What did you do in the Apiary today?

[Swarm]

Managed to get stung feeding fondant to a nuc. My fault for being improperly dressed. I had that lovely little tickling as it walked up my arm, inside my sleeve, then a pause….did I imagine it….then wallop.
I couldn’t get the stinger out for some time having to finish up, then leg it to the garage to disrobe and find the stinger.
I have a nicely swollen forearm today. I’d done so well this year too…

Popeye.

 

[Murox]

Went to the two out apiaries to check on hives this afternoon, topped up syrup as needed and lashed all hives and stands to the ground ready for storm Agnes, then I came home and lashed the wheelie bins and lids, then the outdoor garden furniture as well. I think today really was the lull before the storm, a pleasant 16 degrees in the sun, with winds around 16mph as well.

 

[The Poot]

Went to the two out apiaries to check on hives this afternoon, topped up syrup as needed and lashed all hives and stands to the ground ready for storm Agnes, then I came home and lashed the wheelie bins and lids, then the outdoor garden furniture as well. I think today really was the lull before the storm, a pleasant 16 degrees in the sun, with winds around 16mph as well.

Sounds like it’s going to be a bit rough. Winds up to 80mph with lots of rain, according to the Beeb.
Strapped mine down too, but I think things will be worse for Scotland than here. Good luck

 

[Nannysbees]

Glorious day today, hives really busy, strong smell of ivy. Lovely

 

[user 819]

All colonies flying well , topped up fondant on them.
Not much sign or aroma of ivy forage.

 

[BeeBird]

Beautiful rainbow over the beehives this morning. The calm before storm Agnes hits us.

 

[Niv]

All hives given 6kg of sugar via syrup now. Going down fast so will give some more later in the week as away with work for a few days. I find the English feeders handy when I cant get down to them daily.

 

[JamezF]

I got to the apiary I was intending to visit this afternoon, turned around and came home...

No, I'd not forgotten any kit, but I have to drive through a paddock to get to the hives in question. Earlier in the year it was home to three rams that were so daft or disinterested that I could open the gate, get the car through and close it behind me before they'd even noticed. Today however it was occupied by a horse that came cantering to the gate as soon as it heard the clanking of the chain holding the bolt. There was no-one around to help, so that was me stuck, really.

Assuming I'm allowed the use of the car I'll try again tomorrow if the weather is any better than the forecast suggests it's going to be, but given that the horse was wearing what looked to be a fairly heavy duty waterproof blanket I'm not hopeful that things will be any different.

James

 

[Curly green finger's]

Putting clearer boards on ,fed a few more than a few nucs . Bugger I’ve snapped my penknife's blade clean off , I’ve had the knife for a decade or two

 

[JamezF]

Bugger I’ve snapped my penknife's blade clean off , I’ve had the knife for a decade or two

You've not been using your Opinel as a hive tool?!

James

 

[Curly green finger's]

You've not been using your Opinel as a hive tool?!

James

I have james , I snapped the end part of the blade about 3 years ago but today it broke clean of the handle! My own fault really for loosing two hive tools out in the field .

 

[rossbyjove]

Managed to get stung feeding fondant to a nuc. My fault for being improperly dressed. I had that lovely little tickling as it walked up my arm, inside my sleeve, then a pause….did I imagine it….then wallop.
I couldn’t get the stinger out for some time having to finish up, then leg it to the garage to disrobe and find the stinger.
I have a nicely swollen forearm today. I’d done so well this year too…

Did the same, no suit.
Put fondant in previously with no problems.
One hive just went for me , about half a dozen stings on each arm and two back of the neck.
I was OK/ish the next day.
The day after I was really ill, both arms very swollen.
WEAR THE SUIT!!!

 

[Cuckmere couple]

today i switched abelo CBs for normal CBs to allow the english feeders above to work...the extra gap incurred by putting an english feeder above the abelo CB is enough for the bees not to find the syrup despite trickling it down the hole!

 

[The Poot]

Did the same, no suit.
Put fondant in previously with no problems.
One hive just went for me , about half a dozen stings on each arm and two back of the neck.
I was OK/ish the next day.
The day after I was really ill, both arms very swollen.
WEAR THE SUIT!!!

We only have ourselves to blame. I hope you recover quickly

 

[BeeBird]

Did the same, no suit.
Put fondant in previously with no problems.
One hive just went for me , about half a dozen stings on each arm and two back of the neck.
I was OK/ish the next day.
The day after I was really ill, both arms very swollen.
WEAR THE SUIT!!!

Ouch

 

[Newbeeneil]

I went into a hive today to find lots of powdery residue under the PIR. Unfortunately I didn’t have the camera/phone but on closer inspection the residue is where ants have been mining out tunnels on the PIR!

 

[BeeBird]

All hive’s got another feed today before the bad weather hits as it might be quite a few days before I can get in them again.

 

[E&MBees]

Completed final vape. Apiaries smelled very strongly of ivy. All bar one are putting on weight, the lightweight one did the same last year. They had a top up of syrup just before the ivy flow started so will review at the weekend.
Fortunately for me the bees were busy on the ivy as the zip on my veil failed. They didn’t notice the gap. Time to send it away for repair.

 

[Gilberdyke John]

I got to the apiary I was intending to visit this afternoon, turned around and came home...

No, I'd not forgotten any kit, but I have to drive through a paddock to get to the hives in question. Earlier in the year it was home to three rams that were so daft or disinterested that I could open the gate, get the car through and close it behind me before they'd even noticed. Today however it was occupied by a horse that came cantering to the gate as soon as it heard the clanking of the chain holding the bolt. There was no-one around to help, so that was me stuck, really.

Assuming I'm allowed the use of the car I'll try again tomorrow if the weather is any better than the forecast suggests it's going to be, but given that the horse was wearing what looked to be a fairly heavy duty waterproof blanket I'm not hopeful that things will be any different.

James

Simplest solution is to enlist an assistant to manipulate the gate while keeping the horse in as you drive through. I have horses and it can be tricky trying to keep the horse in while getting the gate open, car through and gate closed again. For that reason I have double gates so one is closed while the other is open. At least that way you don't watch a few thousand quids worth of animal running away from you towards traffic. Believe me you won't run as fast as they do. Alternatively take a head collar and lead rope but again you need an assistant, this time with horse familiarity skills.

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Simplest solution is to enlist an assistant to manipulate the gate while keeping the horse in as you drive through. I have horses and it can be tricky trying to keep the horse in while getting the gate open, car through and gate closed again. For that reason I have double gates so one is closed while the other is open. At least that way you don't watch a few thousand quids worth of animal running away from you towards traffic. Believe me you won't run as fast as they do. Alternatively take a head collar and lead rope but again you need an assistant, this time with horse familiarity skills.

While on the subject of horses and the fun we have