What did you do in the Apiary today?

[madasafish]

In contrast , weather here has been dismal for months. All hives have plenty of stores when checked end November.
Mini Nucs were consuming 0.3kg fondant every two weeks but now broodless and consumption has fallen sharply - Last week's inspection# (every 2 weeks) showed store half present so no feeding.
# All my Kielers/Apideas have clear plastic film under CBs so feeder compartments at end can be refilled without disturbing bees or combs,

 

[The Poot]

Weather much better yesterday, bees flying but no sign of pollen going in. The dead being removed.
Checked fondants and only needed to add more to one colony.
My lightest colony still not taking much fondant though...

 

[victor meldrew]

Therefore, maybe you shouldn't pontificate from a platform of ignorance

Bit harsh ! “ I don’t vap but if I did I’d..... “ is hardly pontificating.

 

[beeno]

Therefore, maybe you shouldn't pontificate from a platform of ignorance

And you most certainly should not be a "moderator" definition of which is an arbitrator or mediator. But that is the UK way isn't it the school bully being made prefect.

 

[beeno]

Weather much better yesterday, bees flying but no sign of pollen going in.

Same here and I usually have pollen coming in around Christmas. Maybe not enough sunshine.

 

[The Poot]

Bit harsh ! “ I don’t vap but if I did I’d..... “ is hardly pontificating.

I agree. It’s comments like that that put folks off sharing. Just unnecessary.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Same here and I usually have pollen coming in around Christmas. Maybe not enough sunshine.

Too much rain here. Never mind sunshine. Hellebores are out and getting drowned.

 

[The Poot]

As hellebores hang their flowers down, the rain doesn’t wash the nectar out (so I’ve read).
I have some out too - a little early it seems!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Too much rain here. Never mind sunshine. Hellebores are out and getting drowned.

Dry with us this morning, just enough time for me to give the chicken shed a good clean out (buggers still ignoring the doormat and not wiping the mud off their feet when going back in)and wood shaving replacement before the next band of heavy rain comes in

 

[Erichalfbee]

As hellebores hang their flowers down, the rain doesn’t wash the nectar out (so I’ve read).
I have some out too - a little early it seems!

It’s not the flowers but the puddles they are standing in.

 

[The Poot]

It’s not the flowers but the puddles they are standing in. View attachment 23548View attachment 23549

Yours are further on than mine by the looks of it!
I‘m on heavy clay, so I share your puddles. The lawn is a quagmire and not walkable on at present - with more rain forecast 🌧🌧🌧

 

[drex]

No longer have standing water round my hives, but the drainage ditches I dug about a month ago have a flood going down them. When it gets drier I will install land drain and fill them in, as do not want to be falling in them once the season starts

 

[victor meldrew]

Dry with us this morning, just enough time for me to give the chicken shed a good clean out (buggers still ignoring the doormat and not wiping the mud off their feet when going back in)and wood shaving replacement before the next band of heavy rain comes in

Ever tried deep litter over winter . , A thick layer of a peat and lime mixture ?
usually only needs raking under the perches .
the tomatoes thrive on it the following year.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Ever tried deep litter over winter .

No, my grandfather used to be a fan of it (but he did have considerably more birds than I have) and said it also kept them busy chasing the insects that colonised there. With only a half dozen hens it's easier and drier to clean them out fairly regularly.

 

[victor meldrew]

No, my grandfather used to be a fan of it (but he did have considerably more birds than I have) and said it also kept them busy chasing the insects that colonised there. With only a half dozen hens it's easier and drier to clean them out fairly regularly.

I used to fly racing pigeons many years ago and deep littered them for Winter .
not being insectivorous meant scratching about was minimal !

 

[StephenT]

The hives were very busy for a couple of hours earlier bringing in pollen and orientation and/or cleansing flights. Colder weather coming in Thursday so they should cluster then. The garden certainly is a bit of a mud bath in places.

 

[victor meldrew]

The hives were very busy for a couple of hours earlier bringing in pollen and orientation and/or cleansing flights. Colder weather coming in Thursday so they should cluster then. The garden certainly is a bit of a mud bath in places.

I’ve done some vaping today , dry day for once . The bees stayed indoors .

 

[GuyNir]

3c and sunny, but with a cold northernly wind. Bees in, no flying. Took the opportunity to move a couple of hives within the apiary, as there’s no flying for quite some time now.
looked at bottom boards following vaping I did couple weeks ago, looks good, could count 3-4 varroa total across all boards.

 

[The Poot]

3c and sunny, but with a cold northernly wind. Bees in, no flying. Took the opportunity to move a couple of hives within the apiary, as there’s no flying for quite some time now.
looked at bottom boards following vaping I did couple weeks ago, looks good, could count 3-4 varroa total across all boards.

Result

 

[StephenT]

Trickled all 3 hives. A few bees came out of the first one and then I realised I was wearing a really old pair of jeans with holes in the crotch when I felt something crawling up my inner thigh. Didn’t panic and picked the sting out afterwards. I must learn.