Play cups, bad weather but need to inspect.

[lebouche]

Hi,
One of the perils of being a weekend beekeeper is that you can't control the weather.
Next weekend is 10-12C but I've spotted queen cups. What do I do? Surely too cold to inspect?

 

[Davelin]

I wouldn't have the slightest scrap of confidence in a weather forecast for more than 24hrs ahead.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Next weekend is 10-12C but I've spotted queen cups. What do I do? Surely too cold to inspect?

no, just do't hang around. Open up, have a good look for charged QC's if none there, close up. If they are charged, do an A/S with the equipment you have prepared in readiness.
I frequently do inspections at that temperature but it should only take a few minutes

 

[lebouche]

Thanks Jenkinsbrynmair, much appreciated.

 

[scuttlefish]

no, just do't hang around. Open up, have a good look for charged QC's if none there, close up. If they are charged, do an A/S with the equipment you have prepared in readiness.
I frequently do inspections at that temperature but it should only take a few minutes

I think I'll be following that advice and sitting in the apiary under an umbrella, waiting for a break in the rain to inspect!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I think I'll be following that advice and sitting in the apiary under an umbrella, waiting for a break in the rain to inspect!

Get someone to hold said umbrella for you (when she's finished making the tea that is )

 

[Cellectronic]

I wouldn't have the slightest scrap of confidence in a weather forecast for more than 24hrs ahead.

Really, That far !

 

[einsteinagogo]

my only advice would be, keep a smoker handy (if needed!), I tried to open mine up, under 10 degrees C, and they went mad (twice), I abandoned on two occasions, after 6 frames.

 

[mbc]

I frequently do inspections at that temperature but it should only take a few minutes

Oh! the joys of beekeeping in wet West Wales!

 

[drstitson]

If an inspection/manipulation NEEDS doing then it needs doing. regardless of weather.

how do you think commercial beekeepers manage?

 

[lebouche]

Just opened up and it's extremely windy here. Charged cells now with visible larvae in one hive. Stopped on the second frame of that hive as need to get my stuff ready for a split.
Second hive was so windy I didn't get past the first frame.
Will try again soon.

 

[JohnRoss]

I went through a double brood hive with two supers and no QEx yeaterday after finding sealed qc's. Over 100 stingers in each glove, not a good day bee keeping. Never found the queen.

 

[lebouche]

I went through a double brood hive with two supers and no QEx yeaterday after finding sealed qc's. Over 100 stingers in each glove, not a good day bee keeping. Never found the queen.

I still haven't been stung on the hands yet. Problem with making splits is I need to treat with Maqs!

 

[lebouche]

I went through a double brood hive with two supers and no QEx yeaterday after finding sealed qc's. Over 100 stingers in each glove, not a good day bee keeping. Never found the queen.

Sorry to hear that too. Must be painful. Did your hands swell up like balloons?

 

[JohnRoss]

Thankfully most remained in the gloves, only seven or eight got through. Some on the hands, two on the wrist two on the calves and one on the backside. Took a peretin tablet beforehand to prevent any reactions, seems to have worked, painful at the time but very little swelling and itching.

 

[TOBY-3652]

I went through a double brood hive with two supers and no QEx yeaterday after finding sealed qc's. Over 100 stingers in each glove, not a good day bee keeping. Never found the queen.

you must have some of my bees

 

[user 6228]

in our sheltered gardern we have used a "pop-up" gazebo to shelter us and the bees from the rain, while doing a Taranov style AS

 

[lebouche]

Not a bad idea if not windy but way way too windy.
I'm thinking of holding off on the MAQ's until the queen cells are capped and then treating the hives when split.

 

[richardbees]

we have used a "pop-up" gazebo to shelter us

too big a capital outlay, I just hire a homeless person to hold an umbrella...

lebouche, don't fret about treatment just make sure you do the weekly swarm prevention inspections

 

[lebouche]

we have used a "pop-up" gazebo to shelter us

too big a capital outlay, I just hire a homeless person to hold an umbrella...

lebouche, don't fret about treatment just make sure you do the weekly swarm prevention inspections

Thanks, I had an overnight drop of 60ish mites though on this particular hive.
(not sure I mentioned that on this thread).