What did you do in the Apiary today?

[madasafish]

Monday was sunny , dry and 10C.. All bees out on crocus. Three strongest langs had demolished all pollen patties - so replaced them.
Cut grass for first time this year (late - have done it in Dec and Jan in prior years).

Even weak nuc flying strongly.
Lots of pollen coming in - but weather variable so unlikely to last.

 

[B+.]

Even weak nuc flying strongly.
Lots of pollen coming in - but weather variable so unlikely to last.

My apiaries are all in quite agricultural locations so there is not much pollen coming in yet (the hedgerows are quite a way behind snowdrops, crocuses, narcissi, etc). They're flying short distances but these are just orientation flights really (9 degrees C in my test apiary yesterday afternoon).
If we do get some more cold weather, they'll have to reform the cluster so I wouldn't want too much unnecessary flying yet.

 

[Little John]

All this talk of pollen coming-in in bucketfuls ... Very envious.

UK weather is so regional-specific. Heavy hail-storm yesterday - ground was as white as a sheet with pea-sized chunks of ice. Then woke-up this morning only to scrape ice off the windscreen yet again.

Roll-on Spring.
LJ

 

[B+.]

All this talk of pollen coming-in in bucketfuls ... Very envious.

UK weather is so regional-specific.

You are NE of me and my windrscreen was just like yours at 7am. By afternoon it had all gone though and the bees could fly a little.

I'm itching to get started, but, experience teaches that it can be detrimental to stimulate colonies too soon. they do just as well, if not better, if they develop naturally.

 

[Little John]

I'm itching to get started, but, experience teaches that it can be detrimental to stimulate colonies too soon. they do just as well, if not better, if they develop naturally.

Fully agree with that. I guess if you're targetting early OSR than there may be a case for giving the girls a boost - but I'm content enough (say's he, lying through his teeth) to be treading water for now.
LJ

 

[B+.]

Fully agree with that. I guess if you're targetting early OSR than there may be a case for giving the girls a boost - but I'm content enough (say's he, lying through his teeth) to be treading water for now.
LJ

I don't do that LJ. The yield has to be a product of their own means otherwise it can be misleading. That means I don't give them stimulative feed (I was referring to something others said about feeding pollen patties, etc) or prophylactic treatments.
I am, like most beekeepers, eager to get on with it but all I can really do at the moment is natural mite drop tests.

 

[bjosephd]

Well I thought I'd experiment with pollen patties this year after there seemed to be much talk of people doing it a few weeks ago. Then after I'd put patties on a few of you popped up saying that it was a bad idea. Others said that if you start then you mustn't stop.

Well, having put the 2nd patty in yesterday, the discussion, perfectly timed, has popped up again!

And now I'm scared I've done a 'terrible' thing.

Any thoughts on how to mitigate such management? Or just roll with it and learn. Not 'disastrous'.

One local beek is already talking about putting weak syrup on his! Mine have stores/fondant... I kind of feel syrup might well be asking for trouble at this stage.

Although I will, come 'spring', give then a small dose of thymolated syrup.

Thoughts?


BJD

 

[Erichalfbee]

No pollen patties on mine. The reference to ultrabee was a joke. There is nothing to stimulate my bees for here. It would be nice to see some sunshine and some busy bees. I say that every year. It's just the time of year differs

 

[B+.]

Well I thought I'd experiment with pollen patties this year after there seeme
And now I'm scared I've done a 'terrible' thing.

Don't be BJD.
I don't say that everyone should do what I do. Only that there are compelling reasons for the way I work given what I am trying to do. It may not be for everyone.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Well I thought I'd experiment with pollen patties this year after there seemed to be much talk of people doing it a few weeks ago. Then after I'd put patties on a few of you popped up saying that it was a bad idea. Others said that if you start then you mustn't stop.

Well, having put the 2nd patty in yesterday, the discussion, perfectly timed, has popped up again!

And now I'm scared I've done a 'terrible' thing.

Any thoughts on how to mitigate such management? Or just roll with it and learn. Not 'disastrous'.

One local beek is already talking about putting weak syrup on his! Mine have stores/fondant... I kind of feel syrup might well be asking for trouble at this stage.

Although I will, come 'spring', give then a small dose of thymolated syrup.

Thoughts?


BJD

Not disastrous. Just roll with it and if we get a glorious spring with lots of nice weather make sure you have those empty boxes ready for the ASs you will have to do.
Why the thymolated syrup? I wouldn't in case it appeared in your honey

 

[bjosephd]

Why the thymolated syrup? I wouldn't in case it appeared in your honey

Well, strictly speaking, 'HiveAlive'... but then I might just be being suckered by marketing.

 

[madasafish]

Well I thought I'd experiment with pollen patties this year after there seemed to be much talk of people doing it a few weeks ago. Then after I'd put patties on a few of you popped up saying that it was a bad idea. Others said that if you start then you mustn't stop.

Well, having put the 2nd patty in yesterday, the discussion, perfectly timed, has popped up again!

And now I'm scared I've done a 'terrible' thing.

Any thoughts on how to mitigate such management? Or just roll with it and learn. Not 'disastrous'.

One local beek is already talking about putting weak syrup on his! Mine have stores/fondant... I kind of feel syrup might well be asking for trouble at this stage.

Although I will, come 'spring', give then a small dose of thymolated syrup.

Thoughts?


BJD

I am doing it for the first time.. hoping to build up in time for willow/hawthorn - which here is HUGE

If the weather is good it may prove a success.
If the weather is poor, it will be a waste of time and money..(not a lot of money though every £ counts)

But nothing ventured etc..

Be interesting to see what happens...

 

[bjosephd]

Don't be BJD.

I don't say that everyone should do what I do. Only that there are compelling reasons for the way I work given what I am trying to do. It may not be for everyone.

Thanks B+, I guess we'll see what happens... colonies all seem healthy and flying... one particularly busy and swiftly chomping down whatever edible stuffs I give them.

2nd winter - but too early to say still no losses - not until I inspect and see a happy queen and jolly brood.

 

[bjosephd]

I am doing it for the first time.. hoping to build up in time for willow/hawthorn - which here is HUGE



If the weather is good it may prove a success.

If the weather is poor, it will be a waste of time and money..(not a lot of money though every £ counts)



But nothing ventured etc..



Be interesting to see what happens...

Good to know I'm not the only one doing 'mad' things

I don't know if we have anything 'massive' here. I'll ask the local beeks.

There's a few giant Thatchers orchards not too far away, but I'd have to move hives (although goodness knows what they might spray then with). And the same with the OSR up off the A38, for which I have a landowner contact, but again, would have to migrate. Although am thinking that OSR would be a great place to get comb drawn. I'll probably just leave everything where it is though - until I one day have a truck of sorts. Hilux maybe? Big ford pickup? Hmm... dreams...

 

[BMH]

Ive been building mine up on ultra bee since 8th Feb. They are taking it down any day over 7/8c. On days above this they are swamping it. Have topped up some of the hives that are chomping it down.

Was 12c here yesterday afternoon so did a very quick inspection on 1 hive. 6 frames of BIAS. Good amount of stores vs laying space. Healthy queen. Fingers crossed they are all like that. Specifically chose one that wasnt flying too well.

I am building up to make significant splits and prepared to feed through poor spring weather although the spring crop around here is definitely of the year. Loads of willow and sycamore plus miles upon mile of hedgerow will various species.

When the weather warms up I am double brooding all colonies as I found a single national was too small for them last year. Will then feed to get combs drawn. This year I am in it for the splits and increase.

 

[bjosephd]

Not disastrous. Just roll with it and if we get a glorious spring with lots of nice weather make sure you have those empty boxes ready for the ASs you will have to do.

3 nuc boxes and one hive spare (all Lang), and some other bits and bobs that need bringing into service with a bit of carpentry and tlc.

Maybe if my feeding escapades cause such expansion and proliferation I should make up some nucs for some locals doing the beginners course. No doubt they'll be purseuded to go national though. Although I sense a potential Langstroth revolution on these isles - ironically with Brexit on the way!

 

[nantmoel]

Spent the day preparing our new out apiary, swamped with bracken and bramble, so cleared a section. I set out three double hive stands, I just want to move some hives before they get going.

 

[Plenty of honey]

Spent the day preparing our new out apiary, swamped with bracken and bramble, so cleared a section. I set out three double hive stands, I just want to move some hives before they get going.

Looks a lovely place. love that ancient wall behind!!

 

[Tremyfro]

On the warpath for varroa. The under OMF insulation has been removed from the beehausies and the varroa boards greased and replaced. Also the boards greased and put under the poly hives.
I could see that the beehausies all have 2-3 plus brood frames being used as there was lines of brood cappings on the insulation blocks. So begins the varroa counts prior to opening hives in the near future.
There was evidence of a MOUSE!!!!! EEeeek!
Not in the hives but one had tried to get in....it had scratched and gnawed at the insulation...in vain...as the OMF stopped it. I don't know how it managed to get there as the legs are metal....clearly a very determined rodent.
The other really interesting thing is that the bees have built the comb down to within an inch or less of the OMF. Which they have not done before...so I guess the insulation makes a big difference to the bees after all.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Spent the day preparing our new out apiary, swamped with bracken and bramble, so cleared a section. I set out three double hive stands, I just want to move some hives before they get going.

Wonderful