What did you do in the Apiary today?

[JamezF]

It's wet here but had a quick look at the weather on XC Weather for next week and looks as if we are in for a cold snap with a good chunk of snow in North Scotland where the forecast shows nothing above freezing for almost a week - day and night,. Windy too so batten down the hatches.

I think I'd probably describe it more as a "normal snap" than a cold snap, but that certainly appears to be consistent with what the Met Office are saying. I could really do with a few days or even weeks of dry weather. Cold brings its own problems, but using electrical tools in the rain or anything like a chainsaw when standing inches deep in mud just isn't going to happen. There's water flooding through my home apiary, we have a stream running through the orchard (which is normally dry) and some ground where I was playing with the digger the other day (because I absolutely have to get a job done by the end of this month) has turned to quickmud. My wife took our post from the postman today and said that he'd described the area outside our door as "a swimming pool".

The odd thing is that it doesn't feel to me as though we've had that much rain overall yet I think the effects here are the worst I can remember in the last twenty years. Certainly we've had some heavy rain once in a while, but not all the time, and there have been one or two winters when it has rained pretty much every day for three months. I wish my rain gauge was working, but in the wind and rain I'm not going to get up a ladder to remove it and find out what's gone wrong.

James

 

[Erichalfbee]

However, I am possibly in danger of becoming obsessed

Too late!

 

[Erichalfbee]

It's wet here but had a quick look at the weather on XC Weather for next week and looks as if we are in for a cold snap with a good chunk of snow in North Scotland where the forecast shows nothing above freezing for almost a week - day and night,. Windy too so batten down the hatches.

The cold would make a change from what has become our Welsh winter; windy and dismally continually wet and mild. I quite enjoyed the last freeze.
We have a new camper to play with....a few alterations inside ... so don't need to be plodding in and out of it in the wet

 

[BeeBird]

Too late!

I think you’re right

 

[Goran]

Today started with sun, but see in distance black clouds looming.. Seems some snow is coming or heavy rain, depends how much temps will go down.. At least bees had some time to go out.. Still the most occupied with hazelnuts.. A pile of hardware await for inspect, repair, assemble.. Have some notes to sort out, but seems that I have some queens already to look after their performing.. Seems will have sweet pain to decide of which to rear new ones..

 

[Erichalfbee]

sweet pain to decide of which to rear new ones..

Pain is indeed sweet.
Snow forecast here too. Most forage is thankfully asleep where I live

 

[Beemum]

In a momentary break in the clouds I gave the nuc bees some more fondant as they’d scoffed the previous offering. Only to discover that the plastic carton I had carefully put it in was 0.5cm too deep and I couldn’t get the nuc lid back on tight…cue hacked off waiting whilst I hacked off the offending plastic…doh, first beekeeping lesson of the year learned!

The colony in the main hive (brood and a half poly) were nowhere to be seen but it’s still very heavy so presumably there’s nothing to worry about and nowt I could do about it if there was?

Also, unusually, a handful of bees clung to my suit and came back into the house with me, and newly-cleaned suit is now covered in bee poo…the rain has been near constant so I guess I was the first opportunity they had to get out, and then they wished they hadn’t bothered …

 

[Wilco]

In a momentary break in the clouds I gave the nuc bees some more fondant as they’d scoffed the previous offering. Only to discover that the plastic carton I had carefully put it in was 0.5cm too deep and I couldn’t get the nuc lid back on tight…cue hacked off waiting whilst I hacked off the offending plastic…doh, first beekeeping lesson of the year learned!

The colony in the main hive (brood and a half poly) were nowhere to be seen but it’s still very heavy so presumably there’s nothing to worry about and nowt I could do about it if there was?

Also, unusually, a handful of bees clung to my suit and came back into the house with me, and newly-cleaned suit is now covered in bee poo…the rain has been near constant so I guess I was the first opportunity they had to get out, and then they wished they hadn’t bothered …

If you aren't sure then if you press your ear against the hive (not the entrance side!) you can usually hear them scrabbling around which can give peace of mind. Although you're right, if there is something wrong, there isn't much you can do at this time of year.

 

[Beemum]

Thank you I will try that if it ever stops raining, there is a beck not far from the hive and it’s running too fast and loud to hear anything else at the moment!

 

[JamezF]

Thank you I will try that if it ever stops raining, there is a beck not far from the hive and it’s running too fast and loud to hear anything else at the moment!

Just look at it as another opportunity to buy more toys for your toolbox.





James

 

[Newbeeneil]

The colony in the main hive (brood and a half poly) were nowhere to be seen but it’s still very heavy so presumably there’s nothing to worry about and nowt I could do about it if there was?

I wouldn’t bet that heavy means nothing to worry about, I’ve had two hives recently that felt “nailed down” but on further investigation were crammed with stores and a pile of dead bees.

 

[Newbeeneil]

Just look at it as another opportunity to buy more toys for your toolbox.

View attachment 34915



James

I’ve got a lovely purple one of those I’m my toy box

 

[Beemum]

I wouldn’t bet that heavy means nothing to worry about, I’ve had two hives recently that felt “nailed down” but on further investigation were crammed with stores and a pile of dead bees

 

[Beemum]

That’s very sad I am keeping my fingers crossed mine won’t be the same…just need a day dry enough so I can have a proper (quick) look…or even a day sunny enough for the girls to venture out, that’d do …

 

[Beemum]

I’ve got a lovely purple one of those I’m my toy box

I had no idea that would be a relevant bee-keeping toy

 

[Erichalfbee]

I had no idea that would be a relevant bee-keeping toy

Don’t waste your money. Just press your ear to the side of the box like Wil says or listen at the back of the omf

 

[BeeBird]

Terrible weather in the northern Lake District, rain, hail with 47mph winds, quickly checked that my new bee equipment shed hadn’t blown away, it’s still there. So set up on the kitchen table and put together 4 shallow & 2 deep boxes and 3 ekes. Tomorrow it’s frame’s, I don’t think I could make a living from it, Thornes would sack me I think

 

[Nannysbees]

Vape the four hives yesterday, counted the drop today 2,2,2,1 bees out flying from all hives

 

[deemann1]

Vaped all hives today.
Had a bad evening out moving hives my van got stuck luckily the farmer pulled me out.. had to walk my hives in the dark poxy weather trough field's to my apiary

 

[Mabee]

Don’t waste your money. Just press your ear to the side of the box like Wil says or listen at the back of the omf

Mine only cost about £5, works great, bit easier than pressing your ear against the hive, easy to locate where the cluster is too (although not really necessary, just interesting)