- Joined
- Sep 29, 2021
- Messages
- 147
- Reaction score
- 53
- Location
- South Wales
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 4
Fitted mouseguards to both hive enterances.
That's a relief! I just thought it was my bees that were mad, dashing out when it's blowing a hooley!Pretty windy today, but a very warm 20C so the bees are out en masse!
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That's a lovely looking row of hives.....next stop spring.Sunday and I got my main apiary which is quite exposed ready for winter. Mostly Smith hives and three Abelo 12 frame poly hives that I’m over wintering for the first time. The bricks came from redundant storage heaters and are very heavy which are much needed up here, I hope I don’t have to add a third! Also I’m trying out insulation above my Smith crownboards for the first time.
It was the middle of the day and a few bees were flying and bringing pollen in so I had a quick peep under the crownboards but none of my hives are as strong as some of the photos on this thread so I’m a little bit jealous. No varroa here YET so no need to open the hives apart for winter fondant until next spring. I will post my thoughts so far on the Abelo hives on a different thread.
Not really most of the Smith hives need smartening up. Another Abelo hive that I bought in their sale arrived last week but it was too late to swap it over. My smaller apiary is a little bit smarter. As far as next spring goes I’m already fretting about my first inspections!That's a lovely looking row of hives.....next stop spring.
We haven't put ours on yet for that same reason, so busy when the sun comes outRemoved the mouse guards as the bees are struggling to get through with the huge pollen bags.
Super nice to read that SteveHad a catch up phone call from a local beekeeper in the next village this morning. His queens from Ceri have been gorgeous and very productive, no gloves, no smoke so he raised a couple of queens from them.
There you go Ceri, he told me these are the nicest bees he has ever had and he is eighty with over fifty years keeping bees.
The three queens I gave him are now heading nice strong colonies in his Dadant hives, he took a bumper crop and he is looking forward to next year.
I was thrilled to bits to hear the enthusiasm in his voice.
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