What did you do in the Apiary today?

[victor meldrew]

 

[CaptainCymru]

Suggests they aren't happy with the queen and want to supersede?

was thinking it more swarm prep , queen is last years , box heavily crowded . Waiting on a new queen to be delivered to perform a split .Gone for ligustica this time .

 

[BigAshW]

Finally got a chance to go through my main apiary today. Only one colony built up enough to require a super. Pulled two boxes of stores out and replaced with either comb, foundation or a starter strip.

One new queen found so marked her white. Everything else was in good shape so happy for the first inspection.

Tomorrow I'm off to a new apiary to finish setting it up and move some colonies in the evening.

Also picked up this little lot we got from a facebook seller.

 

[Swarm]

Waited at the apiary for a sunny spell so I could quickly get a six frame nuc into a new hive, there was brood on every frame.
Lost the sunny spell and back to instant cold so went back to putting boxes in place, ready.

 

[Nannysbees]

Deceiving weather warm one minute and chilly the next!!!! Bees out collecting water and bringing home lots of pollen. Just stood and watched the bees darting back and fore. Just love it

 

[Erichalfbee]

Too cold to move four nucs on as planned. Maybe tomorrow
All hives busy and smelling of dandelions.

 

[JamezF]

Bees were visiting an old ice cream tub sitting on staging outside my greenhouse today to collect water. There wasn't much left so I added some rainwater and watched them coming and going for a while. Some were as black as the bees in those photos of the bees at Blenheim. Some were as amber as the ones in those photos of the bees at Blenheim, too

I saw a few visiting dandelions, but there aren't that many dandelions in flower yet. I have a pear tree in flower and a damson that's making a fairly half-hearted attempt at flowering. I'll try to remember to check those out tomorrow to see if they're being visited. Otherwise I reckon the foragers must be going further afield.

James

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

just come in from shutting up all the bees at the home apiary, the builders will be wheeling the debris hacked off from two sides of the house up there tomorrow, when levelled out it will almost double the level area of the apiary (and save me a fortune to dispose of it all. )

 

[SWHives]

Checked both hives today. The stronger one has brood in all stages on 8 frames (out of 11), also pollen, nectar and not just drone cells but also seen a few drones around. There was a queen cup on one of the frames. I will move the super from under the box to put on top with a queen excluder in between tomorrow. I am also thinking to add another brood box with foundation frames, or would the super on top be enough for now? When you add a second brood box, do you add it under the original brood box? I am also thinking to switch the boxes to the 'warm' way, can this be done at any time? Thanks

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I am also thinking to switch the boxes to the 'warm' way

why?

 

[SWHives]

why?

I think it is just easier to inspect from the back.

 

[pargyle]

I think it is just easier to inspect from the back.

Yes I find I prefer to inspect my hives from the back ... I'd leave switching them round until you start regular 'proper' inspections - I don't think it makes a lot of difference to the bees - it's more about beekeeper preference.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I don't think it makes a lot of difference to the bees - it's more about beekeeper preference.

Makes no difference whatsoever, was just checking to make sure that SWH hadn't just been listening to some of the parrots out there that's all - I've heard that there are some who switch frame orientations between winter and summer in the belief that warm way/cold way is a form of temperature control

 

[RJC]

Checked out-apiary yesterday; nucs fine. Of full colonies one dead (was okay 2 wks ago). Plenty of food, but dead bees and brood only on three frames; chilled? Was a late swarm last year. Another queenless, but some brood, two QCs and drones present, so left them to it. Other two seem fine, incl one which is now filling a super. So a real mixed bag. All wooden nationals.

 

[madasafish]

On Friday - sunny,a balmy 10c - and no wind - inspected two hives for an ill beekeeper. He has not touched since October. Double brood, solid floors, super, no QE,feeder on.
Both full ish of stores, capped brood, good tempered bees. Varroa levels looked ok - but no varroa floors
Not a full inspection - warm in sun but frost in shade.
Several brood coms are originals when he took over hives from a dead beekeeper 6-7 years ago. Brood combs rotten and need replacing. Sound like a fun job for the next weeks.

Just quickly checked my largest hive, really need a super but really too cold still for one. Tried it - bees refused to go up. Took it off after two days. Try again end next week. (bees on 8 frames brood plus drone cells,)

 

[Boston Bees]

First inspection of the year (just one hive today - the one which appeared most packed when looking into entrance with endoscope).

Double height nuc. Top box inspected only - packed full of BIAS and stores, including plenty drone brood. No QCs. Saw the lovely black Q. Added a 3rd nuc box on top to give them some space and discourage swarming. Moved the 3 most capped frames (mix of food and brood) up into it. Filled gaps in 2nd and 3rd storeys with combination of foundation and foundationless.

And so it begins.

 

[BigAshW]

Layed out the newest apiary today. Had a rugby club call and ask if I could help them out keeping bees. I said sure if I can keep some there as well.

They've built a nice fenced off area and I've been up helping them lay it out today. Will take bees up there tonight.

 

[Moobee]

Bees were visiting an old ice cream tub sitting on staging outside my greenhouse today to collect water. There wasn't much left so I added some rainwater and watched them coming and going for a while. Some were as black as the bees in those photos of the bees at Blenheim. Some were as amber as the ones in those photos of the bees at Blenheim, too

I saw a few visiting dandelions, but there aren't that many dandelions in flower yet. I have a pear tree in flower and a damson that's making a fairly half-hearted attempt at flowering. I'll try to remember to check those out tomorrow to see if they're being visited. Otherwise I reckon the foragers must be going further afield.

James

Think I read somewhere that they only visit pear blossom as a last resort as it’s not great for forage?

 

[Wilco]

Inspected yesterday as was a bit overdue. Bees were flying well. Two supered, one was on 10 frames and I've decided I really like this queen (see picture!). Confirmation bias warning - these were the two that were on the heather. The colonies which had skip dived PIR top insulation have generally come out stronger/faster than those with sheep's wool top insulation too. Plenty of room for confounding factors and bias there (and fortunately lots of BIAS!). Another had been making brace comb and filling with nectar bit ignoring the syrup. I reckon this as my syrup is thymolated and the brace comb honey definitely wasn't when I treated myself to a post inspection snack!

 

[JamezF]

Think I read somewhere that they only visit pear blossom as a last resort as it’s not great for forage?

No idea, to be honest. Could be that they're not ideal for honey bees but work for other insects I guess. They've got to get pollinated somehow

James