What did you do in the Apiary today?

[psafloyd]

Earlier, I posted about gathering a cast yesterday, saving a swarm today and getting a swarm in my garden.

When I went to hive today's swarm this evening, I discovered in the lower of the two 'empty' brood boxes, there were a few bees. Thinking they were potential robbers, I lifted the crown board to discover a sizeable colony staring up at me.

Buggered if I know where they came from (could be the first one I lost – fingers crossed) but no time to check them and as I needed the roof on there, had to knock up another lid.

This pissed me off no end, because the nails provided by T's were the wrong sort and I was forced to bodge it. Damn and blast!

Anyway, swarm (probably a cast) hived and will go through boxes this week to determine who is worth keeping and squishing and then unite a few.

 

[nonstandard]

I have already collected a swarm today, OK it's one from yesterday that issued from my neighbour's hive and settled in his hawthorn hedge the day after he went on holiday!

I spent ages yesterday trying to get them to go up into a skep but had to abandon the attempt with about half of them in as I had to go to work; I left the skep over them hoping that the rest would move up too. At 6 this morning on my way home I had a quick look to find absolutely no bees in the skep grrr

They were in a nice tight cluster on one branch though which I cut off and then unceremoniously dumped them in the skep which is now sat in the shade in his garden on a mesh floor until this afternoon when I shall hive them so he can eventually unite them back to the hive they issued from when the new queen is laying.

I'm sure he will be happy to get his bees back, I don't want any more, but I'm not sure he will be too happy about the gaping hole in his hedge

 

[beehive1234]

Yesterday I did another inspection.
4 play cups in 1/2 brood and a couple now in BB. Can't see eggs.
7 frames of Brood in BB, 5 frames in 1/2 Brood and 3 frames in 1st Super.
They seem to be chucking out any stored fondant.
BIAS and lots of hatching workers and Drones.
FINALLY..... I got to see my Queen for the 1st time. Hallelula!!!!
She is truelly a beauty. I choose not to mark her.
All ready and waiting to AS.
Just waiting to find charged QC's.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Yesterday looked through two hives.
One on 6 frames of brood and a semicircle in the shallow box above the 14 x 12
The other 6 frames below and four above. Three play cups on the bottom bars of the top box.

Nothing today
Pouring with rain and cold
Have lit the fire .......it's nearly June!!!!!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Early morning, moved one hive down to Garn cottage with the help of my friend, we'd just finished sorting things out and opening the hive when his mother came along - 'I've just made you breakfast - do you want black pudding with your bacon, sausage, kidneys and mushrooms? one egg or two, tea or coffee?' Mrs T was chef at the finest hotel in the area so what a treat! they do like having my bees in the orchard! also found out there's another orchard less than half a mile away, bonus for the bees as well

 

[VEG]

JBM you will have to go visit the bees cough cough regularly lol

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Always have to time that inspection to factor in a cup of tea and cake! they've been looking after me since I was eleven so she ain't going to stop now even if I tell her to!

 

[MJBee]

Been ages since I had a good English (or Welsh) "heart attack on a plate"

I'm drooling and very jealous.

 

[Tom Bick]

Yesterday placed a 2nd super on two hives and looked at two other hives not doing as good and intend to re-queen one after one my other hives has finished with demaree.

My TBH after AS is doing just great.

 

[Roola]

Popped down just to see what they were up to yesterday, pretty busy, lots of pollen going in... Quite a lot of grey pollen, anyone know what that is?

 

[Moggett]

Been raining here for most of the day and cool. Visited the hives and put a honey jar full of syrup in the rapid feeder of the old queen part of the A/S as it had run out. Will make some more syrup today and check again tomorrow.

 

[Chris Luck]

Very little happening and again few bees flying.

The weather here has been the worst on record for the last 15 months. One good day here and there with rain, cold winds and low temperatures, even the "good days" are hardly passing 16°C this year - normally would be 28+ plus by now with warm nights - frost twice in the last week.

No spring honey despite hundreds of hectares of OSR and all the spring fruiting blossoms that have been and gone...

....and it's quite possible that there will be no summer honey at this rate.

Chris

 

[dpearce4]

Glad I put the swarm I caught yesterday into a nuc box not a skep, today has been wet all day so far. I took the nuc upto my apiary today and unsealed it a few hundred bees came out onto the veranda stayed out for about 5mins, they got wet so, went back indoors. They had comb so expect the queen to be laying in there when I go back tomorrow to move them into a bigger box.

 

[scuttlefish]

Had a "shed day" seeing as it's pouring rain - built a couple of nuc boxes and scorch-cleaned hive #3 which died overwinter (going back out as a bait hive). Lots of prep needed seeing as #2 is bursting at the seams and #4 is not far behind.

Sunshine forecast for the rest of the week here, with temps into the high teens, so I'm looking forward to some quality apiary therapy tomorrow

 

[cjhart2]

While the hail pounded on the windows , made some fondant for both hives . This weather is unbelievable for south west France . Air frost in the last week of May is almost unheard of , just at the wrong time for the grape vines , the flower buds badly affected so wine might be a bit short this year .
The swarm hive is looking good , the hive they came from is a little quieter . Going to feed both with fondant , just to get them through this week .
Bees arriving back between the showers covered in orange pollen on their legs including a very fetching orange ‘scarf’ . They are just not getting the maximum time to get it .

 

[VEG]

Getting another batch of runny honey ready for bottling

 

[Cazza]

Getting another batch of runny honey ready for bottling

This seasons?
Cazza

 

[VEG]

I wish ( I should have said yes lol)

 

[Cazza]

I wish ( I should have said yes lol)

I can stop feeling envious then!
C

 

[madasafish]

Fed one nuc in rain in morning.
Watched bees flying from 2pm in rain... the same nuc was quite active..