What did you do in the Apiary today?

[Helen]

Picked up a huge prime swarm this evening. Just about fitted in my 6-frame 14x12 nuc from the tree, and now transferring into a national. Had to trim a really nice acer to get it though. Luckily garden owners didn't mind.

 

[Eyeman]

Typing with only one eye working whilst tired

Sent from my SM-A310F using Tapatalk

Hi
Thought you had you eyes 'fixed'.
Are or is one playing up again?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Hi
Thought you had you eyes 'fixed'.
Are or is one playing up again?

happens sometimes when the membrane holding the new implant wrinkles which it has in one eye so it's like looking through a steamed up window - no correction by spectacles effective. simple fix by laser treatment will leave me with 20/20 vision, just waiting for a date.
It's worse because it's my master eye so it keeps trying to take over from the 'weaker' but clear eye so it's like someone suddenly but momentarily drawing a net curtain over my eyes. No big issue with beekeeping although I struggle in really bright sunlight or low light. Biggest issue is with VDU screens which is 99% my job now.

 

[Rio]

Checked one of my hives yesterday. Thought that they had swarmed as there were sealed queen cells. Thankfully the marked queen was still there. Supersedure? Harvested a few queen cells and performed artificial swarm.

 

[Erichalfbee]

One or two cells usually at the edge of the brood nest both same age probably supersedure. Any more are likely to be swarm cells. Usually if different ages though if they are all capped you can't tell. Colonies don't always swarm on sealing. Maybe weather kept them in.

 

[user 6228]

Another inspection and still no sign of swarming from 3 brood and a half colonies... has the cold spring made them delay or forget it completely in spite of or because of frantic nectar and ripening activity e.g. about 3/4 of a super of honey each in the last week

 

[madasafish]

Enjoying the rain - except I have to release a Queen!

 

[Millet]

Enjoying the rain - except I have to release a Queen!

Double up with layers and good luck..

 

[Angularity]

I added up all the things I've done in my first year of beekeeping.

I've had my bees swarm, and collected swarms. I've re-queened a hive. I watched a queen hatch during an inspection, put the frame back in then 5 minutes later watched her being dragged out of the hive and dumped.

I've united colonies, and split them. I've fed hives, and even harvested some honey.

And at times, I've even left them alone to get on with it.

 

[maddydog]

I added up all the things I've done in my first year of beekeeping.

I've had my bees swarm, and collected swarms. I've re-queened a hive. I watched a queen hatch during an inspection, put the frame back in then 5 minutes later watched her being dragged out of the hive and dumped.

I've united colonies, and split them. I've fed hives, and even harvested some honey.

And at times, I've even left them alone to get on with it.

That's more than a lot of beeks do in 10 years

 

[Etton]

Visited Abelo and bought two supers and a brood box. Great poly hives, recommended

 

[Codford]

Varroa inspection boards in for 7 days to see what the levels of mites might be - hopefully very low. Supers (undrawn foundation) on both hives last Sun as levels of stores in brood area starting to reduce laying space. Some bees in Supers today, but no signs of them being drawn out.

 

[Eyeman]

Varroa inspection boards in for 7 days to see what the levels of mites might be - hopefully very low. Supers (undrawn foundation) on both hives last Sun as levels of stores in brood area starting to reduce laying space. Some bees in Supers today, but no signs of them being drawn out.

At this time of year I find you get too much debris/pollen when you leave the board in for 7 days which makes mite counting difficult.

 

[Codford]

At this time of year I find you get too much debris/pollen when you leave the board in for 7 days which makes mite counting difficult.

Thanks for that Eyeman - I'll have a look at the 4 day point.

 

[Bunn]

Pick up my first nuc on Saturday morning so today I collected the slabs, blocks and wood for our hive stand. Taking it to the site tomorrow along with two hives to position.

Starting with two poly hives. Bees in one, the other a spare in case of swarm (ours or others).

There's been a few cases of EFB locally so we're going to be very careful with cleaning etc. from the off.


I can't bloody wait to get started!

 

[Swarm]

I can't bloody wait to get started!

Good luck, have fun.

 

[Swarm]

Sorted out a load of wild comb, drawn into a void by a swarm. Luckily no brood was lost and the bees were delightful.
Made up nucs and introduced two queens, then decided what colonies are due for merging.

 

[Show me the honey]

Looked out of the window as it rained for the 4th day this week! The week my queens meant to be out strutting her stuff about the town

 

[Erichalfbee]

then decided what colonies are due for merging.

Yes........i have some of that to do
The apiary is a shambles of nucs and splits

 

[madasafish]

Despite the persistent rain and 13C, released two queens from cages.

Bees not happy with me.