What did you do in the Apiary today?

[Cellectronic]

I was surprised to see the bees coming and going in the rain today.
I think they are flying around under the cover of the nearby trees just to keep out of the rain.
Ohh they are so smart.

 

[richardbees]

Steady rain all day here - an empty sucepan had over 1" of water in it.

you got me going there, Craig! I saw a few partially capped frames on Sunday - all it needs is a few sunny days!

Chris, I'm vaguely surprised you're surrounded by mundane osr - thought it would be sunflowers or lavender!

 

[Chris Luck]

Ahhh, sunflowers are July - August, only seedlings at the moment.

Chris

 

[richardbees]

Chris, really! you've got fields of sunflowers around you?
that's fantastic - please post of photo in due time....

 

[Chris Luck]

Something like this last year? Trouble is that if weather conditions aren't right there can be little yield, requires high temperatures and good sun and moisture.

 

[Moggett]

Topped up the rapid feeders this morning. Bees in the emerged queen hive are still following and being aggressive. Drones are buzzing around the entrance so it looks like mating flights are taking place. The drones are ignoring their sister colony. Hopefully they will calm down once the new queen starts laying.

 

[Hombre]

an empty saucepan had over 1" of water in it.

The laws of physics are broken every day it seems. To my way of thinking an empty saucepan can't have anything in it if it's to be described as being empty.

I'm sure that my beesuit and boots had more an an inch of water in them yesterday . . . and I don't mean the streak of p**s that was doing the wearing

Raining again this afternoon 12C . . .

 

[MJBee]

Something like this last year? Trouble is that if weather conditions aren't right there can be little yield, requires high temperatures and good sun and moisture.

For the first time ever I had about 25 hectares of sunflowers right next to my out apiary last year - the temperature was good, high 20s/low30s, clear blue sky, BUT it was bone dry. Result:- some lovely yellow comb but not a drop of honey

 

[richardbees]

merci, great photo....I suppose the UK equivalent is a field of sugar beet!

 

[witchcraft]

After ASing two of my hives at the weekend I helped out in the Bee/Honey tent at the Suffolk Show - meeting lots of members of the public who are all incredibly bee freindly and many fellow Suffolk bee keepers.

 

[ultreen1]

Went DB on one hive, super on 2 others and gave a frame of eggs to a suspected queenless nuc.

 

[herefordshirehoney]

Went along to add a new super on each hive as been trying to get down there for last few days but unable to due to weather. Although not ideal conditions had to put it on also I did see an egg in one queen cup last time.

I think although im kicking myself now for forgetting my phone to take a photo that it was a single queen cell that had something in it (may even been a drone but my inexperience is showing) which may have been supersede thinking about it now but most likely emergency/swarm in hast I knocked it down. I did see lots of fresh queen cups most with eggs in non charged though mainly bottom of frames. Id say they almost certainly need another brood box however, i'm thinking of artificially swarm them question is can it wait till tomorrow evening as I need to build, paint a brood box etc.

Last inspection on Saturday I did put a new sheet of foundation inbetween two brood frames as I wanted to replace old foundation so not sure if that triggered it (colony laying in every possible frame).

On the good side though with the good weather expected next few weeks if I do split the hive I gain a hive that I can requeen in August when the queens i've ordered come. My hive's are right next to the OSR field that should be yielding so *may* building the comb quickly and expand etc.

 

[Cellectronic]

A break in the weather gave me chance to put another BB in the WBC.
On inspection it was observed that there were 4 frames completely full of capped brood on both side right up to all the edges. It appears she was short of laying space but she refuses to use the outer 2 frames. So now from the bottom I have a BB full of foundation, then the old BB, QE, Super and lastly a feeder. There was some large brood cells which I think were drone ? hoping they were not Queen cells..

 

[scuttlefish]

Added third super to #4, went double brood box on #2 and put the scorch-cleaned #3 out as a bait hive (empty apart from three old frames of black comb).

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Got my bait hives ready - unfortunately one (which I'd left up all winter) took a hit in the last high winds - now back home for repairs, they're all made from scrounged offcuts anyway so don't weather very well - have to make more robust weatherproof hives my next project I think

 

[madasafish]

Inspected all my TBHs. 12C but dry - for a little while.

All doing reasonably well considering the weather: one on 8 frames of brood. Hardly any stores between them.. good thing the forecast says it's going to warm up and be dry.

Finished mending an overwintered TBH nuc - united into a bigger hive early May. Doubled insulation from 25mm to 50mm of Celotex. Added periscope entrance. Repainted with Coloroll Garden Shades.. Dried in the watery sunshine: just got it out in time for the rain...

 

[Chris Luck]

Filled feeders in the rain 30TH MAY - UNBELIEVABLE....

...and received a string on the throat for my troubles.

Chris

 

[Dusty Rhodes]

Filled feeders in the rain 30TH MAY - UNBELIEVABLE....

...and received a string on the throat for my troubles.

Chris

Garrotting bees!

Now that's impressive!

Dusty

 

[Moggett]

Filled feeders in the rain 30TH MAY - UNBELIEVABLE....

Chris

Unfortunately this type of cool wet weather is becoming the norm here in the UK at this time of year.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Garrotting bees!

Now that's impressive!

Dusty

No - you no risten I said string!!