Colony Losses

[Sutty]

I don't know that it was, the NBU survey reported over 20% colony losses over winter 23/24 which they considered a significant increase. I always think these figures are understated as well as some beekeepers are pretty reluctant to admit the true losses ... and of course, they don't include those who don't participate.

It will be interesting to see what this winters reported losses are like but the indications are that it's not going to be a good year. It's certainly the worst I've ever had in 13 years ...

I think I've had one winter loss since I started beekeeping again, maybe 5 years, but that was already dwindling in autumn) none when I first did (pre-varroa).

 

[ericbeaumont]

trying to find somewhere that isn’t crazy money.

Murray at Denrosa is in your neck of the woods; he has his ear close to sugar prices and may be able to supply at reasonable cost.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Mine are all hefting OK and I can hear bees inside. Hardly had a flying day for weeks; either too cold or too windy or too wet.

 

[JamezF]

The Sun is out here this morning and it's honey bee central.

James

 

[Moobee]

Bad news gets amplified. Don't want to hex things but my lot look fine in the sunshine today.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Mine are all hefting OK and I can hear bees inside. Hardly had a flying day for weeks; either too cold or too windy or too wet.

All change. and

 

[Moobee]

Thanks I will do.Still trying to find somewhere that isn’t crazy money.

Try your local bakers - cheaper and no postage to pay.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

All change. and

all hives at the home apiary out flying in the sun, making the most of the snowdrops here and at Glanberach cottage down the road

 

[Penninetrader]

All change. and

They were biding their time just like mine, clever girls.

 

[judy12]

Where do you recommend buying this bakers fondant from? Are they all much of a muchness?

 

[Erichalfbee]

Where do you recommend buying this bakers fondant from? Are they all much of a muchness?

Get your bread from your bakers so they know who you are and ask them to order you some

 

[SWEET]

View attachment 20250222_134407.mp4

 

[SWEET]

 

[Penninetrader]

View attachment 42113

Having a little rest from carrying that heavy load.

 

[Ely]

Get your bread from your bakers so they know who you are and ask them to order you some

They still exist around you?

 

[Murox]

They still exist around you?

I asked at a local supposedly proper bakers about fondant a got a very weird response. Now I just get 12.5kg boxes from whoever offers the best deal, which usually hinges on delivery costs. The odd thing about that is that I can order from a Scottish supplier cheaply enough but they then want to charge hugely for delivery, whereas I can order the same from other sources further afield and have it delivered more cheaply. I guess greed matters. With actual bread etc it's a big problem getting anything that is not plastic white and stodgy these days. It's all bought in and then prepared locally, I wouldn't mind too much except I don't like white stodge and the quality is dreadful compared to where I used to live where it was also bought in, the quality however was very good.

 

[Newbeeneil]

It's all bought in and then prepared locally, I wouldn't mind too much except I don't like white stodge and the quality is dreadful compared to where I used to live where it was also bought in, the quality however was very good.

We found the same until we went searching though the shelves at our local tescos.
They do a couple of passable sourdough’s.
I’m having the seeded one as toast for breakfast at the moment.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

They still exist around you?

luckily, out of the (at least) seven independent bakers trading in a four mile radius I remember as a youth, one still trades in Amanford three miles away although taken over by Jenkins' bakery, the bread gets trucked in from their bakery in Llanelli (where most of their shops are) every morning. Although now with nigh on twenty shops with ones in Bridgend, Port Talbot, Neath and Swansea, It's all proper traditional bread although they do experiment with sourdough, multigrain and other exotic stuff to keep the hipster types happy.
There's also another small independent supermarket firm which started in Llandeilo and now has in store bakeries baking proper bread in most of their stores. The bakery manager, my age was brought up two doors down from me and did his apprenticeship in the bakery opposite our shop. He used his contacts to get me an 'in' with the local BAKO branch.

 

[drex]

There are bakers and bakers. I have no problem getting fondant provided they bake on the premises and not just sell stuff

 

[Andy]

Get your bread from your bakers so they know who you are and ask them to order you some

All the bakers have closed round our way.

I asked at a local supposedly proper bakers about fondant a got a very weird response. Now I just get 12.5kg boxes from whoever offers the best deal, which usually hinges on delivery costs. The odd thing about that is that I can order from a Scottish supplier cheaply enough but they then want to charge hugely for delivery, whereas I can order the same from other sources further afield and have it delivered more cheaply. I guess greed matters. With actual bread etc it's a big problem getting anything that is not plastic white and stodgy these days. It's all bought in and then prepared locally, I wouldn't mind too much except I don't like white stodge and the quality is dreadful compared to where I used to live where it was also bought in, the quality however was very good.

Do you mind who the Scottish supplier was? Might be cheaper to drive down than pay postage.