First Inspections

[Karsal]

Just back from my holidays and managed to inspect my hives today. I was unable to do anything until now as the weather has been awful so far this spring.
All hives had fondant on however three were weak going into winter and took little syrup.
One colony has died while I was away of isolation starvation. Two were close to starving with little stores three frames away from a full frame of brood and eggs. Adjacent frames were empty so I scratched the full frames and placed next to the brood.
Then put a feeder with syrup on the crown board. Hope I've caught them in time. They were bringing in pollen though.
The final third hive was bursting with bees 7 frames of brood and no stores.
Put a feeder on this hive. Tons of pollen going in this hive.
My conclusion is having left it to late with my inspections due to weather I've relied on fondant as a saviour. Should have put syrup on before my holiday.
Fingers crossed I've caught them in time. There were eggs in all of them.
Lack of experience but learning all the time

 

[beeno]

Just back from my holidays and managed to inspect my hives today. I was unable to do anything until now as the weather has been awful so far this spring.
All hives had fondant on however three were weak going into winter and took little syrup.
One colony has died while I was away of isolation starvation. Two were close to starving with little stores three frames away from a full frame of brood and eggs. Adjacent frames were empty so I scratched the full frames and placed next to the brood.
Then put a feeder with syrup on the crown board. Hope I've caught them in time. They were bringing in pollen though.
The final third hive was bursting with bees 7 frames of brood and no stores.
Put a feeder on this hive. Tons of pollen going in this hive.
My conclusion is having left it to late with my inspections due to weather I've relied on fondant as a saviour. Should have put syrup on before my holiday.
Fingers crossed I've caught them in time. There were eggs in all of them.
Lack of experience but learning all the time

Had to resort to zip bags this year to get some syrup onto mine.