking, I am expecting the same. It is a little chilly today but at the first opportunity having read your reply. Thank you

 

[BeekeeperBob]

View attachment 42233

You might want to tell that to the bees. Plenty of drone brood about a few swarms reported and more than a few queen cells found amongst contacts.

But I forget. You do the books (or fancy memes) and expect the bees to follow you

 

[Erichalfbee]

And I would agree with them in many instances.

I wouldn’t in this case. You are in Dorset. I am
In Wales. I usually look in around the end of the first week in April. I keep orange bees and even they have at most a couple of frames of brood. It’s all about location location location
The NBU aren’t always right. I remember they were advocating shaking CBPV bees out while here in this forum we were successfully taking floors away

 

[rossbyjove]

Tempted but no.
QE back in, fondant on.
That was it.

 

[Penninetrader]

I wouldn’t in this case. You are in Dorset. I am
In Wales. I usually look in around the end of the first week in April. I keep orange bees and even they have at most a couple of frames of brood. It’s all about location location location
The NBU aren’t always right. I remember they were advocating shaking CBPV bees out while here in this forum we were successfully taking floors away

So once again one size does not fit all. Everything is instinct and best judgement. 3 miles from where I write this is dramatically different in terms of weather and environment.

 

[BeekeeperBob]

I wouldn’t in this case. You are in Dorset. I am
In Wales. I usually look in around the end of the first week in April. I keep orange bees and even they have at most a couple of frames of brood. It’s all about location location location
The NBU aren’t always right. I remember they were advocating shaking CBPV bees out while here in this forum we were successfully taking floors away

So what you are saying is, for you, you would rather do what suits you, but you do acknowledge that for others it would be correct information.

Whilst in the same breath, saying its completey the wrong information.

Right.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Whilst in the same breath, saying its completey the wrong information.

Where exactly have I said that?
Unless, of course, you mean the information on CBPV in which case it was completely wrong.

 

[BeekeeperBob]

Where exactly have I said that?
Unless, of course, you mean the information on CBPV in which case it was completely wrong.

Post 51 post 66 suggested that's what you was thinking.

Seemingly I misunderstood and you are in fact suggesting it may be a good idea. In which case, I apologise for misunderstanding. So much negativity from a few "senior" members, I hope you understand why one may misunderstanding such a thing.

 

[Do224]

Was hoping those who did inspect could feel comfortable replying to this thread without having the finger pointed at them. I’m just genuinely curious how others responded to a very warm weekend in March

 

[Podilia]

Weekend? Here on the continent five days ago the winter cold, even freezing mode was turned off and summer has been turned on. This is the weather of mid April-May. Never seen it in March.
This is the forecast

with my observation, the actual seasons here may look like:

Winter (December)
Summer (2-5 days in January)
Autumn (January)
Arctic winter (2-5 days in January)
Winter (February)
Summer (2-5 days in February)
Arctic winter again
Summer (March)
Winter mixed with summer (April)
Summer (May)
Winter (some days in May)
Summer
Continental summer
Sahara desert summer
2 days of rain
Indian summer
Summer mixed with winter (November)

 

[Erichalfbee]

Weekend? Here on the continent five days ago the winter cold, even freezing mode was turned off and summer has been turned on. This is the weather of mid April-May. Never seen it in March.
This is the forecast
View attachment 42238
with my observation, the actual seasons here may look like:

Winter (December)
Summer (2-5 days in January)
Autumn (January)
Arctic winter (2-5 days in January)
Winter (February)
Summer (2-5 days in February)
Arctic winter again
Summer (March)
Winter mixed with summer (April)
Summer (May)
Winter (some days in May)
Summer
Continental summer
Sahara desert summer
2 days of rain
Indian summer
Summer mixed with winter (November)

Mad isn’t it!
Last year practically all my seedlings died after germinating for lack of sunshine. This year they are romping away.
Spring 2023 the bees went mad on the hawthorn then the rest of the year fell off a cliff
Last year nothing all year but cloud and rain till the end of August when the Himalayan balsam saved us.First time I’ve had much off that in 12 years
This year? Who knows. Good job beekeepers are an optimistic lot

 

[The Poot]

Mad isn’t it!
Last year practically all my seedlings died after germinating for lack of sunshine. This year they are romping away.
Spring 2023 the bees went mad on the hawthorn then the rest of the year fell off a cliff
Last year nothing all year but cloud and rain till the end of August when the Himalayan balsam saved us.First time I’ve had much off that in 12 years
This year? Who knows. Good job beekeepers are an optimistic lot

Last year I (and others) were feeding into late April to prevent starvation and were losing any Spring crop to the bees.
Yet the honey crop was very respectable by late August. No two years are the same!