What did you do in the Apiary today?

[cjhart2]

Arrived back in Charente last night , got to the bees this afternoon . They are in great order especially after 5 month of me not being here . Tremendous activity , bringing back loads of almost white pollen . They were casting out a load of older bees , also they appear to cutting the wings of the ones being thrown out so they could not return .

 

[BeeJayBee]

They were casting out a load of older bees , also they appear to cutting the wings of the ones being thrown out so they could not return .

Are you sure it isn't DWV?

 

[user 6228]

Are you sure it isn't DWV?

i'have had a few bees like that. I thought DWV was the tiny shrivelled wings not wings that appear chopped off... but what do i know I'm safer with watts lambdas and Apiary wireless networking

 

[dclewis]

The hazel seems to be coming to an end and the willows are certainly not out yet but its great to hear the bees buzzing in the trees that have mistletoe at the moment when it is warm enough to get out.

 

[YorkshireBees]

After being away working for a week I was keen to check on the fondant levels on my out apiary hives yesterday.
Easier said than done!
After moving a barrier (the local council decided to close a road to my apiary for roadworks!) I managed to get withing 1/2 mile of the field entrance. The snow drifts I was driving through changed from 1ft deep to 3-4ft deep so I didn't want to take a chance and had to walk the rest of the way.

Hives not buried under snow, at least not anymore and pleased to see only one hive had finished the fondant!

 

[whoosling]

After being away working for a week I was keen to check on the fondant levels on my out apiary hives yesterday.
Easier said than done!
After moving a barrier (the local council decided to close a road to my apiary for roadworks!) I managed to get withing 1/2 mile of the field entrance. The snow drifts I was driving through changed from 1ft deep to 3-4ft deep so I didn't want to take a chance and had to walk the rest of the way.

Hives not buried under snow, at least not anymore and pleased to see only one hive had finished the fondant!

Compared to you it's almost tropical down here - gorgeous pics.



.

 

[Outlander]

Yes I agree with that nice pics YorkshireBees.

It's been a while since I’ve seen the bees out and about but they are taking the fondant fairly quickly. On checking on the fondant which is in a tub on top of CB they appear to be very active under tub. I am concerned of the level of stores and plan to go in and move any frames of stores to the side of cluster. Also like most I'm worried that if this weather continues much longer the bees will start to dwindle with age. The last time I saw real activity on the outside they were bringing in a lot of pollen.

About twenty feet from three hives I see the catkins on the alder just hanging there full of pollen and the bees unable to get to it.

Good luck to you all with your bees.

 

[Mellifera397]

Replaced the fondant in the slightly improved weather today heres hoping the ladies will make it.

M

 

[WelshPaul]

Finished the decking for my bee shed/apiary today in the only bit of sun I've seen in a long time, so far, fence posts, and all timber in total cost £12. Don't you just love other people's waste. View attachment 8184

 

[enrico]

Bet the nails cost money!!! Looks good though

 

[VEG]

Big decking for one hive or have you caught the just one more hive disease lol

 

[Erichalfbee]

Is that going inside the bee shed or under the hives?

 

[beeno]

Hi cjhart2,
Cannot find your original post, but the same happened to one of my hives. Chopped off wings. Asked the bee inspector and came to the conclusion that it was robbers being evicted and incapacitated as these bees looked quite different from the reisident stock!

 

[beeno]

Arrived back in Charente last night , got to the bees this afternoon . They are in great order especially after 5 month of me not being here . Tremendous activity , bringing back loads of almost white pollen . They were casting out a load of older bees , also they appear to cutting the wings of the ones being thrown out so they could not return .

Hi,
Got it now. Just confirming your analysis.

 

[Little John]

Made-up some pollen pattie last night, let it rest overnight, and it's firmed-up a treat by this morning. Had a taste - it's absolutely gorgeous - and if they don't eat it, then I will ...

LJ

 

[beeno]

Pleased to see all hives out collecting some pollen and water today. Still cold +6C.

 

[masterBK]

Been to see my colonies today (mostly wintered on double brood) and all but two still got several weeks of stores left. However found a couple of colonies dead each with loads of stores plus they both had some sealed drone brood on one comb so were domed anyway. Losing only two out of 28 is acceptable considering the long winter we have had. While I was there I filled in the holes left in 7 hives by woodpecker. No new holes since last looked a month ago so looks like they must be getting the ants that they prefer

 

[stephenpug]

just had a look at my 4 hives 3 look good non flying as its only 2c and snow all over the ground the one hive that has died was a swarm that i caught late August it never really got going it went into the winter on only 3 seams so i think that i did well to get them this far but with my inexperiance if this happens again i will unite a weak colony or put them in a poly nuc "its all about learning and the bloody weather" roll on spring

 

[WelshPaul]

I'm putting an 8x8 shed at one end then the rest of the space I'll be putting some hives.

 

[Shabro]

Had a quick look at fondant levels and discovered a nuc that has not survived, last week it seemed to be ok, this week dead on the frames under the fondant, they had got very small though, too small to be viable.