Mixed bag..........

[Pete D]

I took advantage of the balmy 11 degrees on Saturday afternoon, bright sunshine, no wind and bees flying all over.
Went through my 19 hives all in under an hour, very quick look, crown board off, dummy out, slide frames over and have a 10 second look in the middle of the cluster, frame back in, slide them back, dummy in, crown board and roof back on. Probably had the crown board off 2 minutes tops and the frame out 10 - 15 seconds top. Certainly my experience with Chris B last year of quick checks at 11 - 13 degrees in rain helped me work quickly.
Anyway, mixed bag
1 Dead out, few robbers, plenty of food, this was a Ged Marshall queen introduced last summer.
1 Drone layer, drones in the hive and couple of frames with drone capped brood. Luckily saw the queen on the frame I pulled and disposed of her. Ended up uniting to the hive next door which was all ok, but bit small.
The rest all had capped brood, but only small patches and with the exception of 3 or 4 they seemed a bit small to me, as in not many bees, although they do seem to hide well down on my 14x12 frames.
I made quick notes as I went and sat last night and devised my what is being united with what plan in readiness for spring. I will however have another look in 2 -3 weeks time (weather permitting ) before re-confirming my plan. I will also consider some spring feed as soon as its warm enough.
My overall summary would be small, not much brood but all hives had some and I only spotted capped which may of been due to the recent cold spell as she stopped laying again. Plenty of stores in the right place.
Oh also had 1 empty mouse nest and evidence of mouse ingress in a couple of others.
Watched them yesterday, pollen going into all 17 hives that were left and the Alder trees were alive with bees all over the catkins.
Pete D

 

[Chris B]

A mixed bag but on balance positive I would say Pete.

I've not looked at any brood frames in mine, but any where I've popped the lid look okay, albeit perhaps a tad smaller than usual for this time - I think we've had some proper cold weather these last few months so no big surprise.

 

[enrico]

Just a reminder to new beekeepers ...Peter has been doing this for a few years and is quick and efficient.....I would not advise you opening your hives for full inspections yet! A slow inspection may well cost lives and hives at 11 degrees. There is no rush!
E

 

[itma]

Plans sound very reasonable indeed.

Drone layer is unfortunate but the sort of thing that has to be accepted from time to time. I'd aspire to sorting things as promptly as you have!

All-in-all one amazingly productive hour!


The mice. What did they get past to get in?

 

[Pete D]

Plans sound very reasonable indeed.



The mice. What did they get past to get in?

Big gaping hole.............
I fitted mouse guards to all hives in October after removing the entrance blocks. In December I attended a beekeepers question time, panel of 4 bee keepers including me ! (representing the newer keepers !).
A question was asked about using mouse guards and the collective 110 years experience of the other 3 all said they didnt use them. My limited experience led me to go home and in a mad moment remove them all.
I used them last year with no problems and cant really explain why I thought it was best to remove them.......... other than my peers experience.
Anyway they are all back on now and I have learnt yet another lesson.
The amount of pollen knocked off by them is minimal.

 

[Pete D]

Just a reminder to new beekeepers ...Peter has been doing this for a few years and is quick and efficient.....I would not advise you opening your hives for full inspections yet! A slow inspection may well cost lives and hives at 11 degrees. There is no rush!
E

quite right, my main reason for looking was the mice droppings and comb debris on the varroa boards that I put in the previous week. I wanted to oust the little beasts.
I was quick, gentle and they hardly knew I had been, it certainly wasnt a full inspection........ no stings no pings

Pete D

 

[Pete D]

Plans sound very reasonable indeed.

All-in-all one amazingly productive hour!


Didnt mention my wife assisted me with note taking and putting insulation and roofs back on. She is apparently gonna get more involved this year as she may see me at weekends then.
The bees treated her to a fine display of synchronised formation 'poohing' on her nice new white suit as she was at the sides of the hive whilst I worked from the back.

 

[Pete D]

A mixed bag but on balance positive I would say Pete.

I've not looked at any brood frames in mine, but any where I've popped the lid look okay, albeit perhaps a tad smaller than usual for this time - I think we've had some proper cold weather these last few months so no big surprise.

Yes as seen on countryfile weather last night, January and February colder than average in my area
Pete D

 

[VEG]

Can I ask why you bothered to unite a hive with drones in with another hive (or have i got it wrong)

 

[TOBY-3652]

]Just a reminder to new beekeepers ...Peter has been doing this for a few years and is quick and efficient.....I would not advise you opening your hives for full inspections yet! A slow inspection may well cost lives and hives at 11 degrees. There is no rush!
WELL SAID

 

[Tdf]

Big gaping hole.............
I fitted mouse guards to all hives in October after removing the entrance blocks. In December I attended a beekeepers question time, panel of 4 bee keepers including me ! (representing the newer keepers !).
A question was asked about using mouse guards and the collective 110 years experience of the other 3 all said they didnt use them. My limited experience led me to go home and in a mad moment remove them all.
I used them last year with no problems and cant really explain why I thought it was best to remove them.......... other than my peers experience.
Anyway they are all back on now and I have learnt yet another lesson.
The amount of pollen knocked off by them is minimal.

you should use 8mm entrances, no need for mouseguards and more than adequate for the strongest of colonies

 

[TOBY-3652]

]you should use 8mm entrances, no need for mouseguards and more than adequate for the strongest of colonieS I DID USE MOUSE GUARDS LAST YEAR BUT WAS A PAIN TO PUT ON SO I USED 8MM ENTRANCES THIS YEAR AND UP TO NOW NO MOUSES OR MICES...

 

[itma]

Can I ask why you bothered to unite a hive with drones in with another hive (or have i got it wrong)

I think it would have had quite a few winter (worker) bees, a very few drones (from winter brooding) and exclusively drone brood in a fairly normal pattern.

I'd expect the drone brood to have been culled.
But the winter bees should have quite a few flying hours left - all the better to help kick off the colony that they have joined. An a few premature drones shouldn't do much harm. The heartless might have united with a qx as well as newspaper, so the drones could be kept out of the finally consolidated colony.

 

[adrian wilford]

agree with Enrico, why bother at this time as long as there
is stores leave well alone until a little warmer

 

[VEG]

I think it would have had quite a few winter (worker) bees, a very few drones (from winter brooding) and exclusively drone brood in a fairly normal pattern.

I'd expect the drone brood to have been culled.
But the winter bees should have quite a few flying hours left - all the better to help kick off the colony that they have joined. An a few premature drones shouldn't do much harm. The heartless might have united with a qx as well as newspaper, so the drones could be kept out of the finally consolidated colony.

Thats why I asked as no mention of worker bees in that hive

 

[Swarm]

Nice sunny afternoon, I called by the apiary on my way home. Bees were flying from all hives, that's good enough for me.

 

[Polyanwood]

]you should use 8mm entrances, no need for mouseguards and more than adequate for the strongest of colonieS I DID USE MOUSE GUARDS LAST YEAR BUT WAS A PAIN TO PUT ON SO I USED 8MM ENTRANCES THIS YEAR AND UP TO NOW NO MOUSES OR MICES...

Mice can get through 8mm if it is a flat gap, though they can't get through an 8mm hole. It is not difficult to put the mouseguards on and off if you use drawing pins.

I used not to use them, then one year, my best and biggest colony was destroyed by mice and now I am more cautious.

 

[itma]

Mice can dislocate their jaw to get through an 8mm high slot.
But they don't fit through an 8mm round hole.

Putting mouseguards on with drawing pins can be made much easier if you
1 - use drawing pins that will stick to a magnet -and-
2 - use a fridge magnet as a pin-pusher --- even with gloves on, it gets really easy

And a hive tool takes out drawing pins almost as though it had been designed for the job!

 

[Pete D]

Thats why I asked as no mention of worker bees in that hive

Hi, yes plenty of worker bees, but only brood was drone and a few drones about. They were small for drones but drones none the less. the colony they went to was about the same size.
I expect they may kick some of the drones out, will keep an eye on the slab out front.
Pete D

 

[Pete D]

agree with Enrico, why bother at this time as long as there
is stores leave well alone until a little warmer

It was warm enough for what I did. My primary reason for going in was to check for mice because of my daft decision to remove the guards too early and I had evidence of mice in the hives.
Pete D