Should I stick to the OA plan

[For want of a better word]

I have decided i will do it on the 1st of January, every year, regardless of the weather. I am going to make it my yearly Hogmanay ceilidh with the bees. I will put on Andy Stewart playing Campbeltown Loch on the Iphone, dae a wee Jig around each hive as i apply the OA close up the hives and leave them to party in peace, with the wee tipple of OA i just gave them.

I could do that wiv me vaporizer!

​

I could also really get into the spirit of things with a kilt and stuff.... a sniff of OA fumes would be an excellent cure for the inevitable hangover?

 

[Pete D]

Well for me then its plan A, do it this Friday. Sorted.
Thanks for all your replies.

Barranack did you get the PM I sent you about 10 days ago ?

Pete D

 

[VEG]

Well I am just going to pick a dry day and just do it. Will leave it till about an hour before darkness and get on with it.

 

[MandF]

My solution is made up and stored in a dark cupboard.

Just watch it rain on friday now....

 

[dpearce4]

how long do they need to be clustered for the lovely stuff to do its work? can it be as little as a couple of hours?

just wondered as my best chance will be tomorrow morning looking at temps, but may end up warmer than expecting (8c daytime).

 

[boca]

OA trickling nighttime

I have always done the trickling late evening with a red led headlamp.

The main reason for that is that it is completely dark when I get home. I did it in dark in summertime too, when I treated the swarms. All the bees are at home, all of them gets their fair share and they don't fly.

 

[fatshark]

I added OA 8 days ago. It's been consistently in high single figures since then, with no overnight frosts. However, the bees were largely clustered when I trickled and the mite drop over the last few days is in a reasonably tight pattern. The drop is also much higher than I've seen previously which I attribute to the warm autumn and continued brood production (colonies were treated with Apiguard in August/September). I haven't opened the hives, so have no idea how much brood is present.

However, if mite numbers are higher and you leave OA treatment until February when brood will be present, there is a good chance you'll miss a lot of mites in capped cells. So I'm with Gavin on this ... get the OA on sooner rather than later.

And Happy New Year

 

[dickndoris]

I also think this would be a good year for the vaporizer method of applying OA. You can also give them a second shot later if the mite count is still high.
I'm no expert or master bee-keeper, but from what I read it still seems that the trickling method is invasive to the bees compared to vaporizing and so cold weather dependant....

 

[dickndoris]

I have decided i will do it on the 1st of January, every year, regardless of the weather. I am going to make it my yearly Hogmanay ceilidh with the bees. I will put on Andy Stewart playing Campbeltown Loch on the Iphone, dae a wee Jig around each hive as i apply the OA close up the hives and leave them to party in peace, with the wee tipple of OA i just gave them.

I could do that wiv me vaporizer!

​

I could also really get into the spirit of things with a kilt and stuff.... a sniff of OA fumes would be an excellent cure for the inevitable hangover?

Icanhopit... Which type of vaporizer do you use? Electric? Gas and a pipe?

Rich

 

[Finman]

.
Trickling does not need special weather or clustering. As you may read from Nanetti´s researches that oxalic syrup works better in warm conditions. (Note: There are few countries south from England and they trickle too.)

It just happens to be so it use to be cold near Christmas when brood brake is probable. I made my trickling October when I saw that there is no brood any more.

The main point is that the hive is broodless. No matter is it +20C or +2C.

0-5C is good because bees are in cluster and it takes a time when they wake up and start to attack against you and start to fly out. So keep hurry that you get the cover closed.

If the hive swells badly, you need smoke or strong wind to push them back that you may put the cover on.

If you put fire into toalet paper, it gives enough smoke to finish the job.

.

 

[thedeaddiplomat]

Just popped out to treat my bees. 8 degrees and dry. Bees more or less clustered, but didn't seem altogether appreciative of the treat I was giving them.

Stronger colonies that I had expected, given their insatiable guzzling of stores throughout the autumn and my consequential need to keep bunging on fondant. Weakest colony was four plus frames, pretty tightly clustered.

I have now affixed the 'Do Not Open Until Spring' signs, and will spend the next few weeks with my fingers, eyes and various other parts crossed!

 

[Pete D]

Thanks for all the replies, I did it, er well almost........... my plan was to do it Friday as other stuff on today but the wife is a bit poorly so suddenly today was a free day.
So I did my 10 hives and 2 Nuc's, all trickled , fed and tucked up.
I had mentioned in a previous thread about fondant above or below the crown board and had put all mine above but today moved it all on top of the frames, eke'd with a super and insulation and crown board.
Bees didnt seem that bothered by my interference and seemed to be clustered quite low in most hives and worked there way up for a look and got trickled on for their efforts.
Did wonder too myself about dosage rate as I have a mix of std national and 14x12, Is 5 ml enough per seam on a 14x12 ? Anyway they got 5ml and I am feeling better for having done it, hopefully they will too in a couple of days.
Thanks
Pete D

 

[drstitson]

5ml per seam was the original recommendation based on Dadant frames (ie bigger still (17x12).