- Joined
- May 29, 2018
- Messages
- 1,658
- Reaction score
- 317
- Location
- East Sussex
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 9.5
of 7 overwintered colonies (most left with double brood boxes in situ) all were good except one, advice and comments always welcome
the one that wasnt good had 6-7 seams of bees and was full of stores, no queen, no eggs or brood and UBB and LBB was full of stores (may have overfed). Odd that so many bees survived with no queen, but im guessing she must have perished just before post winter laying with such healthy numbers of bees. anyway...left one draw frame in middle of UBB and will see in a week or so and then consider options
the rest were amazingly strong compared to my 4 garden colonies which had an average of 3 frame BIA...this second apiary averaged 5-6 BIA and it is in a wooded area with a lot of willow and blackthorn.
There seemed a strongish flow on with nectar stored wherever they could.
Questions. (and JBM a demaree question!)
3 colonies had 6 BIA in UBB and 2 BIA LBB and a fair amount of drone brood, empty q cups etc. I want to demaree these and it seems about ready if i consolidate BIA in UBB etc, but, cold weather due on monday for a week or so. Sunday is supposed to be fine, so, question, should i demaree on sun or wait until after the cold weather has passed? My instinct is to go early as i may inspect after cold weather has passed to find eggs in q cups. The risk is separating Q and brood for the cold snap.
A couple of other colonies just need a super on given they are clearly bringing lots of nectar in and hawthorn and fruit trees are starting to blossom.
Thanks in anticipation
the one that wasnt good had 6-7 seams of bees and was full of stores, no queen, no eggs or brood and UBB and LBB was full of stores (may have overfed). Odd that so many bees survived with no queen, but im guessing she must have perished just before post winter laying with such healthy numbers of bees. anyway...left one draw frame in middle of UBB and will see in a week or so and then consider options
the rest were amazingly strong compared to my 4 garden colonies which had an average of 3 frame BIA...this second apiary averaged 5-6 BIA and it is in a wooded area with a lot of willow and blackthorn.
There seemed a strongish flow on with nectar stored wherever they could.
Questions. (and JBM a demaree question!)
3 colonies had 6 BIA in UBB and 2 BIA LBB and a fair amount of drone brood, empty q cups etc. I want to demaree these and it seems about ready if i consolidate BIA in UBB etc, but, cold weather due on monday for a week or so. Sunday is supposed to be fine, so, question, should i demaree on sun or wait until after the cold weather has passed? My instinct is to go early as i may inspect after cold weather has passed to find eggs in q cups. The risk is separating Q and brood for the cold snap.
A couple of other colonies just need a super on given they are clearly bringing lots of nectar in and hawthorn and fruit trees are starting to blossom.
Thanks in anticipation