- Joined
- Jan 16, 2013
- Messages
- 151
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Cumbria
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 1
The weather has been hellish up here lately, not great for 2-3 weeks and hellish for last 4 days. Today I went to my out apiary to be greeted by a hive with lots of dead bees in front of the hive. Upon opening there were 2 to 3 inches of dead and dying bees on the floor. The entrance was almost blocked. This was a swarm I had lured in late June, superbly placid, perhaps to much so for their own good. They were fed initially and had put everything into drawing frames and rebuilding, they were coming along nicely.
I class my self as a novice, a "2 and a half year old". Although I was aware that ALL of my hives have little in the way of stores, I did not consider that they would literally starve in mid summer. My thoughts at this time were all geared towards the honey crop.
I had considered taking pictures but was too ashamed to do so. You can picture the scene, partially uncapped brood, heads buried in cells (alive or dead?)..the huge heap of dead bees on the hive floor.
Thankfully the queen is still alive and there were eggs in evidence. I had some syrup made up as I had an hunch that I should be prepared after 3 days of zero foraging. I dribbled some of this directly on the bees on the frames, a little on the floor, hoping to save those that were failing and then applied the rest on a rapid feeder over the feed hole.
So, I guess I dodged a bullet in a way. However tonight I feel quite ashamed to be honest. Hopefully my poor judgement will allow a few other novices to be more vigilant.
I class my self as a novice, a "2 and a half year old". Although I was aware that ALL of my hives have little in the way of stores, I did not consider that they would literally starve in mid summer. My thoughts at this time were all geared towards the honey crop.
I had considered taking pictures but was too ashamed to do so. You can picture the scene, partially uncapped brood, heads buried in cells (alive or dead?)..the huge heap of dead bees on the hive floor.
Thankfully the queen is still alive and there were eggs in evidence. I had some syrup made up as I had an hunch that I should be prepared after 3 days of zero foraging. I dribbled some of this directly on the bees on the frames, a little on the floor, hoping to save those that were failing and then applied the rest on a rapid feeder over the feed hole.
So, I guess I dodged a bullet in a way. However tonight I feel quite ashamed to be honest. Hopefully my poor judgement will allow a few other novices to be more vigilant.
but what are you using for the scaly leg mite? We dipped our birds legs in a jar of olive oil and it seemed to work for a while. It came back though
