What did you do in the Apiary today?

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Ignore button seems to not beefreindly working ... shame!

Nos da

I had thymolarse on ignore so I thought it would work for all his egoes - however large they are.

 

[user 6228]

Took a picture

looks as though meshs lose quite bit through radiation

 

[Beefriendly]

I expect that jenkinsbrynmair has a lot more experience of local bees than most!

Are ewe sure you mean experience with local "bees"

 

[Erichalfbee]

looks as though meshs lose quite bit through radiation

I’ve thought about making the area smaller or putting the inspection tray under with s gap at the back but the latter won’t sort the heat loss

 

[madasafish]

I’ve thought about making the area smaller or putting the inspection tray under with s gap at the back but the latter won’t sort the heat loss

I place 25mm insulation about 3cms below the inspection board.. which I keep in place in winter. Reduces heat loss - far less condensation on board.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I place 25mm insulation about 3cms below the inspection board.. which I keep in place in winter. Reduces heat loss - far less condensation on board.

Thanks for that.

 

[Goran]

Around zero celsius. Next week seems will be right for OA ( temps will be 2-6C).. We started to discuss about schedule for fondant making.. About wine we agreed, the rest will follow..
Soon will xmass pass and " new beginning" will start.

 

[Erichalfbee]

looks as though meshs lose quite bit through radiation

Actually it’s a still from a video and the hot dots are bees walking about on the omf

 

[Stedic]

OA vape of both hives and the nuc as temp was around 6. Would like to have done it later, but the imminent arrival of second child is likely to curtail beekeeping operations!

Fondant added to nuc and one hive. Roof well insulated on both hives and bees we all up near the poly crown board. Spotted the queen walking about for a minute too, which was nice - didn't expect her to be up so high.

 

[Curly green fingers]

the title says it all

I applied some fondant to one of my colonies

Hi, I've hefted my hive yesterday it still feels really heavy still . in Oct the hive had 8 frames in brood full of stores and a supper put underneath with 3 frames of capped and 3 frames uncapped. They haven't been flying out of hive since 5 th Nov . I plan to move the hive 3 metres to a bee shelter with help any day now. Then I was thinking of giving my girls a treat for Xmas may be some candy or fondant . a friend of mine gives each of his 6 hives fondant every Christmas day what a lovely tradition . cheers c

 

[madasafish]

Hi, I've hefted my hive yesterday it still feels really heavy still . in Oct the hive had 8 frames in brood full of stores and a supper put underneath with 3 frames of capped and 3 frames uncapped. They haven't been flying out of hive since 5 th Nov . I plan to move the hive 3 metres to a bee shelter with help any day now. Then I was thinking of giving my girls a treat for Xmas may be some candy or fondant . a friend of mine gives each of his 6 hives fondant every Christmas day what a lovely tradition . cheers c

I weigh mine on 26th December and only feed the light ones.. I start serious feeding in Feb for spring build up.. and the Queen needs space then.

 

[Curly green fingers]

I weigh mine on 26th December and only feed the light ones.. I start serious feeding in Feb for spring build up.. and the Queen needs space then.

I suppose if they don't need it there's no point really. When I move my hive I'm going to weigh mine first with potato scales then access it then . I found my hive to be heavy when I hefted it but I'd like more of an idea how heavy it is . I noticed brood capping on the mesh floor and the first dead winter bee's about 20 or so cleaned them out . its has been cold up here -6 so far at night warmer today 10 c. Cheers c

 

[Insy]

I have a serious mole issue in my apiary atm with all the rabbits digging up the ground I don't need mole tunnels as well, so I'll be dealing with that this week.
Also noticed a huge burrow hole 10 feet from apiary so I'm hoping its a fox and not a badger as I know they are about in force atm.

Had 4-6 bees coming and going from a small poly nuc, and the old 1 or 2 bees from a couple other hives the rest tucked up in bed not surprising today as its around 10oC today.

 

[madasafish]

I have a serious mole issue in my apiary atm with all the rabbits digging up the ground I don't need mole tunnels as well, so I'll be dealing with that this week.
Also noticed a huge burrow hole 10 feet from apiary so I'm hoping its a fox and not a badger as I know they are about in force atm.

Had 4-6 bees coming and going from a small poly nuc, and the old 1 or 2 bees from a couple other hives the rest tucked up in bed not surprising today as its around 10oC today.

ABout 20-30 badgers in a sett 0.5kms away.. left the bees alone so far..

 

[Insy]

Yer tbh I've never had a issue up here, so 1 chasing a fox the other month on my road was funny

 

[For want of a better word]

ABout 20-30 badgers in a sett 0.5kms away.. left the bees alone so far..

We have a badger set right under the hives in one apiary... intend to move ( hives... not badgers) in Spring to a flatter more easily accessible area.
Farm has bought adjacent land with good access( for Defender !)

Nos da

 

[Millet]

I have a serious mole issue in my apiary atm with all the rabbits digging up the ground I don't need mole tunnels as well, so I'll be dealing with that this week.
Also noticed a huge burrow hole 10 feet from apiary so I'm hoping its a fox and not a badger as I know they are about in force atm.

Had 4-6 bees coming and going from a small poly nuc, and the old 1 or 2 bees from a couple other hives the rest tucked up in bed not surprising today as its around 10oC today.

Moles problems are easily solved with the right traps placed correctly in the tunnel, if you need help message me and i will try to explain.

Badger and Fox earths are easy to tell apart, Badgers use the earth all year round and are constantly digging so you end up seeing a huge mound of earth outside the entrance/entrances, they are also clean animals and if the den is occupied you usually see the dirty bedding pulled out to make room for clean grass leaves and well worn tracks leading to the area.

Foxes at this time of the year only use the earths in cold and wet weather, they prefer to stay above ground through parasite issues, if a fox is using the earth they normally stink of very strong dog pee.

 

[Walrus]

I did the oxalic acid trickle thing today. Sadly 2 of my 6 nucs were dead but the other 4 are doing well as are the 7 full sized colonies.

I had a wasp problem so I think the smaller nucs got robbed out and starved. Feels bad though. Need to get nucs stronger earlier on next season.

 

[madasafish]

Fed mini nucs and 5 frame nucs- one of the latter down to 6 Kg: 10 minutes later loads of bees flying (7C, overcast,dry)

 

[Apiarisnt]

I have a serious mole issue in my apiary atm with all the rabbits digging up the ground I don't need mole tunnels as well, so I'll be dealing with that this week..

I had a mole attack into my newly dug and seeded apiary last year. I found this website: http://www.walcotefarm.co.uk/, applied his methods and caught the buxxxr in six hours. The occasional follower this year lasted not much longer.