What did you do in the Apiary today?

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Discovery (disco)

pity you didn't have a decent car in that kind of weather

 

[Erichalfbee]

Discovery (disco) I haven’t been clubbing since 2008

I’m sure JBM was making a joke.

 

[Curly green finger's]

I’m sure JBM was making a joke.

I know, and I agree jbm series 1 it was and a right rust bucket

 

[gregior]

Went to new apiary site to carry on setting up. Already have 2 hives there and they were both working very hard on the willow. Had to wear my suit as they were very 'pingy' even though I was only walking around the hives.

 

[Parsonage Bees]

Drone cappings dropping out of the one hive I was hoping to breed from. Bit early. Is she failing? Have to wait and see.

 

[BeeBird]

Bee’s busy out flying, snow still covering the hilltop’s but pleasant in the sunshine. Had to replenish fondant on 3 out of 6 colonies. Roll on better weather the ground here is so sodden it’s going to take a long time to dry it out and warm it up for growing

View attachment IMG_4204.mov

 

[Cuckmere couple]

just been down to watch the bees in the apiary...all colonies still active and pollen entering every one which was cheering to see

pleasing 30 mins in the sun watching that!

 

[Amari]

First day of spring in the apiary today (sunny, 12C, no wind) judging by the frenetic activity of the bees and the satisfyingly loud hum.
Masses of bright yellow pollen entering 5/6 hives - maybe willow (tho' goat willow not out yet) or Mahonia from neighbouring gardens? Sixth hive equally busy but much less pollen entering - maybe the queen has been slow to start laying?

 

[The Poot]

Bee’s busy out flying, snow still covering the hilltop’s but pleasant in the sunshine. Had to replenish fondant on 3 out of 6 colonies. Roll on better weather the ground here is so sodden it’s going to take a long time to dry it out and warm it up for growing

View attachment 39129

What a beautiful sight - in and outside of the apiary!

 

[user 819]

Another 15 days in my book until spring is officially here , had a Hospital appointment today so no bee work . But yesterday checked all six colonie's and all looking good with plenty of heft weight to them and all CB's nicely warm to the touch under the PIR.

 

[Nannysbees]

Can see quite a few cappings on the floors under the hives, itching to get in and see what's happening but I won't

 

[Newbeeneil]

I took the opportunity to move 7 hives out of my isolation apiary today ready for the new season. It was cold and misty in my valley until about 10.30 but when I relocated them on a local hill it was sunny and the established hives were really busy.
As I went to set up a Paynes poly nuc I managed to dislodge the roof so took the opertunity to check the stores.
It was lacking stores so I rolled out some fondant and slipped it in the feeder.
As I adjusted a dislodged frame I noticed a 2” dia patch of drone brood on one frame and a few more on the facing frame!
They certainly didn’t look strong enough to swarm so could they be thinking about supercedure?

 

[Swarm]

Cut down a Sycamore in front of one of the stands, it was getting too big. Bees were less than impressed

 

[Antipodes]

As I adjusted a dislodged frame I noticed a 2” dia patch of drone brood on one frame and a few more on the facing frame!

Any worker brood?

 

[Newbeeneil]

Any worker brood?

Yes, plenty on two of the 6 frames

 

[Antipodes]

I took the opportunity to move 7 hives out of my isolation apiary today ready for the new season. It was cold and misty in my valley until about 10.30 but when I relocated them on a local hill it was sunny and the established hives were really busy.
As I went to set up a Paynes poly nuc I managed to dislodge the roof so took the opertunity to check the stores.
It was lacking stores so I rolled out some fondant and slipped it in the feeder.
As I adjusted a dislodged frame I noticed a 2” dia patch of drone brood on one frame and a few more on the facing frame!
They certainly didn’t look strong enough to swarm so could they be thinking about supercedure?

Only three and a half months until your longest day
Possibly will take a month more for emerging/ maturity and then only two and a half months until the longest day.

 

[Moobee]

Checked the out apiary and this colony going great guns. Had to add loads of fondant and some candipolline as hive quite light & not much forage about here and rain forecast again although they are starting to build brace comb in the eke….
Also checked on the bees in the shed in the other out apiary. They threw off a couple of lovely swarms last year and as I need some more colonies, decided with the owner to let them swarm again this year and possibly cut out next year. She seems quite relaxed about it and I think rather enjoys the excitement! Looks like a small cluster in situ top left which corresponds with the entrance outside.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

if they're building brace comb they are looking for space to store surplus food

 

[Wilco]

Only three and a half months until your longest day
Possibly will take a month more for emerging/ maturity and then only two and a half months until the longest day.

Well that's somewhat depressing!

 

[pargyle]

Hefted and checked them through the clear crownboards, lots of bees and really active. The full hives all heft heavy but the 8 frame modiifed Paynes nuc felt a little light last weekend. The fondant I have is on a top shelf in the garage and was totally inaccessible .. so I put half a rapid feeder of invertbee on the feeder hole (more in optimism than anything) - they were up and at it in no time and by today it was empty so they got another litre or so. Nobody more surprised than me. The feeder is in a super which is also a clear crownboard and there was insulation on top of the feeder and a thin polycarb sheet under the roof so they are fairly toasty ... still a bit surprised that they will take syrup down.