Mad Mad..

[Beefriendly]

Something I can't do until we have a flow on & weather isn't going to chill again.

You can always feed heavily to allow them to draw foundation, flow or no flow.

 

[Wingy]

You can always feed heavily to allow them to draw foundation, flow or no flow.

Yes would do that anyway, but don't want to feed 1:1 syrup if we are at sub zero temperatures again as forecast

 

[birdsandbees]

I'll admit I opened a few of mine for a quick check on Sunday as it was 12/13 degrees and sunny, some looking weak with only three seams and though they were brood rearing there were frames of honey separated from the bees by a couple of empty frames so I shuffled them over. I'd rather that than leave it and have them die off from isolation starvation, others looking good with six or seven seams.

I would of course draw the line at a full inspection and heaven forbid as I read on another thread carry out a shook swarm!

 

[Stedic]

Am I right right to assume the bees won't swarm until there is a nectar flow on? Presumably they are also bright enough to wait until drones are being produced and flying freely?

This being the case, presumably the only reason to check is disease/starvation (if weighing etc isn't helpful enough).

I REALLY, REALLY want to open mine, but I'm holding myself back as best I can! I might chuck an undrawn super on the hive that is spilling out of its brood box (as per perspex crown board) but I guess even that is too soon without a flow on.

 

[birdsandbees]

Am I right right to assume the bees won't swarm until there is a nectar flow on? Presumably they are also bright enough to wait until drones are being produced and flying freely?

This being the case, presumably the only reason to check is disease/starvation (if weighing etc isn't helpful enough).

I REALLY, REALLY want to open mine, but I'm holding myself back as best I can! I might chuck an undrawn super on the hive that is spilling out of its brood box (as per perspex crown board) but I guess even that is too soon without a flow on.

I think in my area it'll be at least another six weeks before they even think about swarming, noticed a few capped drone cells but still only smallish colonies and not much forage, crazy to think I collected my first swarm at the end of March last year!
but as you say, I'm sure they will wait until the time is right with a good flow and very strong colonies with plenty of mature Drones, of course if you see a very strong colony with lots of drones then maybe.

 

[maddydog]

Am I right right to assume the bees won't swarm until there is a nectar flow on? Presumably they are also bright enough to wait until drones are being produced and flying freely?

This being the case, presumably the only reason to check is disease/starvation (if weighing etc isn't helpful enough).

I REALLY, REALLY want to open mine, but I'm holding myself back as best I can! I might chuck an undrawn super on the hive that is spilling out of its brood box (as per perspex crown board) but I guess even that is too soon without a flow on.

The 14 day forecast for leicester is temps no higher than 13c, lows of 0c some rain around and precious little sun. Leave them be and you'll have plenty of opportunity to inspect later in the year.

 

[Beefriendly]

Am I right right to assume the bees won't swarm until there is a nectar flow on? Presumably they are also bright enough to wait until drones are being produced and flying freely?

With bees it's not wise to assume anything.....The earliest swarm I had was early April a few years ago. No flow at all.
I've had Marie Celeste type hives where plenty of bees were present in January and not a sausage in the hive come March. Plenty of stores left and no dead bees inside hive or on ground nearby... the whole lot just vanished.

 

[Brigsy]

Dont' folks look for guides from nature?
My guide for first inspection is 2 weeks after the local pussy willow flowers or 3 weeks after our local pipestrelle bat starts flying.

Took my detector out last night. Nothing flying. Parents went checking bat boxes at the weekend and most were empty. Bats still in hibernation.

 

[Millet]

Took my detector out last night. Nothing flying. Parents went checking bat boxes at the weekend and most were empty. Bats still in hibernation.

If the boxes where empty how do you know them bats where not flying, i'm and curious not nit picking.

 

[maddydog]

If the boxes where empty how do you know them bats where not flying, i'm and curious not nit picking.

Maybe when they checked them at the weekend it was during daylight hours?

 

[Erichalfbee]

Because hibernacula are in a different place from day time roosts
If the bats are not using the roosts they are some place else hibernating

 

[Brigsy]

If the boxes where empty how do you know them bats where not flying, i'm and curious not nit picking.

1. Day time.

2. As Ericha stated!

Thanks team.

 

[enrico]

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

 

[Millet]

Because hibernacula are in a different place from day time roosts
If the bats are not using the roosts they are some place else hibernating

That's cleared that up..

 

[Brigsy]

It seems we have some bat enthusiasts amongst our number.....

 

[Erichalfbee]

I need a bat detector. We get quite a few bats here in the summer. Can you get one that plugs into an iPhone?

 

[Millet]

It seems we have some bat enthusiasts amongst our number.....

I quite like them but i am no expert on them, we get loads flying around the cottage just as it's starting to get dark some are big and some are tiny, here is a picture i took of one a couple of years back, it's not the best image but it is hard work taking pictures of something that flies so fast in near darkness.

 

[madasafish]

I quite like them but i am no expert on them, we get loads flying around the cottage just as it's starting to get dark some are big and some are tiny, here is a picture i took of one a couple of years back, it's not the best image but it is hard work taking pictures of something that flies so fast in near darkness.

Super picture.

 

[fatshark]

I need a bat detector. We get quite a few bats here in the summer. Can you get one that plugs into an iPhone?

Yes

 

[bingevader]

If you don't mind a bit of soldering, you can make them (non-iphone) for £30-40.