Karsal
Field Bee
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2013
- Messages
- 545
- Reaction score
- 28
- Location
- Lancashire
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 3 Pay*es Poly Hives 7 Poly Nucs
All my nine Paynes poly nucs and national hives have suffered terribly this year with water filling the channel where the metal frame runners are. I did think that the seal between the brood box and the super full of stores was leaking but water was even collecting in the super above and this had the roof on top.
I've experienced water collecting in previous years but not to this extent. All were on five frames approx going into winter with plenty of stores.
Slugs have also made their way into these wet channels with upwards of 10 slugs in some hives all about the size of your thunb so not small. The frames are mouldy and black so I've united some colonies and thrown away all the mouldy black frames leaving me with three colonies.
I have my apiary on a braken covered hillside full of ferns. Two previous years I put road rock salt around each leg of the hive stands and slugs were not a problem. I forgot to do the same last year
I am contemplating tilting my hives slightly forward and cutting the runner short to allow any water to run away.
I'm at a loss as this is the first time in eight years I've experienced such a mess and loss of bees.
I've experienced water collecting in previous years but not to this extent. All were on five frames approx going into winter with plenty of stores.
Slugs have also made their way into these wet channels with upwards of 10 slugs in some hives all about the size of your thunb so not small. The frames are mouldy and black so I've united some colonies and thrown away all the mouldy black frames leaving me with three colonies.
I have my apiary on a braken covered hillside full of ferns. Two previous years I put road rock salt around each leg of the hive stands and slugs were not a problem. I forgot to do the same last year
I am contemplating tilting my hives slightly forward and cutting the runner short to allow any water to run away.
I'm at a loss as this is the first time in eight years I've experienced such a mess and loss of bees.