Ivy flow has started..

[Codford]

Ivy has now finished here SW Wilts. Final checks in the apiary tomorrow pm and, less the weekly “weigh in”, that’s it until early spring feeding/build up mid March (weather and forage dependent).

 

[Curly green fingers]

Ivy has now finished here SW Wilts. Final checks in the apiary tomorrow pm and, less the weekly “weigh in”, that’s it until early spring feeding/build up mid March (weather and forage dependent).

The autumn flowering is on its way out and spreading northwards for another year . The ivy flow is still good here hopefully for another week .
I've found that we are always three weeks behind everyone else maybe because of the altitude.

In the spring my bee's were bringing in Hawthorne 3 weeks before it flowered up here locally .
Let's hope this coming spring is the same without the damned late frosts .

 

[beeno]

Went for a little stroll down the lane to see if ivy still in flower as the garden ivy was over. Still going strong in places, but I am making some fondant for one of my hives that is a little on the light side and brooding. Lovely day here but only 15C and dropping from tomorrow.

 

[Ian123]

Why bother making fondant just give them some syrup

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Why bother making fondant just give them some syrup

in fact, why bother making it at all - sensible people would just buy a 12.5 kilo slab of baker's fondant.

 

[beeno]

Why bother making fondant just give them some syrup

I have noticed that they do not take the syrup readily when we get cold nights and the weather is turning here. I don't mind making one batch of fondant.

 

[Curly green fingers]

I think I'd feed fondant now if I needed to feed anything , wouldn't the syrup freeze with these cold nights .

 

[The Poot in Somerset]

It's more a risk that the bees will not be able to evaporate the water content with cold temperatures and that could lead to dysentery through the Winter if/as the syrup goes off.

 

[Ian123]

I have noticed that they do not take the syrup readily when we get cold nights and the weather is turning here. I don't mind making one batch of fondant.

sure your choice but if you want to get feed in fast syrup will win, you can always stick fondant on later. Ive often had a large number of nucs to overwinter and find 1 or 2 that need a little top up, sometimes well into next month

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

wouldn't the syrup freeze with these cold nights .

No - maybe one of the reasons anti freeze often contains sugars.

 

[Hivemaker.]

Ive often had a large number of nucs to overwinter and find 1 or 2 that need a little top up, sometimes well into next month

Fed 140 nucs 3 liters of syrup each today... and agree it is usually no problem well into next month if need be.

 

[Curly green fingers]

No - maybe one of the reasons anti freeze often contains sugars.

Fair point if the bee's are still reducing ivy nectar like they are then syrup wouldn't be any difference .

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[Ian123]

It's more a risk that the bees will not be able to evaporate the water content with cold temperatures and that could lead to dysentery through the Winter if/as the syrup goes off.

To be honest even with late feeding ive never found much fermenting stores the following season, maybe another side effect of thymol in feed? Or maybe last in first used

 

[The Poot in Somerset]

Fed 140 nucs 3 liters of syrup each today... and agree it is usually no problem well into next month if need be.

You know, that is contrary to what the "experts" teach and is valuable practical knowledge. The "experts" don't do us novices any favours!! Been giving mine fondant because I thought it too late for syrup, with night temperatures dipping away...

 

[mbc]

Fed 140 nucs 3 liters of syrup each today... and agree it is usually no problem well into next month if need be.

Yup, I dont worry about getting them to top weight until the ivy's ending, another couple of weeks here, they'll take syrup all through the winter if its mild.

 

[Beefriendly]

At last the ivy is coming out round me...no wonder we never get a good ivy flow, it happens far too late.
Although the bees are taking full advantage of this warm 11C day.

 

[Curly green fingers]

Looks like a lovely day up there are they today's pics, it's raining really heavy here 8c
And hill fog .

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[Beefriendly]

Yes, taken today.
Weather is dull and overcast but pleasantly warm.
Hives are very active.

 

[simonforeman]

All 4 of my hives are out in small numbers today... ivy all done round here but they are still bringing pollen in from something.

 

[Curly green fingers]

My girls are watching the rain come down . The odd bee flying.
The ivy is finished here , The gorse is still flowering though , It's been the best I've seen it flowering this year ,I'm glad theve got it as a pollen source locally .

Last winter i observed the bee's were stuck in the hive for no more than a 4 week period before they came out for toilet duties on the odd day we had 8 degree's plus and sun shine .
Question what happens if they can't fly for say 2 months with toilet duties.



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