C 24h, bees need to get out for water, air will be exchanged via OMF & assume they have stores hence robbing. Best to consider moving the hive, even if temporary for a few days, if robbing a real issue.
Rain seems to have dampened the robbers' spirits! Opened up the hive again today, still raining, but no robbers.
I've forgotten to open bees and left them locked in for nearly week without harm (though not in high hot summer). Did it last week with a few nucs: they all flew out and settled quickly.
I have been feeding all colonies for the last fortnight, some with syrup some with fondant, as l'm not confident of my hefting ability! Perhaps that's the problem - those with fondant maybe prefer the smell of syrup as l add lemongrass oil to encourage uptake. Anyway, it will just be fondant from now on, however careful l am, syrup always gets onto kitchen floor and as l am SWMBO l have to clear it up myself
I'm not trying to prevent mould growth, so no thymol, just lemongrass oil to encourage uptake of syrup - very successful in my experience.
Quite amazing stuff!
Save yourself a fortune - most of it is snakeoil mixed with fairy dust - the only useful ingredient is thymol, mix your own at a fraction of the cost - the recipe is in the technical resources section.I add Hive-Alive to all syrup and find it is like a magic potion for the bees, yes a little expensive but when next March comes I'll have bees dancing jigs on the landing boards!
