bump3r67
New Bee
- Joined
- May 14, 2011
- Messages
- 47
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- West Midlands, UK
- Hive Type
- WBC
- Number of Hives
- 2
Bit of advice please.
Been trying to get into my hive over the last three weeks but the temperature has got above 12 degrees round here and the wind has been blowing a cool breeze to probably take it down a few more degrees.
Am I right to refrain from inspecting or should I risk chilling the brood in an attempt to prevent a swarm.
My thinking after reading lots is that if they were considering swarming during that warm spell in March they would have abandoned the attempt until better weather arrives. I did have a quick look yesterday without removing frames and there seems plenty of room although this didn't stop them buggering off last year.
Mentor suggests we should be looking this time of year even if not ideal conditions but this seems to go against what I have read.
Secondly, when I went to the hive yesterday there was a pile of bees underneath the hive on the slab. Half dead the other half not really doing a lot either. There was also around a hundred clustering off the underside of the mesh floor. Is it anything to worry about or just old bees seeing out their final days
Cheers
Been trying to get into my hive over the last three weeks but the temperature has got above 12 degrees round here and the wind has been blowing a cool breeze to probably take it down a few more degrees.
Am I right to refrain from inspecting or should I risk chilling the brood in an attempt to prevent a swarm.
My thinking after reading lots is that if they were considering swarming during that warm spell in March they would have abandoned the attempt until better weather arrives. I did have a quick look yesterday without removing frames and there seems plenty of room although this didn't stop them buggering off last year.
Mentor suggests we should be looking this time of year even if not ideal conditions but this seems to go against what I have read.
Secondly, when I went to the hive yesterday there was a pile of bees underneath the hive on the slab. Half dead the other half not really doing a lot either. There was also around a hundred clustering off the underside of the mesh floor. Is it anything to worry about or just old bees seeing out their final days
Cheers