- Joined
- Jul 23, 2009
- Messages
- 36,173
- Reaction score
- 16,763
- Location
- Ceredigion
- Hive Type
- 14x12
- Number of Hives
- 6
I have but only to move hive format and even then I wait til the first spring flow.I have never done a Baily comb change
I have but only to move hive format and even then I wait til the first spring flow.I have never done a Baily comb change
No too soon to be opening, wait until temps rise in a month or two and colonie are foraging .Are you doing changes now? Advice needed, I need to replace all brood comb in 2 Brood+Half colonies. Its absolutely black and so old that some of the tabs on the frames are starting to rot.
Both colonies still have plenty of stores in their super and no activity in the empty brood comb.
I've spent the last week scorching, repairing and repainting some floors, brood boxes and other assorted bits.
Is it possible that I could simply swap out the brood boxes with a new ones filled with undrawn comb? With ample stores are they able to start drawing comb when required, even though the temperature is near freezing at night? I'll be replacing floors, CB's, and roofs with the clean stuff. Thanks, this day has been a long time coming. Edit: Highland, only snowdrops blooming
Hmmm...you've got me worried now...better do a check. It's a fine balance between thinking how they're doing....and knowing how they're doing !They were just so big, I can’t remember having colonies this big this early before. They seem to have ploughed through their stores too fast.
Looks like it.I presume the debris at the back of the hive (bottom of board) is from the moths.
The flecks of blue?Checked the hives in one apiary. All okay. I was interested to see that only the largest colony has consumed the home-made pollen patties I gave them. Maybe I should have made them wetter, with more syrup. Or maybe that would have made no difference.
I check and clean the boards at every visit. It was two and a half weeks since the last. The debris on this board puzzled me initially.
View attachment 39105
Then it dawned on me - fragments of greaseproof (aka parchment) paper from the patties.
I presume the debris at the back of the hive (bottom of board) is from the moths.
After reading @Newbeeneil recently, I'd got a bit concerned about rates of consumption. I usually put in a 1.5-2kg slice of fondant above the frames. It did occur that a top-up in a single take-away container wouldn't be anything like enough for a large fast-growing colony.
I agree, if I can’t visit the large colonies every few days I do put 2 containers on which each contain 750g.After reading @Newbeeneil recently, I'd got a bit concerned about rates of consumption. I usually put in a 1.5-2kg slice of fondant above the frames. It did occur that a top-up in a single take-away container wouldn't be anything like enough for a large fast-growing colony.
Survivor or warning sign?
View attachment 39106
If you are concerned, give them some fondant, it's not going to do any harm.Hefted two of the hives that have eaten their fondant, one weighed 11kg the other 12kg. Used a digital scales lifting the back end of the hive, difficult decision, add fondant or not![]()
I think I might do that, peace of mindIf you are concerned, give them some fondant, it's not going to do any harm.
What's the weather been like at that apiary? Have you somehow avoided the never ending rains?I between showers today I dismantled one of the dead outs with loads of bees.
They had brood in 6 of the 11 frames. No wonder they ran out of stores!
I'm sure I have read on here before... "it's better the bees are looking at it than for it"Hefted two of the hives that have eaten their fondant, one weighed 11kg the other 12kg. Used a digital scales lifting the back end of the hive, difficult decision, add fondant or not![]()
You have a schnauzerI'm sure I have read on here before... "it's better the bees are looking at it than for it"
K![]()
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