Delayed winter treatment ?

[beeno]

I found this entirely reasonable and the holier-than-thou sniping that followed the usual dose of unpleasantness that drives people, including me, away. This is vaping, not queen-rearing, and this is going to do a lot more good than sloshing on the first cold day, in this "winter". Hope it went to plan, @Hawklord.

Sorry, but what do you call 'this is going to do a lot more good than sloshing on the first cold day,' then? I call it 'holier-than-thou sniping...' too.

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

Sorry, but what do you call 'this is going to do a lot more good than sloshing on the first cold day,' then? I call it 'holier-than-thou sniping...' too.

THAT is a fair cop. Sorry. Put more professionally, remember that a single OA treatment relies on the presence of no sealed brood. Given the warm weather we have had then, at least in my experience–and I don't think that London is so atypical in this very warm early winter–it might be some weeks before that is the case. So a liquid OA treatment even following a cold spell might be risky and we should all be monitoring mite drops.

 

[fred scuttle]

I've left mine alone until the cold snap given the flying bees and probable brood situation.... The weather is throwing up new challenges this year for sure...

 

[Hivemaker.]

The weather is throwing up new challenges this year for sure...

It has been raining a lot for sure, but no new challenges here yet due to the weather.

 

[fred scuttle]

It has been raining a lot for sure, but no new challenges here yet due to the weather.

Would the girls normally be flying on christmas day?

 

[Finman]

Would the girls normally be flying on christmas day?

We had in Finland this year the highest temperature of December ever, +11C.

Fred is right that do not set your system according exceptions. It is like you live in fire alarm all the time.

After a few days we will have -20C and no snow. It will kill autumn **** like 2 years ago.

(Nothing to say about different climates inside Britain)

 

[Hivemaker.]

Would the girls normally be flying on christmas day?

It is normal for them to fly/forage at any time of the year when the weather allows it, have seen bees out foraging Xmas day here many times over the years, nothing new about that... and on many other winter days as well.

We have had temperatures in the upper teens through late Jan and most of Feb during some winters, and colder in July.

 

[Finman]

.
We have usual warning that summer flowers may be killed by frost up to 10.6 but never warned that they may die in Christmas.

.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Would the girls normally be flying on christmas day?

I don't know about girls - but I've witnessed my bees at the home apiary flying on most Christmas days, not this year though as it was too wet!

 

[pargyle]

I don't know about girls - but I've witnessed my bees at the home apiary flying on most Christmas days, not this year though as it was too wet!

Yep .. mine fly in just about any weather except when it's really raining hard or the temperature drops down below about 5 degrees C. Showers and normal wind don't seem to bother them unduly - tough little beggars.

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

Yep .. mine fly in just about any weather except when it's really raining hard or the temperature drops down below about 5 degrees C. Showers and normal wind don't seem to bother them unduly - tough little beggars.

I think beekeeping may be the best possible cure for winter blues / SAD.

 

[pargyle]

I think beekeeping may be the best possible cure for winter blues / SAD.

Yehhh .. If I'm not doing it I'm thinking about it !! The weather has been really grim down here today - heavy rain since about lunchtime but this evening it cleared up for an hour or so and I just had a peek through one clear crownboard and there they were - busy as usual - doing something .. such a joy - I don't think I could get through winter without clear crownboards !! Sad innit ?

 

[fred scuttle]

I call them girls as swmbo is more receptive when she's hanging out the washing near the Nucs..... Ps... For political correctness I also make sure I put the washing line up and bring the washing in ;-)

 

[BrianO]

Yehhh .. If I'm not doing it I'm thinking about it !! The weather has been really grim down here today - heavy rain since about lunchtime but this evening it cleared up for an hour or so and I just had a peek through one clear crownboard and there they were - busy as usual - doing something .. such a joy - I don't think I could get through winter without clear crownboards !! Sad innit ?

Naer a truer wordspoken.

The best antidote for Winter.

Constantly planning, reading and thinking about season ahead.

Checking daily the setting and rising times of the sun and watching the days beginning to lengthen. Knowing willow, hellebores and snowdrops , plus more, will be stirring in a few weeks.

Best Winter Antidote

Hives should be stamped with a Warning

" Beekeeping is highly addictive, and will consume you "