Bit of Rain Helps.

[Dishmop]

Had a bit of rain over the last few days in Norwich and bees are suddenly bring pollen in again...... Not seem much for the last few weeks and they have eaten all thier stores.....

 

[Polyanwood]

Good news. The flow is back on in South London too.

 

[viridens]

A bit of forage coming in here too at last. Maybe we can cast a clout now, whatever that means..

 

[Winker]

Aye same here! Tomorow we all get rain again all day! and the next...

 

[Beeline]

How does one know when the flow is back on again? I see bees coming in with pollen and others with none. Do I assume those with none are bringing in nectar? Sorry, it may seem a naive question but I have been told to feed my new nuc on 1:1 sugar water because of the recent dry spell but how do I know when they're fine on their own without the sugar water?
Thanks
BL

 

[Dishmop]

I did notice that when it was dry but warm enough that they would normally be foraging that they didnt.. They stayed indoors.... Perhaps they cut their metabolism as in the winter...... but last couple of days they have been out very early........

 

[Luna]

One of my hives was still active gone 9.30 last night and they were bringing in a dark grey pollen (any ideas?). The others were tucked up in bed at 9.

The only reason I know this as I was waiting till late evening to mow the lawns around them. They didn't seem too bothered by my presence luckily.

 

[oliver90owner]

I have been told to feed my new nuc on 1:1 sugar water because of the recent dry spell

Err, why? Can you run that across me again?

A new nuc that should comes with about a fortnight's supply of stores and you are told to feed it, if the weather is dry?

Why not check and feed if necessary? Recording or noting the amount of stores would indicate what you want to know (and is one of the regular checks by any self-respecting beek at every inspection) - but not if you skew the results by feeding willy-nilly.

RAB

 

[Alabamaeee]

"Cast not a clout till May is out"

Do not remove any winter layers until the end of May.

Usually refers to a vest or singlet or whatever the modern word is these days

 

[terryme]

"Cast not a clout till May is out"

Do not remove any winter layers until the end of May.

Usually refers to a vest or singlet or whatever the modern word is these days

also some debate as to whether it is the month of May or the may (flower) be out/in bloom..... whatever, I still have my vest

 

[victor meldrew]

Year on year,in this area the main flow commences last week in June first week in July , seemingly irrespective of the weather !

John Wilkinson

 

[plumberman]

Newly mated queen had laid perfect pattern of brood on two frames, and then simply stopped in dry weather. 3 days after deluge and return of flow, she has banged out 6 sides of eggs. Happier days........

 

[Cazza]

One of my hives was still active gone 9.30 last night and they were bringing in a dark grey pollen (any ideas?). .

That'll be annual opium type poppies. Bees adore it and collect early and late.

Hurrah, thankful for the delicious rain over Suffolk - I'm off work this p.m. and hoping to see the bees hauling in lime and blackberry?

Cazza

 

[Beeline]

"Err, why? Can you run that across me again?

A new nuc that should comes with about a fortnight's supply of stores and you are told to feed it, if the weather is dry?" - RAB

I bought this nuc from a very well respected beekeeper and bee lecturer in the Hants area. I was told to feed them syryp because of the incredibly dry weather (now gone) in the south east.

Being a newbie I wouldn't know what 2 weeks of stores looks like for a nuc and as I work abroad during the week, better safe than sorry - they'll take down what/if they want. As always loads of advice saying feed them to draw out the 6no. frames of foundations, bridge the dry spell etc., and those that say don't. Heyho!!

BL

 

[vonclatt]

One of my hives was still active gone 9.30 last night and they were bringing in a dark grey pollen (any ideas?).

I think that is poppy, they are in bloom at the moment and whist inspecting hives with my mentor, I also asked the same question.

 

[oliver90owner]

Beeline,

You seem to either be one thing or the other. I do not ever say 'do not feed a nuc'. Without being cast as a racist, there are other shades between black and white.

You seem to misunderstand beekeeping. Yes, you will either be feeding or not feeding - there is no middle option, whether the bees want/need it or not. BUT you can decide whether to feed or not depending on the circumstances. There lies the difference. I would only feed when necessary, after considering the conditions and observing the actual signs in and around the hive.

Perhaps you should aquaint yourself with what is an adequate amount of stores available (until the next inspection), learn something. Go out and find out. Make a point of doing something positive instead of just doing things blindly. Ask the right questions and you will get an appropriate answer.

My first impression is that you might as some 'do you know what the time is?' and be put out with an answer of 'Yes'.

Carrying on in blissful ignorance will not be the best way to become a beekeeper. It helps if you think, to keep bees. And to read posts properly. I do not say never feed a nuc, no more than never feed a full colony. It is just that I think about whether they would actually benefit with feed or not. Hey ho.

 

[Beeline]

RAB

You misinterpretted my parting comment entirely and instead gone off at me, albeit at a tangent. My point was you could ask everyone on the forum for advice on whether to have fed or not fed during this past dry spell and you would get those for and against - it was not directed at you. Chill out.

My rather innocent question to the forum was; when should I stop feeding syryp, as I had picked up my nuc 2 weeks ago and the respectable gentleman whom I bought them from, who lives in my area and therefore knows the local conditions, suggested I immediately feed them as there was apparently very little nectar about. So rather than question a man who not only has been a beekeeper for 40 years but also lectures to the local association, I took his professional advice and fed them. Back to my original question - "how do I know when they're fine on their own without the sugar water?"
Rather than answering my question, instead you questioned why I had fed them in the first place and now proceed to have a serious pop me at.

Foregive me but I'm a novice and find it amazing that what was plainly an innocent question has ended in such a backlash from you, questioning why I'm unable to determine when stores for a nuc were sufficient or not sufficient. Geez, you having a bad hair day or what!!

BTW - thanks to those who did provide some useful info.
BL