What did you do in the Apiary today?

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Sat and watched the rain fall and shivered!
Once the rain stopped my strong colony came out to fly even tho the temperature was only showing 5.5deg C!
 
Mine were out collecting water like mad this afternoon only 5C. Need to feed them tomorrow hefting very light.
 
Several pics.. Only light mood, dark ones and bad things I didn't take :p
 

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There were so many bees firtling round the patio this morning that my wife filmed them and sent me the clip while I was at work. Today is the first bit of sun we've had in four days, so I suspect that they're desperate for water, and the patio is a bit of a suntrap so any rain in pots etc would be nice and warm.

Saying that, I think whilst they've been cooped up over the last few days they'll have been plotting devious swarming and cunning plans, and I wouldn't be surprised if I see a swarm this week, as I can't do an inspection until the weekend due to work.
 
Sun came out this lunchtime so I inspected all the hives. Two with dlq and one with laying workers. However two colonies are storming ahead and producing a few drones. 3 other colonies are expanding slowly. Nectar and pollen being brought in.
OSR IS in flower at other end of the village but adverse flying conditions are inhibiting the bees from taking advantage of it.
Accu weather is promising rain tomorrow so it's fingers crossed that the osr crop isn't lost to poor weather.
 
AM.
Helped newcomer to whom I sold a 5 frame nuc two weeks ago to inspect them. In a MB jumbo poly Lang, had expanded from 5 to 8 frames , so removed feeder , dummy board and placed 2 new frames foundation. Sunny and 10C, no smoke needed, no stings, bees very laid back as were beekeepers(!). Will need super next week.

PM
Helped lady to inspect her overwintered double brood Maise poly National . Queen not seen and had to smoke a little but eggs and BIAS so removed feeders. Bit windier than morning as exposed (and higher ) site so postponed reorganisation of frames till next week. Bees a bit runny and two stings but laid back beekeepers again . Super next week if weather improves.
 
Just about warm enough yesterday for a look through one apiary. 7 hives . One queen less the other 6 are “ok” . All showed the odd bit of drone brood but I think I am 3 weeks behind where I was last year , and that wasn’t the greatest of Springs either .
Nothing in need of supering but put them above the crown board ready for when they do.
Also in the morning I was walking round fields of osr checking the pigeon deterrents and apart from the odd bumble I couldn’t hear or see any evidence of bees working it . It’s certainly starting to smell strongly , suggesting nectar is being produced but I think some cultivars just don’t produce a flow like they have in past years . Just a thought .
 
Checked first 2018 grafts and have 10 from 15 being drawn out....very pleased as I need to re-queen a few hives asap.
S
 
Upside down colony

First visit after winter as its been cold here. Lifted off the super that they were feeding on over winter and remains of the APIFONDA bag. All looked busy, so left them alone.
Removed the queen excluder then -
Started frame inspection in the brood box, plenty of honey, pollen and a couple of empty frames where they were building comb - No eggs, no larvae !!! Lots of bees.
Left the queen excluder out as something wasn't right with this colony.
Put the super back on and started my inspection, bless her little cotton socks, she had been trapped in the super all winter and busy laying eggs etc.

Now what do I do to sort this lot out.

The hive is a Dadant, and I have spare boxes etc.
 
Move her down into the brood box and put the QX back.
A salutary lesson to all to remove the queen excluder in the autumn. Lucky really she wasn't trapped below the supers - you could have lost the whole colony.
First visit after winter as its been cold here. Lifted off the super that they were feeding on over winter and remains of the APIFONDA bag. All looked busy, so left them alone.
Removed the queen excluder then -
Started frame inspection in the brood box, plenty of honey, pollen and a couple of empty frames where they were building comb - No eggs, no larvae !!! Lots of bees.
Left the queen excluder out as something wasn't right with this colony.
Put the super back on and started my inspection, bless her little cotton socks, she had been trapped in the super all winter and busy laying eggs etc.

Now what do I do to sort this lot out.

The hive is a Dadant, and I have spare boxes etc.

Sent from my SM-A310F using Tapatalk
 
would you put an empty super on top of the super with brood in it?
 
You should ask your self why would I want to do that?
Is there a strong flow on?
Is there enough room for the current bees without adding a super?
Only you have the first hand knowledge of your colony state and you must make the decisions.
Based on your description the answer (for me at least) would be a resounding NO. Which is why you need ask yourself the question....why would I want to do that!
 
Inspected 7 of mine yesterday range from 5 to 14 frames BIAS Demareed the strongest 2 as they had lots of play cups and eggs in a few of them.Signs of DWV in a couple which is not good for this early in the season,will need to do some treatment.

Supered 5 of the 7 as there was a decent amount of fresh nectar coming in and the weather is set to turn very nice indeed!

The highlight for me though was how passive all the hives were,I demareed one without a suit or gloves on! The hives are just full of nurse bees at the moment and are a pleasure to work with.
 
Pleased to say that the queen I thought I had drowned seems to be around judging from the evidence.

First drones hatched here in Hertfordshire.

Somehow, despite the terrible weather each hive has filled a super by a third each. I presumed they would have eaten it all.

Reports of OSR in the area for the first time since I started keeping bees. Need to brush up on pollen colour and tactics. (Other then spin out pronto?)
 
Pleased to say that the queen I thought I had drowned seems to be around judging from the evidence.

First drones hatched here in Hertfordshire.

Somehow, despite the terrible weather each hive has filled a super by a third each. I presumed they would have eaten it all.

Reports of OSR in the area for the first time since I started keeping bees. Need to brush up on pollen colour and tactics. (Other then spin out pronto?)
Do you have worker brood as well as drone brood, if you only have drone brood you may well have still killed your Queen and you now have a laying worker which are a pain in the butt, i have had two over the past couple of years.
 

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