What did you do in the Apiary today?

[madasafish]

After vacillating - sorry - taking my time - to establish which queens were laying and which were not - I combined two min nucs twice Wednesday. and shook one out as Q- and too small. Which just leaves 4 solitary ones to sort out.
I think I may have to do that next week.

I never put off till tomorrow something I can put off till next week.

 

[victor meldrew]

I’ve just trimmed an 80 ft x 10 Ft Hornbeam hedge on the bee side of the apiary .I trimmed the outside Wednesday.
the bees never stopped working thankfully.
too warm to wear a veil so I took a chance .

 

[pargyle]

I stood and watched a very brave (or incredibly foolhardy) lesser wax moth on the landing board trying to get into the entrance of my strongest hive ... it was smaller than most of the bees and there were scores of bees coming and going ... the guard bees didn't pounce on it and try to kill it ... they just sort of chased it off ... on one occasion it managed to sneak inside the entrance and then a second or so later came scurrying out with two bees on its tail. I wish I had my phone with me ... it really was very funny - I didn't have the heart to squash the thing ... eventually it grew tired of the game and went and sat at one side of the landing board where the bees just ignored it.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Dismantled a waspbane when I found this inside. Three more came to investigate the contents of the trap. I have out cone bee escapes into the original entrances in an effort to keep everything but wasps out
View attachment trim.27D6683A-F69E-4AC8-883C-A64F0D71DCE7.MOV

 

[GuyNir]

Jarring & labelling. 100 more jars to my local farm shop.
normal years I sell out before Christmas, if it continue as is, I’ll sell out before Nov…

 

[victor meldrew]

I’ve just trimmed an 80 ft x 10 Ft Hornbeam hedge on the bee side of the apiary .I trimmed the outside Wednesday.
the bees never stopped working thankfully.
too warm to wear a veil so I took a chance .

I’ve just trimmed an 80 ft x 10 Ft Hornbeam hedge on the bee side of the apiary .I trimmed the outside Wednesday.
the bees never stopped working thankfully.
too warm to wear a veil so I took a chance .

Ive just done the top . The bees are still going like a train .
I use a G-Tech battery hedge trimmer . Thank god it’s a load lighter than my petrol engined one , it was getting heavier each year . .

 

[LeaBees]

Day for removing Apiguard treatment from all hives and starting winter prep. 1 queen almost completely stopped laying during treatment I guess - pathetic patch of brood and low on stores. Inserted donated frame of capped brood to bolster young bee population and gave some stimulative feed. Hopefully she kickstarts... Also found the attached surprise inside on the floor...

 

[GuyNir]

Verified another newly mated Q is laying worker brood. BIAS and sealed brood on several frames, large patches.
I have one more Q I need to check on mid week. I saw a virgin several days ago and pollen is now brought in, so I’m optimistic.
Started 2nd round of Thymovar.

 

[Somerford]

Still removing honey from hives….

 

[gmonag]

Completed the OA vape program yesterday and today consolidated all the hives down to 2 boxes for the winter. Made sure that each had enough honey (by weight) to see them through - now I can extract the surplus. I'll start monitoring the hive weights from now until spring.

 

[Newbeeneil]

Started a run of jarring last night and had a handle break on a bucket as I was carrying it across my patio. 2/3 of the bucket spilled on the paving so spent 1/2 hour in the gloom last night scooping it up and washing down. I'll know just how successful I was when the scouts get out this morning!

 

[pargyle]

Started a run of jarring last night and had a handle break on a bucket as I was carrying it across my patio. 2/3 of the bucket spilled on the paving so spent 1/2 hour in the gloom last night scooping it up and washing down. I'll know just how successful I was when the scouts get out this morning!

Nightmare .... was that one of the square buckets ? I've never had one of the ones we use give me any concern with the handles ... do I have to worry ?

 

[GuyNir]

Started a run of jarring last night and had a handle break on a bucket as I was carrying it across my patio. 2/3 of the bucket spilled on the paving so spent 1/2 hour in the gloom last night scooping it up and washing down. I'll know just how successful I was when the scouts get out this morning!

Carrying a 35kg full bucket yesterday, will the handle/bucket hold did cross my mind… I might be sticking more with 15kg buckets in the future.

 

[madasafish]

Fondant on all my hives. (Without additives ).

 

[Amari]

Last night was the first time I had smelt honey/nectar in the garden in a couple of months, despite having a blocked nose.

The ig-Nobel prizes for 2021 have just been announced. One of the ten has an excellent cure for blocked noses.......
https://www.theguardian.com/science...se-clearing-orgasm-studies-win-ig-nobel-prize

 

[Amari]

Went to my out-apiary this morning determined to wreak revenge on a colony. Two weeks ago it erupted as soon as I lifted the crown board and badly stung me through my marigolds. Also on the ankles because I'd been too lazy to don wellies.

My plan was to cull the mongrel 2021 queen and amalgamate with the adjacent friendly colony.

In the event: the colony was unbelievably calm, calmer than others I've opened this last week. Queen quickly spotted pottering about.

Outcome: reprieve..........

 

[user 819]

Until the next time !

 

[victor meldrew]

Still removing honey from hives….

I’ve just stuck a clearing board under 4 supers on a hive that I’ve previously taken the top one .
signs of autumn are becoming very obvious, this colony is a large one in a 14x12 box . There is forage aplenty still to be had . Time to leave it for the colonies to pack their larders methinks !

 

[victor meldrew]

Went to my out-apiary this morning determined to wreak revenge on a colony. Two weeks ago it erupted as soon as I lifted the crown board and badly stung me through my marigolds. Also on the ankles because I'd been too lazy to don wellies.

My plan was to cull the mongrel 2021 queen and amalgamate with the adjacent friendly colony.

In the event: the colony was unbelievably calm, calmer than others I've opened this last week. Queen quickly spotted pottering about.

Outcome: reprieve..........

As they say, colonies can be upset by happenings we can’t predict .

 

[Moobee]

Checked hive 1 which was requeening from a frame of eggs from the end of July. Unfortunately looks like the queen is already failing as has only laid a teeny patch of eggs and her abdomen looks misshapen so unless I can get a mated queen, I’ll have to unite with another colony.
Took off 7 capped frames to extract and left them with a super of stores.
Other two hives are going well so have added Apilife Var to all as had a mite load in 1 a few weeks ago and they may have drifted.
Forage slowing so fed with 2 litres heavy syrup.
Made up another 5 litres ready.