What did you do in the Apiary today?

[Erichalfbee]

Talking about lovely places yours seems pretty good.

Thanks,Tom. Yes I'm pleased with where they are. Lots of early pollen and trees for nectar and Balsam and Ivy for their winter stores. Seems less rain here than Cumbria

 

[margob99]

Feeder off. Weighed the hive. So far so good. I don't insulate - well, all that we've put on top is a sheet of correx as protection against the rain, and a ladder to hold it down. A large tub of soil went on top of that on Monday against the storm. So far the girls are looking absolutely sterling. Do others think of putting fondant on this early?

 

[Chris Luck]

Went to http://www.menigoute-festival.org/

and saw this lovely hive, apparently about 150 years old.



Chris

 

[sharonh]

Went to http://www.menigoute-festival.org/

and saw this lovely hive, apparently about 150 years old.



Chris

Thanks for sharing Chris. Great condition for the age it is. Was it restored I wonder.
Sharon

 

[Itchy]

That is lovely!

 

[Itchy]

Put a new lid with Cellotex on the top bar hive...loads of wasps about

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Nothing, honestly.
Phoned up Maisie Moore to see if they had a perspex cover for my extractor to replace the one I inadvertently dropped into the extractor cage at full spin. got to chatting about various things and she must have misheard me. Just realised I've inadvertently ordered one or two things off their sales list!!
so no, I didn't spend any time last night tidying up the chamber of secrets to make room for one or two flat pack supers and some second quality frames!!
I've also realised i've given them my mother's address by mistake - hope they don't mind
Well at least it means I don't have to pay postage for the extractor lid

 

[Erichalfbee]

That's like ordering a pack of foundation and making the order up to £100 to get free postage
I need a few bits and pieces and you've inspired me to browse a little

 

[itma]

That's like ordering a pack of foundation and making the order up to £100 to get free postage

So?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Exactly - every penny counts you know - if we all went around just paying postage without even exploring the possibility of getting it for free, where would we be?

 

[beeno]

Exactly - every penny counts you know - if we all went around just paying postage without even exploring the possibility of getting it for free, where would we be?

Better off?

 

[beeno]

Went to http://www.menigoute-festival.org/

and saw this lovely hive, apparently about 150 years old.



Chris

It's so cute. It looks so small, is it a nuc? I would not like to keep bees in it, but it would look very nice next to my antique spinning wheel!

 

[Swarm]

Top ventilation?

 

[Goran]

Top ventilation?

I presume closed by flat wooden board ( as similar here)..

 

[Chris Luck]

I think bee colonies were smaller then as feral colonies often are today in hollow trees, I come across some really small colonies., it's why all this stuff about bees needing 17 / 20kg of stores for winter is not really factual, especially if it isn't even possible to fit that much in.

Anyway the comb would have often been dug out possibly weekly to eat, there was little if any finesse back then in the keeping of bees for most country folk.

Chris

 

[Swarm]

I presume closed by flat wooden board ( as similar here)..

Sorry Goran, I should have added one of these ...

 

[TBRNoTB]

Went to see the ladies today, all hives very busy, going mad for Ivy lots of pollen comlng in.

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

Found Mr Toad hibernating in the pallet behind the landing board (stone slab propped against pallet). Bummer for him as I start hefting in ernest, and what does a hibernating toad weigh? :- ) Fantastic find. <ADD>Based on today, he must be bummed at finding a spot with a helicopter 6 inches overhead! Haha</ADD>

LESS FANTASTIC. A DWV bee at foot of board. About to start searching the forum...

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

LESS FANTASTIC. A DWV bee at foot of board. About to start searching the forum...

What was your varroa count this autumn? what treatment did you give them?
And are you sure it's DWV and not just a bee (or late drone maybe) with its wings chewed off.

 

[user 6228]

Found Mr Toad hibernating in the pallet behind the landing board (stone slab propped against pallet). Bummer for him as I start hefting in ernest, and what does a hibernating toad weigh? :- ) Fantastic find. <ADD>Based on today, he must be bummed at finding a spot with a helicopter 6 inches overhead! Haha</ADD>

LESS FANTASTIC. A DWV bee at foot of board. About to start searching the forum...

a (single) DWV bee is indicative of not a lot. DWV while can be spread by varroa it occured in colonies before Varroa.