What did you do in the Apiary today?

[B+.]

Mine little darlings are on the Duke of Northumberlads Estate not far from Alnwick Castle... does that qualify my bees as posh bees..

They'll both be in Debretts (which has lots of inaccuracies) so I would say so. However, Bedfords title goes back to 1694 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_of_Bedford) whereas Northumberlands goes back to 1551 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_of_Northumberland)...so, perhaps, more so ;-)

Do they have pedigrees? ;-)

 

[Stedic]

First OAV treatments last night. Hefted all hives during, one very light so feed added. Popped up today to remove varroa boards, average drop is 10 ish mites.

Hive that we're fed last night had taken down 5 litres in 24 hours, so were given another 5. Topped up two others and a poly nuc. Had hoped not to feed this year but all colonies seem full of bees and are ploughing through their stores.

Saw a few open ivy flowers being worked yesterday, so hopefully a decent ivy flow will be with us soon.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Wasps have finally arrived
One hive at the end is taking a battering. One I had to feed
It’s on a UF entrance but the wasps have fathomed it out. I could see three on the top bars though they were being shredded.
Entrance is reduced to two bee spaces at one end of the porch
Grrrrr

 

[Curly green fingers]

I'm getting ready to go to all three sites today
Home
Change apilife- var in three brood/half collonys ,change inspection boards for viewing later. ( Week two)
One of the above are being feed syrup with my home made 3 litre jar feeders above crown board resting on tile baton a brood box as my eke. There second amount the first is gone in 4 days .
River site.
All supers are coming of clearer boards have been on 2 days,I like to leave the porter bee one's for that long .
Then I'm treating with apivar the yellow strips,if needs be
Catherton site .
Double brood hive needs to be weighed and two nucs to be treated as there mite loads are in the 50+ and i probably missed some counting. The double brood got treated in the spring and are fine.
I'm off ! Got all my girls to tend to I'm a very lucky man lol....

Had to do some of the above the next morning .one of my 2 buckfast collonys that were bought in July has been robbed to oblivion no stores dead bee's on the floor , there so quiet to. I really think my fiesty locals did it . There on there own now I've moved them and the other collony to a mixed orchard on the edge of the common . And plan to keep this site a buckfast only zone . I will say though there wonderfull bee's to handle . have I found my bee of choice time will tell.
These collonys were packaged bee's and are in single nationals .

 

[beeno]

Had to do some of the above the next morning .one of my 2 buckfast collonys that were bought in July has been robbed to oblivion no stores dead bee's on the floor , there so quiet to. I really think my fiesty locals did it . There on there own now I've moved them and the other collony to a mixed orchard on the edge of the common . And plan to keep this site a buckfast only zone . I will say though there wonderfull bee's to handle . have I found my bee of choice time will tell.
These collonys were packaged bee's and are in single nationals .

Sorry to hear that - it is a bad year for wasps around here too. Hope they pick up!

 

[Curly green fingers]

I've given them a frame of stores and a nice block of candy beeno .it's the first time I've seen it happen . The entrance was reduced but maybe not enough .

 

[colinc]

They'll both be in Debretts (which has lots of inaccuracies) so I would say so. However, Bedfords title goes back to 1694 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_of_Bedford) whereas Northumberlands goes back to 1551 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_of_Northumberland)...so, perhaps, more so ;-)

Do they have pedigrees? ;-)

I believe Henry VIII claimed to be a direct descendant of God when he created the Church of England and took control of religion back from Rome so that’s a hell of a pedigree


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[B+.]

I believe Henry VIII claimed to be a direct descendant of God when he created the Church of England and took control of religion back from Rome so that’s a hell of a pedigree


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Although there may be some doubt over it's authenticity ;-)

 

[Millet]

Wasps have finally arrived
One hive at the end is taking a battering. One I had to feed
It’s on a UF entrance but the wasps have fathomed it out. I could see three on the top bars though they were being shredded.
Entrance is reduced to two bee spaces at one end of the porch
Grrrrr

All my hives with under floor entrances have a carpet of dead wasps out side on the floor.. the hives with the tunnel entrances have very few... i have stopped making them as they are not as effective as my tunnel entrances..

 

[Hachi]

I use a piece of facia board, the white plastic stuff with three 8mm u shaped cut outs in one side to slide in and effectively reduce the entrance down to three separate single bee entrances/exits. The bees seem to cope well with this

 

[Hachi]

Although the wazzers seem to be easing up here

 

[Wingy]

Entrance block on the garden hive is in and out like you wouldn’t believe. Made a block like Millet 8mm x 40mm entrance it sits in front of the standard entrance block on wide entrance. I put it in during the evening when the bees slow down & the Mrs removes it about 1000 hrs or when she sees the bees struggling to get in fast enough. Seen loads of wasps trying but not seen any get in.
The allotment hives are on under floor entrances and again holding their own. Not had the need to feed yet but will check all properly on Monday

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

All my hives with under floor entrances have a carpet of dead wasps out side on the floor...

Proof, if it's needed, that They're working well then.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Although the wazzers seem to be easing up here

The ivy will keep them busy for a while

 

[Millet]

Proof, if it's needed, that They're working well then.

No they are not working... the wasps are still getting in ... god knows how much stores have been robbed and god knows how many bees have died fighting the wasps of.. i even have nuc's that do not have the payload of dead wasps on the carpet like the under floor entrances do... it might be different where you live but they are not working for me..

 

[deemann1]

The wasps are out in force this year I see them trying to enter my hives ,the bees seem to be doing there job well defending them off .such a nasty little pest ..

 

[Curly green fingers]

Entrance block on the garden hive is in and out like you wouldn’t believe. Made a block like Millet 8mm x 40mm entrance it sits in front of the standard entrance block on wide entrance. I put it in during the evening when the bees slow down & the Mrs removes it about 1000 hrs or when she sees the bees struggling to get in fast enough. Seen loads of wasps trying but not seen any get in.
The allotment hives are on under floor entrances and again holding their own. Not had the need to feed yet but will check all properly on Monday

]Entrance block on the garden hive is in and out like you wouldn’t believe . You can quit easily get a bit obsessed with this beekeeping wingy keep it up lol.. I'll send you a hat and whistle.

 

[Wingy]

]Entrance block on the garden hive is in and out like you wouldn’t believe . You can quit easily get a bit obsessed with this beekeeping wingy keep it up lol.. I'll send you a hat and whistle.

I find it really fascinating just watching them, best thing I did putting a hive in the garden, now the Mrs is starting to take an interest as well

 

[Curly green fingers]

I find it really fascinating just watching them, best thing I did putting a hive in the garden, now the Mrs is starting to take an interest as well

Im the same you can't stop your self it's a really great way of learning . Even better when you know what's going on. I've three 15 metres from the house when the bee shed goes up I'm moving in to get away from the other half LOL...
I cut my hedge today round my garden site suit on,only three came for a nose one landed on my hand

 

[Helen]

Inspected my colonies today. One was laying plenty of new brood. However, they were still raising drones as well as workers. Would have thought they should have stopped that by now.