What did you do in the Apiary today?

[Nannysbees]

I was thinking of it as we have a lot of excess honey in jars which we haven't sold and has gone rock hard. But I wanted advice first

 

[pargyle]

I was thinking of it as we have a lot of excess honey in jars which we haven't sold and has gone rock hard. But I wanted advice first

If you think they need feeding then put it in a takeaway container above the feeder hole in the crownboard and give it to them like you would fondant ... can't do any harm in any case ... it's their honey !

 

[Erichalfbee]

I was thinking of it as we have a lot of excess honey in jars which we haven't sold and has gone rock hard. But I wanted advice first

Just melt it?

 

[andrew_r]

Very nice looking apiary (and your hives are nice too ...) Are those copper roofs ?

Thank you! Unfortunately copper was too expensive, so I cheated and painted them in copper effect metallic paint.

Andrew.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I think this question has been asked before, is it OK to feed the bees their honey back to them without diluting? if not what's the reason?

Yes
But by diluting it you are saving them the work of going out and finding water as they need it to assimilate the honey

 

[Cuckmere couple]

i moved the nuc with cut out swarm and topped up fondant on a couple of hives and two nucs

 

[Newbeeneil]

Thank you! Unfortunately copper was too expensive, so I cheated and painted them in copper effect metallic paint.

Andrew.

Nice option but I was surprised that the cost of a copper roof for a WBC is only £13.80 extra!

 

[Nannysbees]

Yes
But by diluting it you are saving them the work of going out and finding water as they need it to assimilate the honey

Would this be adding to much liquid into the hive at this time of year?

 

[Ian123]

Would this be adding to much liquid into the hive at this time of year?

Honey is expensive if your going to feed just give them syrup….

 

[JamezF]

Make mead. Feed the bees fondant or sugar syrup if they need it

James

 

[Nannysbees]

Honey is expensive if your going to feed just give them syrup….

Have too many jars of concrete honey so want to use up before this year's harvest

 

[Nannysbees]

Make mead. Feed the bees fondant or sugar syrup if they need it

James

Tried making it obviously did it wrong as it was awful

 

[The Poot]

Watched a very busy hive in the sun,
View attachment IMG_3468.MOV

 

[Ian123]

I’ve just poked into a few nucs…….wooden nucs have started laying with eggs and very young larvae The polys have not started laying yet and as last year I’d expect them to start a week or 2 behind the wooden nucs. A single brood colony in wood had a small patch of sealed brood each side of a single frame with a small patch of eggs on the adjacent frame. Sealed brood was about 3-4 inches in diameter. I popped the lid on 1 cell to expose a young white pupae giving an idea when larger boxes may have started for this spot at least.

 

[manek]

First fondant check this month - and one of the hives had emptied the container completely, mcuh to my surprise as there seemed to be plenty left eight days ago. Mad dash home to cut off a chunk from my 12kg block, dump it into the container and let 'em have it.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Would this be adding to much liquid into the hive at this time of year?

they should be eating it not storing

 

[JamezF]

Lots of bees collecting water from my various rainwater tanks today. Even had one fly around me a few times and then land on me to see if she could find anything useful. Apparently not

James

 

[Nannysbees]

Thirsty girls

 

[Newbeeneil]

Used the 15deg in the sun to check out the hives within reach of OSR. All still hefting well but one I opened was stuffed with bees and brood so I guess a lot of that weight is not stores!

 

[JamezF]

I know some people say not to inspect until it's comfortable being outdoors in shirtsleeves, but it really wasn't that far off it here when the Sun was shining this afternoon.

James