Upcoming weather

[Norton]

Extreme weather conditions here in south-east Europe - drought. Some areas in Cyprus have only had about ONE inch of rain in the last 11 months. The government has ordered the desalination plants to start operating again as dam capacity is below 50%.

In Crete, water levels in some wells have gone down 40m in the last 12 months.

Extreme weather conditions are becoming normal!

 

[Erichalfbee]

Just received my long range forecast for the next few months - hot!

That's OK then.....it should reach this far

 

[mbc]

Every year i can remember where we've had it this mild so far there has been a whip in the tail, bitterly cold and snow on St Davids day isnt uncommon.

 

[VEG]

Well I know I am truly fed up of all this poxy rain lol

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

bitterly cold and snow on St Davids day isnt uncommon.

Not for me if things go to plan - i shall be joining in the Dewi Sant parade in Maseru lesotho, I have been warned that if they have a chilly day the temperature may drop to 10degrees C but usually nearing 30 (it will be autumn out there you know!

 

[mbc]

Not for me if things go to plan - i shall be joining in the Dewi Sant parade in Maseru lesotho, I have been warned that if they have a chilly day the temperature may drop to 10degrees C but usually nearing 30 (it will be autumn out there you know!

Pob hwyl.
Pwy syn drychyd ar ol dy wenyn ?

 

[Excession]

I got some seaweed hanging up outside, usually a good indicator of wether it will rain or not... Trouble is, I can't go check on it because its p***ing it down, and I'll get wet.
So I have no idea wether its going to rain or not now....

 

[richardbees]

Well I know I am truly fed up of all this poxy rain lol

We had an oasis of dryness today, Sunny 12c, so I opened and inspected every frame of my most populous hive going into the Winter.

Loads of bees and stores but no sealed brood and an obvious patch of empty polished cells ready and waiting for eggs ....obviously I'll leave until the Spring but assume it's Q-

 

[VEG]

Don't understand why you would do a full inspection at this time of year

 

[pargyle]

Don't understand why you would do a full inspection at this time of year

And indeed assume it's queenless ? Brood break ?

I think the general concensus will be that they would have best been left without a full inspection ... indeed, might have best been left alone altogether - what did you hope to achieve ?

That last question should be the first you ask yourself before you open the hive up at all ...

 

[richardbees]

Don't understand why you would do a full inspection at this time of year

It was warm enough - and I wanted to check the viability of trickling OA

 

[VEG]

So why strip the brood nest at this time of year?
If you are going to treat just do it you could have accidentally killed the queen while taking the brood nest apart.
Sorry but at this time of year it is a definite no no

 

[dpearce4]

So why strip the brood nest at this time of year?
If you are going to treat just do it you could have accidentally killed the queen while taking the brood nest apart.
Sorry but at this time of year it is a definite no no

Sorry Veg but its not a definite no no.

If OA is to be totally effective it should be done while there is no sealed brood. The advice we were given by Sussex Uni in November was to open the hive check for any sealed brood and remove before applying the OA, this was for both drizzle and sublimation methods.

Admittedly I am surprised there is no brood in the hive that Richard opened after all we have had very warm weather this winter, so he could be right that they are Q-. Only time will tell.

 

[VEG]

Sorry but we will have to disagree on this one as more harm will be done than good, stripping the brood nest apart at this time of year. I would not do that to my bees at this time of year whatever university said it was ok to do.
You would be surprised by the number of people in these jobs that have never kept bees.
DP if you treated did you do the same? ie take apart the brood nest and remove any brood

 

[richardbees]

Craig,

Do me a favour, I know how to go through a solitary bb without risking killing the Q, another indicator that it's Q- is that I didn't see her!

rich

 

[VEG]

So you didnt see the queen so therefore you are q-?
What are you now going to do about it though?
The reason I say it is a no no is there are lots of new beeks on here will read it and think it is ok to do

 

[Hivemaker.]

another indicator that it's Q- is that I didn't see her!

Heard that many a time, it usually turns out they have a queen.

 

[dpearce4]

Sorry but we will have to disagree on this one as more harm will be done than good, stripping the brood nest apart at this time of year. I would not do that to my bees at this time of year whatever university said it was ok to do.
You would be surprised by the number of people in these jobs that have never kept bees.
DP if you treated did you do the same? ie take apart the brood nest and remove any brood

I did check a couple, they were broodless so assumed the others were.

 

[Hivemaker.]

I did check a couple, they were broodless so assumed the others were.

Did you see the queens Doug, hope so, or they may of been queenless.

 

[dpearce4]

Did you see the queens Doug, hope so, or they may of been queenless.

Sorry I should have used the term' they had no sealed brood' as apposed to broodless

LOL HM, it was between xmas and new year, and was expecting to see them with no sealed brood so wasn't looking for her. There was one that was very small (2 very small seams) with no brood what so ever and that one I didn't treat with OA but since then it has also died right off as confirmed last weekend when checking hive weights and I saw it being robbed. Now sealed up and waiting for the ground to be dry enough to remove.