What did you do in the Apiary today?

[Chris Luck]

how people manage with lots of hives i dont know

I suppose I have quite a lot, (but not really "lots and lots"), and frankly there are some times of the year, now being one of them, when it's just total chaos and a very long day but it all works itself out more or less.

Chris

 

[MuswellMetro]

fed my bees 2:1 one syrup in temperature of 7c AND HAIL THUNDERSTORMS STORMS

started with the NucS in my main apiary first as the syrup was warm then on to next apiary etc return to the mainapiary and establishedc hive later

soft OLD git that i am

 

[Swarm]

A bit worried by one colony, it's not taking feed and was not looking very large last inspection. Bunged a lump of fondant on it today and was just packing away when landowner turned up. She kept me talking long enough for one of my darlings to find us and sting me on the back of my ear.
Maybe I'll start parking further away, heh.

 

[priono]

weather was pretty nice today.

i just watched the busy bees bringing in pollen. the entrance was sometimes rather congested. i also built a new hive stand for two hives which i levelled approx.
Also painted a BS Hive which i will use for rehousing a nuc.

Please let the weather stay longer for a cpl of days.

 

[MuswellMetro]

just looked at two bailey changes and a combine...not as far adavanced as i would have wanted

The combine was interesting, as opposed to the normal mad shredding of the paper, they had just eaten a 50p size hole and all the bees were in the bottom box save a few salvaging honey from the top box

and tonight picked up my Honey Jars from the BKAs group order

 

[Chris Luck]

Three more swarms collected, a look at a superb colony in a hollow chestnut tree and removed this....

 

[psafloyd]

Three more swarms collected, a look at a superb colony in a hollow chestnut tree and removed this....

That looks big. Did you knock it into a box?

 

[VEG]

hope not as there is a lot of comb in there as well.

 

[Chris Luck]

hope not as there is a lot of comb in there as well.

Quite so. Need to show a little care and minimise the number of bees coming to a sticky end.

Chris

 

[ultreen1]

Inspected my 5 week old nuc. Very pleased to see they are expanding. Lots of eggs and brood of all stages.

Decided to take advantage of the weather and made up some frames sat outside in the sun...regretting that now as I've burnt my face!

 

[Hivemaker.]

Inspected my 5 week old nuc. Very pleased to see they are expanding. Lots of eggs and brood of all stages.

Is that a mini nuc?

 

[ultreen1]

I've had them 5 weeks, they were an overwintered nuc on 6 frames.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Well not exactly in the apiary but paid off in Plymouth today and took a wee diversion on the way home (via North Cornwall to pick up a Langstroth Hive I got reasonably cheap on fleabay, i have a fancy to try a few langstroths) picked up the hive without checking more than to make sure it wasn't falling to bits but there was this nagging feeeling in the back of my mind all the way home. soon as I got home realised - it's a Dadant - bugger!.
So i think after a clean up of the frames and miller feeder - back on fleabay it goes

 

[susbees]

Cut out our errant swarm from the wall of the out-apiary garage: they were queueing to get in through a knot hole the size of a twenty pence (hear that Mr Seeley...). Three long combs but no brood yet. Queen and her entourage now safely home for a fortnight.

Treated some nucs and a pallet hive stand to some water-based brown stuff, did a rather modified and slightly early Demaree on my favourite colony (madam had been in the super for a week so all the young brood in the half above the brood-and-a-half). Hopefully the odd egg in queen cups was indicative of mild intent. Got a BKA apiary day here at the weekend. Weather permitting. Gulp.

Second super on one of the dark bee colonies. Other two on that stand not far behind.

 

[drstitson]

"and tonight picked up my Honey Jars from the BKAs group order"

there's hopeful!!!!!

 

[oliver90owner]

Inspected my 5 week old nuc.

A little misleading when it is actually likely an 8 month old nuc?

 

[AnotherNewBee]

This is what I did yesterday, so a little OT...

Took a peek, through the glass crown board, at my recently hived colony. Bees a bit feisty. They were pinging me about 10m from the hive. If they don't settle down I'll need some screening for when we plough in front of the hive (or whoever's doing the ploughing will need a suit - fortunately he's comfortable with bees). The weather's been bad and they've been hauled from pillar to post so I can forgive a bit of grumpiness.

Lots of waggle-dancing going on so they've found some forage - probably the OSR in the next field but one. Weather report not too bad for the next few days so decided not to top up the feeder.

The tops of 5 frames in the brood box were heaving with activity so I'll now give them a week to settle down - unless, of course, they have different ideas or the weather is too cold/wet for foraging (in which case I'll top up the feeder).

<OT>Went on to help with some ploughing. The field slopes and has many lumps, bumps and hollows. We managed to turn the vintage plough over twice. Spent more time fixing the plough than using it! Ploughman now grumpier than the bees as he's twisted the drawbar.</OT>

Contacted BBKA about membership/insurance requirements for bees kept on a 'care farm'.

Next planned bee related job - get more kit ready for use.
Next planned bee job - add a QE and super.
Notes to self - make sure ploughman will be happy with a bee suit when close to the hive. Keep an eye on the weather reports.

 

[nosmoking]

New 2012 Queen

This was taken last Saturday when I inspected the swarm nuc from April 22nd 2012 (video in 'Video' section) and wasn't sure if there was a Queen or not. Having checked last week the Queen was laying. But no closed cells yet.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Inspected the two garden hives - they were not happy (compared to their usual so laid back you have to give them a shake to wake them) again very little stores but a strong brood pattern on 5/6 frames so not really moving on. Put some more feed on!! its M ay for goodness sake!!!!!!!
Loaded jeep up to check another forum members bees (He's on holiday) and my other hive in my out apiary and it started raining - so now put off until tomorrow morning. I hate droughts

 

[MuswellMetro]

"and tonight picked up my Honey Jars from the BKAs group order"

there's hopeful!!!!!

perhaps i should have asked for them on Sale & Return basis