Mad Mad..

[Brigsy]

https://www.echometertouch.com/

 

[mickbees23]

I have lost 4 colonies to isolation starvation since mid January so opened all mine at the weekend, 12.5C which is what we had first week in June last year so no big deal. Didn't do a full check just made sure that I moved the outer frames closer to the bees. Unusually all the colonies have stayed very central this winter which I presume is because there have been so few days they could break cluster and relocate in the hive. One colony I had to move 6 empty frames out, 3 either side of the brood area so maybe I just caught them in time. Another unusual occurrence is that my out apiaries have fared much better than the ones at home which for the last 5 years have been 3 to 4 weeks ahead at this point. It will be interesting to see when they start to make swarm prep this year but it won't be before May unless we have the hottest April ever.

 

[birdsandbees]

I have lost 4 colonies to isolation starvation since mid January so opened all mine at the weekend, 12.5C which is what we had first week in June last year so no big deal. Didn't do a full check just made sure that I moved the outer frames closer to the bees. Unusually all the colonies have stayed very central this winter which I presume is because there have been so few days they could break cluster and relocate in the hive. One colony I had to move 6 empty frames out, 3 either side of the brood area so maybe I just caught them in time. Another unusual occurrence is that my out apiaries have fared much better than the ones at home which for the last 5 years have been 3 to 4 weeks ahead at this point. It will be interesting to see when they start to make swarm prep this year but it won't be before May unless we have the hottest April ever.

May is currently forecast to be awesome weather! I've had to move stores in mine too but unlike yours mine seem to have gone to one side.

 

[PNW]

I'm glad I peeked yesterday, one of my poly-nucs that had been showing tremendous activity shipping pollen and trips to fetch water was right on the point of finishing their stores with two frames ½ covered with sealed brood already. Having lost a hive this time last year, I'm more wary of the build-up / starvation balance. Substituted a frame of honey from last Autumn's ivy excess and a dollop of fondant so they can take their pick!

 

[simonforeman]

May of been answered many times but does ivy honey set hard like OSR?

 

[Stiffy]

Winter roosts and summer nursery roosts, totally different places. May to September for the latter.
E

Some bat species will use the same roost all year around but most have a number of different roosts, hibernation, nursery, feeding, mating, transitional.
Yes, I am a fan of bats, have worked with them for the last 25years, and currently writing a licence application for a very large colony of bats within buildings on land proposed to be developed.
As an aside, if anyone wants to buy a bat detector, send me a PM? I currently have a Batbox Duet and an original EMtouch that fits in an IPhone for sale £80 and £120 respectively.
S

 

[Erichalfbee]

May of been answered many times but does ivy honey set hard like OSR?

It crystallises
Bees deal with it no problem

 

[simonforeman]

That's good... I have loads of ivy around my house last year in flower so should give them some good stores later in the year

 

[SWEET]

14/15 here today , no snow

 

[tom8400]

still waiting here, although they are very active, I keep putting the bottom board back in if it looks like a cold night.

Also had to spend on some pond plants I had a rather empty pond and they insisted on trying to drown themselves on the warm days the wet compost trays seemed to have slowed that, but I still get a bit of natures way of natural selection