Heather 2021

[Curly green finger's]

we noticed bumbles foraging

 

[Curly green finger's]

Hi I have some more young queen's in single brood which have a super on they have 7 + frames of solid brood could I take these to the Heather and add them to my 10 that are already there in single brood with 2 supers on.

The colonys in question have 3/4 frames of capped honey in from the flows which have eased somewhat?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

If you plan to put bees to the heather you need to strip any normal honey stores off them so that the supers have nothing but heather in

 

[Erichalfbee]

Or leave it on and have a blend if you’re not fussy. I’ve had lovely blended honey from a couple of forum members in the past. Bees weren’t on the moors but the moors were close. Still needs different extraction though.

 

[Foxylad]

Please don’t take bees to the heather with no stores. If the weather turns bad which it can often do. Large hives will starve very quickly.

 

[Amari]

If you plan to put bees to the heather you need to strip any normal honey stores off them so that the supers have nothing but heather in

Or leave it on and have a blend if you’re not fussy. I’ve had lovely blended honey from a couple of forum members in the past. Bees weren’t on the moors but the moors were close. Still needs different extraction though.

I assume your heather is mainly ling. The problem at Dunwich Heath on the east coast of Suffolk is that the bell heather continues in best-ever glorious bloom, since mid June, and the ling is just bursting bud. I've had one hive there since mid June and took a second a few days ago. Inevitably the honey will be mixed. It's a 75 minute drive each way so not easy to manipulate the supers.

 

[Erichalfbee]

https://www.conwybeekeepers.org.uk/new-beekeepers/heather-honey/

 

[Amari]

https://www.conwybeekeepers.org.uk/new-beekeepers/heather-honey/

That's an interesting link.
1. Author mixes ling and OSR 50/50 and labels as 'Heather blend honey'. Reduces danger of fermentation of pure ling and preferred by customers because less strongly flavoured.
2. He places first tray of Apiguard on hive a week or two before extracting. He doesn't mention possible thymol tainting.

 

[Curly green finger's]

Please don’t take bees to the heather with no stores. If the weather turns bad which it can often do. Large hives will starve very quickly.

The brood boxes have good stores.
I checked them today on the mynd and stiperstones ling is starting to flower, I removed some capped frames and left the un capped it will probably be a good mix if it comes of.
I have 10 of my own up there and I'm moving more this week.

 

[Curly green finger's]

Just a question I've only got two drawn supers for each single brood, I was going to try a few doubles as well I've three doubles on 18 frames of brood Is there a chance they will draw some frames for cut comb I have a load of thin frames with no self spacers on and some thin unwired wax I've found.
Would it be best to see if the flow comes of first? And then add the supers with these frames if it comes about?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

They draw like hell on a good flow of heather, and if there is a good flow you'll probably need more than two supers for each hive

 

[Curly green finger's]

Please don’t take bees to the heather with no stores. If the weather turns bad which it can often do. Large hives will starve very quickly.

Thanks for the heads up but I've made sure they have good stores in the brood and there is un capped frames in the supers.

 

[Curly green finger's]

They draw like hell on a good flow of heather, and if there is a good flow you'll probably need more than two supers for each hive

I have more made up of foundation ( wired incase)
But I would like some cut comb do you think 3-4 2 drawn and two undrawn ( thin unwired) would do?
So that's four for each colony?

 

[elainemary]

I have more made up of foundation ( wired incase)
But I would like some cut comb do you think 3-4 2 drawn and two undrawn ( thin unwired) would do?
So that's four for each colony?

Just avoid putting thin foundation on if very warm / hot weather, if we get any in mid august, it collapses if very hot as v fragile, found from from bitter experience. Best to get drawn in ‘normal’ weather. Ling is just opening into flower in my area, flow should start in about 10 days.

 

[Curly green finger's]

Just finished moving more colonys to the common, I'm moving more tonight..
Photos were taken half hour ago..... I'm buzzing...the Heather is looking lovely it rained last night but it's bogy ground anyway.

 

[Parsonage Bees]

Not much colour yet on the Lincolnshire heather moors.

 

[Erichalfbee]

View attachment 27475View attachment 27476View attachment 27477View attachment 27478
Just finished moving more colonys to St Mary's common, I'm moving more tonight..
Photos were taken half hour ago..... I'm buzzing...the Heather is looking lovely it rained last night but it's bogy ground anyway.

Should you be posting where you’ve put them? Especially after somebody stole your bees earlier?

 

[Curly green finger's]

Should you be posting where you’ve put them? Especially after somebody stole your bees earlier?

They are behind a gated driveway which has cameras on a friend's property plus he has horrible dogs

 

[Erichalfbee]

They are behind a gated driveway which has cameras on a friend's property plus he has horrible dogs

Good deterrent.

 

[Ian123]

Good deterrent.

You met his wife then?