What did you do in the Apiary today?

[JamezF]

Cleaning frames. A good job for a cold day.

Not today here then. It's a touch cool in the shade -- about 5.5°C at the moment, but I've been weeding in the veggie plot where it's sunny and even had to take my jacket off. The girls are flying in small numbers and bringing in pollen; possibly a bit of water where the frost has melted too given that I've heard them around me.

James

 

[The Poot]

Cleaning frames. A good job for a cold day.

It’s never a good job but seems worth it when it’s done

 

[Ian123]

Avoids using those plastic cups. I like to avoid plastic and cost.

Thinking, the advantage the Nicot type system has is curler cages that fit on. How do people put a cell drawn from their own wax cups into a cage?

They all have advantages and you don’t need to use the cages unless banking or incubators. Why not stick the wax cups onto nicot cage base if you really need them.

 

[Parsonage Bees]

They all have advantages and you don’t need to use the cages unless banking or incubators. Why not stick the wax cups onto nicot cage base if you really need them.

I've used cages when using Ben Harden method, letting the queens emerge in the top box. Means you're sure they have emerged. Could mark them.
Yes you could use wax to glue your wax cups onto the Nicot base. Still using more bits of plastic.
Just thinking this through here!! Could just move cell to mating nuc before emergence. Sort out any failures thereafter.

 

[Swarm]

Rescued loads of timber from its fate on a bonfire, more to be salvaged in a couple of days time

 

[rolande]

Avoids using those plastic cups. I like to avoid plastic and cost.

Thinking, the advantage the Nicot type system has is curler cages that fit on. How do people put a cell drawn from their own wax cups into a cage?

As a general rule I don't use cages, cells simply pressed into the face of a mating nuc comb usually prove perfectly OK for us. Maybe that's the bees as much as anything because other people have told me that they have a high failure rate with unprotected cells. *if* in doubt, cut a small piece of expanded mesh and form it into a 'u' shape, then press in tight against the cell - if doing this it makes sense to have the cells mounted on individual pieces of wood to protect the tops.

 

[Ian123]

As a general rule I don't use cages, cells simply pressed into the face of a mating nuc comb usually prove perfectly OK for us. Maybe that's the bees as much as anything because other people have told me that they have a high failure rate with unprotected cells. *if* in doubt, cut a small piece of expanded mesh and form it into a 'u' shape, then press in tight against the cell - if doing this it makes sense to have the cells mounted on individual pieces of wood to protect the tops.

I also add a protector it’s little effort! Little blocks of wood as above. Also useful to hold the cell, lots of protectors come with a plastic prong to push into comb.

 

[Newbeeneil]

I protect cells in the finger of a nitrile glove with the end cut off that I drawing pin to the top bar. Works a treat.

 

[Parsonage Bees]

I also add a protector it’s little effort! Little blocks of wood as above. Also useful to hold the cell, lots of protectors come with a plastic prong to push into comb.

That picture, that's just showing off.

I have managed 60% take in the past.

 

[Parsonage Bees]

Used the tin foil wrapped around the cell as suggested on Dave Cushman website. Just the once so far. Worked OK but I like the nitrile glove idea. #edit -- but that would be using something plastic!

 

[Newbeeneil]

Used the tin foil wrapped around the cell as suggested on Dave Cushman website. Just the once so far. Worked OK but I like the nitrile glove idea. #edit -- but that would be using something plastic!

View attachment 35167

I use a discarded nitrile glove as the donor so technically it’s reused!

 

[Wilco]

Used the tin foil wrapped around the cell as suggested on Dave Cushman website. Just the once so far. Worked OK but I like the nitrile glove idea. #edit -- but that would be using something plastic!

View attachment 35167

Use latex gloves then.

 

[Ian123]

Used the tin foil wrapped around the cell as suggested on Dave Cushman website. Just the once so far. Worked OK but I like the nitrile glove idea. #edit -- but that would be using something plastic!

View attachment 35167

Yes foil works great!

 

[Ian123]

That picture, that's just showing off.

I have managed 60% take in the past.

I have more!!!!!!………I will miss out the 1s that had a virgin escape from an ungrafted cell or I let hatch

 

[Moobee]

If you can see bees with deformed wings they are likely in a poor state in general, plus any brood is likely to be compromised. Meaning they could dwindle rather than build in Spring. Bite the bullet as soon as possible open up and I’d slide a apivar strip into the centre of cluster, they are probably nuc sized so 1 should do the trick but you can

If you can see bees with deformed wings they are likely in a poor state in general, plus any brood is likely to be compromised. Meaning they could dwindle rather than build in Spring. Bite the bullet as soon as possible open up and I’d slide a apivar strip into the centre of cluster, they are probably nuc sized so 1 should do the trick but you can judge.

I don’t use Apivar…. guess I could give them another round of OA vaping though?

 

[Ian123]

I don’t use Apivar…. guess I could give them another round of OA vaping though?

I’d be inclined to do it although I don’t know what you’ve previously done, with vaping that shouldn’t make a difference though. You could give 1 and see what sort of drop you get and go from there.

 

[Moobee]

I’d be inclined to do it although I don’t know what you’ve previously done, with vaping that shouldn’t make a difference though. You could give 1 and see what sort of drop you get and go from there.

I used Apilife Var in September - full round of treatment per hive and then 3 OA vapes over 15 days in December. Mite drop was in the hundreds each time until final vape when it dropped to about 20. If it wasn’t so cold I would like to take a closer look at the frames and the floor…. It’s so tricky this time of year trying to figure out what’s best from external clues only.

 

[Curly green finger's]

I've used cages when using Ben Harden method, letting the queens emerge in the top box. Means you're sure they have emerged. Could mark them.
Yes you could use wax to glue your wax cups onto the Nicot base. Still using more bits of plastic.
Just thinking this through here!! Could just move cell to mating nuc before emergence. Sort out any failures thereafter.

Candle your cells parsonage before you move your cells any good led torch works

 

[Nannysbees]

Hefted all four hives, one a little heavier the other three slight losses. All four packets of fondant empty!!!!! Should I refill or leave them for now?

 

[Ian123]

Hefted all four hives, one a little heavier the other three slight losses. All four packets of fondant empty!!!!! Should I refill or leave them for now?

Well if they are light they’ll need more, we’ve no idea of the weight, There’s likely a couple of months before any significant income.