Oxalic - Now or wait?

[dpearce4]

Hi.

Looking at the weather forcast for my area for the next week, would it be a good idea to do my Oxalic treatment this weekend?

The daytime temp is forcast not to go above 8c and night time below freezing for at least a few days after the weekend.

I am going upto the bees on saturday anyway to heft and add fondant to any that need it, so will be there anyway.

I will be trickling, not vapourising.

Is this to early as we havent had much in the way of cold weather yet only 2 frosts in the last 2weeks so not sure. Any advice please.

 

[Hivemaker.]

Not been that cold in the south for very long yet,some may still have some brood, waiting another couple of weeks would not hurt.
Have they got a lot of mites?

 

[dpearce4]

not sure if they do or not. I just thought as it is going to be nice and cold next week it would be a good time to do it.

 

[Swarm]

Personally, I'd leave it for a while. Perhaps the first week in January would be a better time.

 

[dpearce4]

No prob i can do that.

 

[Arfermo]

QUOTE=Swarm;195580]Personally, I'd leave it for a while. Perhaps the first week in January would be a better time.[/QUOTE]

 

[mazzamazda]

I always try to leave at least 2 weeks of zero activity then treat, mine were out this week so the countdown starts from then. I usually treat at 0 degrees and normally don't even see a bee break away from the cluster.

Mark

 

[drstitson]

"as it is going to be nice and cold next week"

you want it to have been nice and cold for at least three weeks!!!!

so that corresponds to sometime just after new year.

 

[Monsieur Abeille]

The late autumn suggests to me that delaying is good

 

[drstitson]

half my bees have were bringing in loads of Mespilus pollen this weekend. They'll therefore need to wait for at least 3 weeks yet.

 

[jakethedog]

half my bees have were bringing in loads of Mespilus pollen this weekend. They'll therefore need to wait for at least 3 weeks yet.

Dr, is there any kind of visible difference (in activity) between your wood/poly colonies at present?

 

[drstitson]

Unfortunately i both can and can't answer that in a useful fashion.

The only apiary where i have both together (6 wood, 1 poly) they were tucked up for winter and not venturing out when i last looked (last weds).

The other site (11 poly) were all active until cold and wet finally hit on sunday.

So can't give useful comparisons, especially since the bees, location, weather and forage have been very different for the 2 sites.

 

[jakethedog]

Unfortunately i both can and can't answer that in a useful fashion.

The only apiary where i have both together (6 wood, 1 poly) they were tucked up for winter and not venturing out when i last looked (last weds).

The other site (11 poly) were all active until cold and wet finally hit on sunday.

So can't give useful comparisons, especially since the bees, location, weather and forage have been very different for the 2 sites.

Thanks for the quick reply -I expected the site locations to play a part but I hate to miss an opportunity to pick the brains of personal experience!

 

[northernsoul]

I'd agree 3 weeks/month

 

[Erichalfbee]

Yes wait till New Year.
I have monitoring trays in and judging from the cappings there is still brood hatching.
For jakethedog.....I have a poly 14x12 and a cedar 14x12 and the wooden hive seems to be uncapping more stores. No bee has flown for 10 days though....too cold Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

 

[Teemore]

I am of the view that you don't leave it too long after the day turns before you treat. The changing photo period/increasing day length will begin to promote increased egg laying by the Queen so take advantage of the cold weather in the next few weeks and treat.

 

[Bob Bee]

"as it is going to be nice and cold next week"

you want it to have been nice and cold for at least three weeks!!!!

so that corresponds to sometime just after new year.

brood cycle

 

[drstitson]

"I am of the view that you don't leave it too long after the day turns before you treat. "



normally one would be fine sometime from 21st (remembering you have 9 days before capping of new brood).

However as i said in my post it needs to be a good 3 weeks after proper cold snap starts (which would normally be by 3rd week december).

so even if HM does start laying again asap that still gives you til new year anyway.

1st week of jan still seems good from where i'm sitting.

 

[OXFORDBEE]

1st week of jan still seems good from where i'm sitting.

Good advice. I've seen the odd one or two hives bringing in a bit of pollen. Most seem quiet at the moment though...

 

[Suzi Q]

Hmm, if its ok, I'll agee too. Still brood in my two hives at the weekend, and isn't it pointless to treat if brood is present given that only 15% of mites in the hive will be on the bees? Why trickle nasty oxalic acid over the bees if 85% of mites will be missed.