Inspecting quietly?

[TylBee]

Holes in bags work fine. They will chew a big circle in the fondant and empty the bag- you can watch progress without moving it.

Thanks Madasafish, perfect.

 

[TylBee]

I don’t think I have ever experienced no brace comb between the top of the frames and the gap to the above crown board feeder. They just do it, I don’t think it shows lack of space, more a sensible use of a space with food source close by.

Thanks Courty. When I opened the hive up and had a good look, it was like they were using the brace comb as a ladder to get up into the upturned tub full of fondant!

 

[TylBee]

I put fondant above the crownboard (if it's needed) encased in a slab of 50mm celotex. I had one colony up at the top apiary this year that needed fondant early on, when I looked in hristmas time they were getting low but the box was full of bees, I knoew we were in for a week of sub zero weather and I had other reasons to be passing near them that week, an ideal time to do a quick switch I thought, with all the bees being tightly clustered,so up I popped, the whole area was a carpet of frost, everything frozen solid (including me) lifted the lid.....carton still full of bees enjoying the last chunk of fondant.

Thanks jenkinsbrynmair. Recently I tried filling the tubs over the crown board hole with a 2/3 fondant and 1/3

Can't be quiet when checking your bees -dont you talk to them?

Can't be quiet when checking your bees -dont you talk to them?

I do, and sing to them too - which might be why they tried to burrow into my cuffs...

 

[TylBee]

I put fondant above the crownboard (if it's needed) encased in a slab of 50mm celotex. I had one colony up at the top apiary this year that needed fondant early on, when I looked in hristmas time they were getting low but the box was full of bees, I knoew we were in for a week of sub zero weather and I had other reasons to be passing near them that week, an ideal time to do a quick switch I thought, with all the bees being tightly clustered,so up I popped, the whole area was a carpet of frost, everything frozen solid (including me) lifted the lid.....carton still full of bees enjoying the last chunk of fondant.

What I was trying to say before I pressed the wrong button was thanks. I've also tried to help the bees with a 2/3 fondant, 1/3 candypolline in each tub recently as a rather cold wind keeps on blowing and restricting their foraging, and they seem to like it. Is it ok to mix two types of 'food' in a single tub?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Is it ok to mix two types of 'food' in a single tub?

Yes, but save your money - candipoline is just snakoil - baker's fondant with food colouring.
Next year, just get yourself a slab of bog standard baker's fondant

 

[Nannysbees]

Murox, I have a quick question regarding putting the fondant directly on the frames. When you open up the hive to check how much is left and it's a cold day, how do they bees react? I'm rather new to all this and I thought I should leave them undisturbed throughout - hence the tubs of fondant on top of the crown board. many thanks for your advice.

We put ours above the crown board, they emptied one bag and we put another on without having to go into the hive, worked great for us, both hives have come through winter very strong