What did you do in the Apiary today?

[youngyoungs]

Watched flying bees from two hives. Lovely,

 

[The Doctor]

All 3 colonies active and bringing in pollen today. Put in some fondant / pollen patties but did not go into brood box - aim to do that next week when temps are in double figures.

 

[nikca]

..or at least a very sinister mouse!

Points for spotting the quote.

"Is not rat, is hamster..."

 

[ultreen1]

All 3 hives active today, still no pollen coming in.
Back at the house I had a visitor

 

[WelshPaul]

Hives very active, so happy to see an amazing amount of girls bringing pollen in.

 

[Cazza]

looks like a rat to me

It's not rat, it's hamster.

I love Farty Owls.
Cazza

 

[yeogi75]

fondant on and bees bringing in pollen
is it too early to put bb under bb now weather is picking up

 

[theeggman]

Today, checked fondant on both hives, cedar hive on the fondant but poly hive not.
Poly hive was flying in 10 degs. none from cedar.
Cracked cover boards and 4-5 seams of bees in both, fingers crossed as they went into winter as small colonies due to late swarms and 'iffy' Q mating.
Today and the last 3 weeks hedge laying, before the bees start flying.
Our next move will be to county that doesn't plant hedges ONTOP of 4ft. earth banks. I prefer not to hedgelay a thorn hedge in a beesuit hence the need to get it done.

Tim

 

[beeno]

Hi all,
Watched three colonies bring in lots of pollen. However, PH did not show. Got a bit concerned until I took the temp. 20C up by the brick wall and 9C in the shade where the PH is located. Hope that explains it. Sounds alive!

 

[MuswellMetro]

checked four association apairies and an isolation apairy

apiary 1) 20% losses all mid to swarms, possibley put to early into full hives
apiary 2)10% losses 50//50 nosemtic or drone layers
apiary 3) No losses , orchard apiary god mixed frage
apiary 4) 80% losses, 10//90 late swarms or queen loss problems (drone layers or no brood)
Apiary5) islolation apairy 15 mid to late swarms in Nucs now down to 8

 

[poshpikey]

Bees very busy bringing pollen in. As I walked up to hives looked like orientation flights with lots of bees hovering in front of hive but might just have been queuing up to get through mouseguards? Took mouseguards off and also removed the black plastic that I had drawing pinned on to deter woodpeckers. (Hope I didn't do these things too early??)

 

[Erichalfbee]

Had a look through the one box I needed to as it hit 19˚ in the apiary this afternoon.
Lots of stores still but few bees no brood. This was the colony that went completely broodless after Apilife last year. Spotted the queen so transferred the lot to a 3 frame poly nuc and gave them some Neopoll. Pointless probably.

 

[Cazza]

Took mouseguards off (Hope I didn't do these things too early??)

Too early for me, the weather can easily turn cold at this time of year and the mice can be very sneaky. Perhaps you live in a warmer place and your hives are very strong?
Cazza

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Going on my days off tomorrow so hopefully can spend a little time in the apiary .
Today, i spent most of my time on the foredeck in Portsmouth Naval dockyard supervising maintenance of the anchor cables - a few bees came for a nose - wonder whose they were? it was lovely in the direct sunlight but as soon as I stepped into the shade it was decidedly chilly - it's not spring yet everyone!

 

[TOBY-3652]

Didnt do anything planned to do, but thick fog and 2 degrees no bees flying. Verry chilly

 

[Greatbigchicken]

Had my first dead out in 3 years. I think they starved, most were head first in cells, there was stores around the edge of the frames and 2 lb of fondant on top. There was a very small amount on bee poo on one of the frames. I'm guessing they ate all the stores around them then we had a second cold spell and they clustered and didn't move to the food.

Does the sound right or is there anything else I need to look out for?

I've sealed up the hive and I'll move it home for a propper clean out before putting it out as a bait hive or split one of my double brood collonies.

 

[Dadnlad]

Picked up a stone birdbath and pedestal from a fellow Freecycler yesterday, moved it into position early this morning before the girls were up and about. Now they have easy access to rainwater close by if they need to soften their fondant

 

[Luminos]

Had my first dead out in 3 years. I think they starved, most were head first in cells, there was stores around the edge of the frames and 2 lb of fondant on top. There was a very small amount on bee poo on one of the frames. I'm guessing they ate all the stores around them then we had a second cold spell and they clustered and didn't move to the food.

Does the sound right or is there anything else I need to look out for?

I've sealed up the hive and I'll move it home for a propper clean out before putting it out as a bait hive or split one of my double brood collonies.

Very sorry to hear this, GBC

 

[beebopalula]

Lots of girls and queen bumbles collecting pollen from snowdrops and crocuses (11 c). One hive just humming loudly but not venturing out.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Got back home about half four - a bit cold and dreary with us here but checked the hives and the odd bee popping back into all of them - some making inroads into the fondant and two not bothering.