What did you do in the Apiary today?

[whoosling]

freezing cold and now wet as well, no bees around today and I wouldn't disturb them even to check the fondant.

 

[poshpikey]

Made some pollen supplement patties for the first time. Now just waiting for it to stop raining so hard so I can put them on (quickly).

 

[user 6228]

Fed the bees fondant in a brief sunny spell as the forescast looks as though t going be at least another week before the weather is as warm as today.. The three strong colonies were walking around in force in the feeder and didnt seem bothered by extra supplies arriving and being put on the perspex feeding board. the weakest colony seemed deserted until I opened the perspex feed board to put the fondant directly on the bars. They all suddenly appeared and it apparent I wasnt welcome. Not least by inflicting a sting. Closing up was a bit messy with them coming up. Not too many casualties.

 

[nikca]

As I posted elsewhere in response to when to start inspecti ons:First inspection today, 17 degrees and sunny, although it was 5 degrees dayime and -2 at night less than a week ago. T-shirt weather so I thought it time to dive in.

In a 14x12 there were 8 frames with brood on, the middle 4 full top to bottom. If there was any nectar to be found to speak of I'd have a super on already! This with a 3rd year queen who didn'd get beyond 5 frames in year one, and took until July to get this far last year. She just seems to be getting better!

Need to keep a careful eye now, as once this lot hatch if we have a cold snap it could go wobbly super fast. For now though - I'm feeling pretty

 

[cork beek]

Gave some 1:1 syrup and left them at it. Temps over here are at about 10 degrees even thou the weather is crap, it managed to stop from about an hour this morning so i took my chance.

Later on today, it cleared up and was a lovely 11/12 degrees for a small while and the weekend is meant to be about the same

 

[youngyoungs]

Nothing planned here, low temps, flurries of snow and bitter cold wind. Suspect me and the bees will be tucked up .......

 

[Chris Luck]

Delivered a load of hives and bees and set them up with their new owner....

.....will start now to check for dead outs which I think may be quite high this winter, one I looked at yesterday had been separated from their stores probably with the last sudden cold snap - always an issue here with temperatures so sharply up and down in Feb / March.

Chris

 

[victor meldrew]

Do in the apiary? I can't find it .WHITE OUT this morning
VM


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[victor meldrew]

Found the apiary
One landing board blown off. I'm surprised there wasn't more damage as the wind was gale force overnight !
Bitterly cold, still a couple of fool hardy bees had ventured out and were struggling in the snow! As i didn't know which hive they were from I left them to perish .VM


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[Mellifera397]

My shed door was blown open and my box full of frames was nowhere to be found, hidden under the snow.

Clearing a shed of snow in my pj's was not fun!!

 

[madasafish]

My hives are the humps under a load of snow... Fed syrup last warm (? 5C.. is that warm?) day last week . Forget until 1st April..

 

[WelshPaul]

Put snow back on hives again!!! When will this bloody end.

 

[m100]

Snow 10 inches on the flat, drifting up to 2ft and now above the hive entrances. One daffodil flowering.

 

[Tom Bick]

Went and checked on all the hives and all seemed ok, a couple will need a bit of fondant when it warms up and from all the inspection boards two hives look very strong and the TBH also would suggest it is doing very well and looking strong. Later went and helped do a couple of jobs on a bee shed and a general tidy up, one advantage of a bee shed is you can get out of the rain.

 

[REDWOOD]

Checked fondant levels on hives and gave one a pollen patty as this hive is always last of the starting block and within 2 minutes they where eating it so thanks forum members for the recipe

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Burnt some cardboard boxes I found littering the shed this morning - used to contain brambles or something according to the outside of the box - how they got there I don't know - they weren't there Friday evening; I must get a lock to put on the shed door. Especially as SWMBO has admitted that she's getting over her rat phobia

 

[victor meldrew]

Just labelled a batch of honey I bottled the other day!
Can't help feeling guilty whilst being ignorant of the stores situation given that all hives were whacking pollen in a fortnight ago.
One colony looked in swarming mode !
We shall have to wait and as Asquith said !
VM


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[REDWOOD]

Burnt some cardboard boxes I found littering the shed this morning - used to contain brambles or something according to the outside of the box - how they got there I don't know - they weren't there Friday evening; I must get a lock to put on the shed door. Especially as SWMBO has admitted that she's getting over her rat phobia

Had a similar experience myself but the label on the box gave it away before I could depose of it, I can never get the post timing right

 

[dpearce4]

Went up to my hives today and had my first loss, may end up with 2. As you can see from the pic one hive was totally upended all the frames scattered some upto 10ft away. The other hive had its roof and crownboard off, went to see if the hive was dead to be met by a number of bees come up to meet me, did the dance of the beekeeper as i stupidly hadnt put my suit hood on at that point (i really must learn), but luckly not stung (phew). Put the hood and my gloves on and had a look and there were a few seams of bees.

I went back later having got straps to strap the other 4 hives down. Im not sure if it was badgers or people that did the damage, but if it was people i really hope the W*nkers ended up with hundreds of stings. I have a feeling the remaining bees have gone into another hive as they were really tetchy, even walking past 3 or 4 ft away there was an audible rawr from them i assume from the vibration of me walking past, as you can emagine i didnt open them up.

 

[bee crazy]

Doug,

I'm really sorry for you, it looks like the wax has been eaten by something? but i would have to doubt Badgers would of pushed your stand and hive over like that.