Colony Losses

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I started mine by putting the flour/water in the kitchen aid whisk for ten minutes.

not the dog?

 

[Erichalfbee]

not the dog?

No.
He hates the kitchen when I am in it. He runs away. It can’t be the food… his comes out if a tin and a packet. Maybe he’s eyeing up the Kitchen Aid.

 

[Ely]

I have a bread making machine that is really handy with the timer. It makes alsorts of bread and doughs. I like making a sultana loaf. Lovely with loads of butter on

 

[Darryl]

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

I've used Bako and BFP. BFP usually do a deal towards Christmas. I bought 5 packs (12.5kg) at £16 each including shipping. Even better if you can get together with other keepers and order a pallet.

 

[Murox]

All the bakers have closed round our way.

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

Place in Lanarkshire. For me it's 3 hours drive to Glasgow before I get anywhere. I can order it from the usual places and have it delivered sometimes included for the going rate. I would take a pallet but have no means of storage and there's not enough local beekeepers here to share it with.

 

[Andy]

I've used Bako and BFP. BFP usually do a deal towards Christmas. I bought 5 packs (12.5kg) at £16 each including shipping. Even better if you can get together with other keepers and order a pallet.

Thank you, I shall check them out.

Place in Lanarkshire. For me it's 3 hours drive to Glasgow before I get anywhere. I can order it from the usual places and have it delivered sometimes included for the going rate. I would take a pallet but have no means of storage and there's not enough local beekeepers here to share it with.

Ah, yes it is a long way round for sure. Lanarkshire is a little ways for me as welll.

 

[pargyle]

you never change do you

I know how tempting it is to get your fingers into the bees and if they hefted light then opening the lid for fondant is sensible. But ... looking to see how many frames of brood there are ? At this time of year ? With brood and a half you must have torn them apart. Not good practice ..

One 14 degree day does not make it spring ! I hope you are not teaching this sort of practice in your beekeeping courses .. I can understand, to some extent, bee farmers who need to get ahead for the season starting a bit early ... hobbyists ? Just vanity to see and get the bragging rights on how many frames of brood they have ...

There was another post (not you - I can't find it) with photos of hives with several hives with the roofs iff and the tops of the frames covered in bees with someone saying how strong the colonies were .... beggars belief.

What was it you said ...a bit earlier Post #28 "Have a listen to the side of the hives I always do this when hefting" That and a hand on the crownboard will tell you if they are OK.

 

[Penninetrader]

I've used Bako and BFP. BFP usually do a deal towards Christmas. I bought 5 packs (12.5kg) at £16 each including shipping. Even better if you can get together with other keepers and order a pallet.

Was that direct from Bako Preston ?

 

[Penninetrader]

Yes we have one left in lampeter
We used to have three, then a Greggs moved in and they closed. A year later Greggs left.
Stupid council not thinking at all
Now the university wants to move its courses to Carmarthen.
It will be the death of the town

We may just see a return to buying from local bakers if our dear leader signs us up to the EU food regs with ECJ oversight. The EU allows 4% frozen and powdered bugs in flour for many products, I will be looking to buy from a baker who does not use such flour, that or give up on bread altogether.

 

[Swarm]

Got to say I was tempted to do a little peeking yesterday afternoon, (thought better of it and went to see the rugby in my brothers pub)it was lovely down here, all change today, very uninspiring!
Can't wait to get into mine- with a little dread as there's bound to bee a few dead outs to pick up.
Some of my nucs are hefting light so I'd like to see them as soon as possible and take any remedial action necessary, I've overwintered dozens of mini plus hives, mostly on double brood but still those small units need keeping an eye on, either starving or bursting out of the box as soon as you turn your back!

Looks like someone else was tempted too and the bees are doing great

 

[Sutty]

We may just see a return to buying from local bakers if our dear leader signs us up to the EU food regs with ECJ oversight. The EU allows 4% frozen and powdered bugs in flour for many products, I will be looking to buy from a baker who does not use such flour, that or give up on bread altogether.

I believe there is insect/ arthropod contamination in most if not all flour, as well as many other foods. Flour mites are not uncommon. Removing every trace of bugs from harvested wheat must be pretty much impossible.
Having said that 4% seems a lot, if it's correct - I'm not sure i can be bothered wading through the regulations though!

 

[ericbeaumont]

Looks like someone else was tempted

Yep. Checked the church roof bees on Friday and this single was booming, so gave them a second BB of drawn comb (some with scraps of honey) and a block of fondant under the box feeder. A tiddly nuc (late collected swarm) had fresh nectar (in the feeder comb, so no need to open further).

View attachment SJH bees 21Feb25.mp4

 

[Curly green finger's]

I know how tempting it is to get your fingers into the bees and if they hefted light then opening the lid for fondant is sensible. But ... looking to see how many frames of brood there are ? At this time of year ? With brood and a half you must have torn them apart. Not good practice ..

One 14 degree day does not make it spring ! I hope you are not teaching this sort of practice in your beekeeping courses .. I can understand, to some extent, bee farmers who need to get ahead for the season starting a bit early ... hobbyists ? Just vanity to see and get the bragging rights on how many frames of brood they have ...

There was another post (not you - I can't find it) with photos of hives with several hives with the roofs iff and the tops of the frames covered in bees with someone saying how strong the colonies were .... beggars belief.

What was it you said ...a bit earlier Post #28 "Have a listen to the side of the hives I always do this when hefting" That and a hand on the crownboard will tell you if they are OK.

Who said I pulled frames out of the colony in the video ? Reread my post pls then come back to me .

 

[pargyle]

Who said I pulled frames out of the colony in the video ? Reread my post pls then come back to me .

It's what you said Mark ...

It was a brood and a half in the photo ... and this is what you said "The colony above have 9 seems of bees and fresh brood cappings covering 3-4 frames".

But they are your bees - you can do as you like - but potentially encouraging some people, who seem to hang on your words, to potentially be opening their hives, at this time of the year, to see how many frames of brood they have, is irresponsible. Be careful what you post and make sure that it is not leading people to follow your lead - even if if that's not what you meant.

 

[pargyle]

Looks like someone else was tempted too and the bees are doing great

`18 seconds to look, including adding the fondant, the bees were stinging him so it's not what they wanted. He's a beefarmer and as I said, they may need to start early - not sure that there was a need for it though.

 

[Curly green finger's]

It's what you said Mark ...

It was a brood and a half in the photo ... and this is what you said "The colony above have 9 seems of bees and fresh brood cappings covering 3-4 frames".

But they are your bees - you can do as you like - but potentially encouraging some people, who seem to hang on your words, to potentially be opening their hives, at this time of the year, to see how many frames of brood they have, is irresponsible. Be careful what you post and make sure that it is not leading people to follow your lead - even if if that's not what you meant.

Video Philip, I cracked the cb inspection board has fresh brood cappings, I think one needs some glasses
Blimey I’ve cracked cbs to feed fondant and shown the children with a foot of snow on the ground I’m not encouraging anyone.

 

[Curly green finger's]

Got to say I was tempted to do a little peeking yesterday afternoon, (thought better of it and went to see the rugby in my brothers pub)it was lovely down here, all change today, very uninspiring!
Can't wait to get into mine- with a little dread as there's bound to bee a few dead outs to pick up.
Some of my nucs are hefting light so I'd like to see them as soon as possible and take any remedial action necessary, I've overwintered dozens of mini plus hives, mostly on double brood but still those small units need keeping an eye on, either starving or bursting out of the box as soon as you turn your back!

I agree about the mini nucs mate, at your brothers pub again you alce, we will have to meet up soon before the season kicks off things have changed this end again

 

[Erichalfbee]

The colony above have 9 seems of bees and fresh brood cappings covering 3-4 frames

I think you should have said “ on the inspection board” then there would be no ambiguity.

 

[Swarm]

Yep. Checked the church roof bees on Friday and this single was booming, so gave them a second BB of drawn comb (some with scraps of honey) and a block of fondant under the box feeder. A tiddly nuc (late collected swarm) had fresh nectar (in the feeder comb, so no need to open further).

View attachment 42124

Good idea, you could have been faced with queen cells on first inspection if you left them as they were. Judging by what I'm seeing, the bees are definitely not hanging about

 

[Curly green finger's]

I think you should have said “ on the inspection board” then there would be no ambiguity.

Definitely