What did you do in the Apiary today?

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High winds so went to out apairy to put bricks on roofs to hold them down. While I was there fed another 23 gallons of syrup (most colonies now up to wintering weight and feeding the rest will be complete before end of the month). Collected under OMF debris samples to send off to Sandhutton for checking for hive beetle remains and also checked ministry provided Asian hornet trap (reassuringly nowt in the way of AH present)
 
Very windy here also but bees are out..... just for info if antibodies interested.... Had an email back from a company called Friers Pride not far from me (Peterborough) from when I enquired about 12.5kg boxes of fondant. I can pick up from them for £12.95ea.... now I know somebody will get it from somewhere cheaper but this is a very good price from what I have seen and being only 16miles away no delivery to pay.
 
One of the nuc hives lid blew off in the wind, totally my fault as I was feeding last night and stupidly forgot to strap and brick it down. Another nuc which is strapped down the lid was about a third of the way off.

Completed third round of vaping, managed in under an hour this time being a bit more zealous than last time. Think my producing colony needs a fourth go. New abelo hive arrived, need to make myself a division board.
 
Strapped my polyhive to its pallet even though it has large rocks on it, after topping up the feeder first.
Not sure if I feed them too much they will store rather than make brood.
I’ll trust them to work it out.
Will sleep better knowing they won’t blow away over night.

It’s like being a parent all over again.

Courty
 
Cleared the last two apiaries of heather honey supers, one lot blown out this morning, the others using clearer boards this afternoon, will make a start on heather honey extraction towards the end of next week.

Nearly finished making up six frame nucs to over winter, just over 200, only a few more to make up now.

Fed 100 queens/colonies in the quad mini nucs.
 
Not in the apiary exactly......I gave an overview of Bee Breeding vs Queen Raising at the Bucks County Honey Show. The acoustics weren't great so some people had problems hearing. My apologies if you were there and couldn't hear me
 
Just jarred up the last bucket
903lb for the year from 8 colonies starting year
Best year up to this 220lb
It’s not that I’m any better at beekeeping just weather related
 
Just removed second trays of Apiguard out. A few are a bit light and even though ivy awaited am mixing up a bit of syrup. Did not remove any frames but all colonies strong and bees look healthy. Quite a light mite drop.
 
Not exactly apiary but used the kitchen as a workshop while making up brood boxes & supers for next season, windy & heavy downpours of rain so only a few odd bees coming and going from the garden hive. Advantage of kitchen workshop is the kettle is close to hand for regular tea breaks.
 
Not exactly apiary but used the kitchen as a workshop while making up brood boxes & supers for next season, windy & heavy downpours of rain so only a few odd bees coming and going from the garden hive. Advantage of kitchen workshop is the kettle is close to hand for regular tea breaks.

You need a gopher to make your tea..................:paparazzi:
 
Done the last vape on all but one colony after feeding them all 2:1 thymol syrup.. one hive is not taking the syrup down from last week and has dead wasps drowned in the rapid feeder... so much for these under floor entrances..:spy: ...the said hive has plenty of bees so god knows what is happening..
 
Started to feed mine again after a weeks break and 1 of the 4 also is not interested in it... although there's allot of ivy out now...
 
Bit of an unforecast warm spell this afternoon so took the opportunity to rehive a strong nuc; put in a divider board and added another two frames to draw out. Was evidence off larvae and a fair bit of sealed brood so queen is stall laying well.

Made up sugar syrup using 25kg of sugar and fed.
 
Bit of an unforecast warm spell this afternoon so took the opportunity to rehive a strong nuc; put in a divider board and added another two frames to draw out. Was evidence off larvae and a fair bit of sealed brood so queen is stall laying well.

Made up sugar syrup using 25kg of sugar and fed.

I did that last week and they are still full on eight frames. we will see how they go... i have another the same that need more room.. i have two days spare.. lets hope the weather plays ball otherwise the big brolly will be out..
 
Allotment apiary,
hive 1, that I had reduced to brood & half a couple of weeks ago fed some thick syrup with thymol additive. Didn’t zip my hood up properly and next thing stung on the eyelid, surprisingly didn’t hurt too much.
2nd hive took last super and QX off now on brood & half for winter, still a good weight.
Garden hive,
Took last super & QX off again now on brood & half, put 50mm kingspan jacket on and fed some honey back (contaminated with thymol from Apiguard). Hopefully all set up now for winter.
 

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