What did you do in the Apiary today?

[Nige.Coll]

hefted hives.
drove home and made some syrup.
drove back and fed some syrup.
looked at weather forecast.
sat scratching head for a while thinking what to do next.

 

[theeggman]

Checked all 4 for stores and space.
All OK but 1 is has scattered drone cells in the brood, one to watch methinks as they are from a swarmy line.
Collected samples from all for Nosema testing on Sat. Currently in the freezer.
Our branch, last year and this, has paired up with our adjacent branch Tavistock for the testing day. The village hall used is on the border between the 2 and the costs are shared and the expertise and volunteers as well. It may be worthwhile to talk to your committees and see if it would work for you.

Tim.

 

[richardbees]

Something completelly different..
Some concrete stationary work..

influenced by the Stalinist school of architecture!

 

[Tom Bick]

Stood and watched on of my TBH's and for a moment thought it was thinking about swarming but then a heavy hail shower hit and calmed things down.

 

[Heather]

Maybe just a flurry of first timers out for an orientation, Tom. Bit early for a swarm....IMO

 

[Goran]

influenced by the Stalinist school of architecture!

Influenced by the robbing human nature.. That they won't lift up easily and can't use much.. Less atractive than others.
Also stable, durable, no need some protection. Above all - simple. More and more I like to simplify in everything, maybe disease but..

 

[Swarm]

Sad reflection that Goran, thieving gits everywhere. My stands are just lengths of 3" timber on concrete pot blocks.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

African bees - dunno what all the fuss is about!

Taught one of my assistants and a few others how to fix foundation onto wired frames using a battery charger. Checked two hives - the weakest one from when I arrived - now slowly building up, I suspect it was a fresh swarm when I got here; and the strongest - stil plenty of forage around and I waws afriad they'd be running out of space - they were! so a super put on.
All inspections carried out without gloves and my assistant standing only ten feet away with no protection taking photographs (he couldn't be bothered to go back to my office to get the veil.
Suspet there's a chance of swarms in the area as the office was full of scout bees after we fixed the foundation!

 

[richardbees]

goran, yes...nice thinking!

 

[Goran]

Over here even sunny some crazy wind, I was frozen in the field. Bees lured out by the sun even cold wind is blowing.. I was going out of their way, not in the mood and I can't blame them..

 

[REDWOOD]

hefted hives.
drove home and made some syrup.
drove back and fed some syrup.
looked at weather forecast.
sat scratching head for a while thinking what to do next.

And ?

 

[Bosleeu]

There was a short, but lovely, sunny spell. I took the oppurturnity to transfer a bursting 6-frame nuc on 12X14s to their hive. Bees were very calm and all frames packed with brood. Saw the queen - a huge light girl mated last autumn. Always get a rush from seeing a queen, so I am happy. Gave them a bit of a feed to help with the expansion, hopefully they will make the best of the next few days, with temperatures here set to be about 14C. I am excited to see what this colony will do this year, it looks promising so far.

 

[Heather]

Just been to my own garden apiary.. Hundred + dead/dying bees near one hive. Not sure which one they belong to. Not crawling, shivering or other signs of disease, just huddled as though cold. Laden with pollen.
Bet some b----d spraying somewhere.

 

[Chris Luck]

Just been to my own garden apiary.. Hundred + dead/dying bees near one hive. Not sure which one they belong to. Not crawling, shivering or other signs of disease, just huddled as though cold. Laden with pollen.
Bet some b----d spraying somewhere.

Hope the colonies are OK, sprays are ****.

Chris

 

[Nige.Coll]

And ?

sry..
decided to go double brood when i move them this weekend.

 

[Nige.Coll]

Just been to my own garden apiary.. Hundred + dead/dying bees near one hive. Not sure which one they belong to. Not crawling, shivering or other signs of disease, just huddled as though cold. Laden with pollen.
Bet some b----d spraying somewhere.

damn. hope they will be ok.

i saw the farmer spraying fields other side of the hedge to my bees but i was lucky it was very cold and they were inside.

i hope it hasn't done serious damage.

 

[Heather]

Confession time.. apologies to neighbours (this time)..About 100 bees all just quietly dormant .. I took some in and warmed them, to look closely. They livened up.
Seems they all hit the deck at about 10d ..soft southerners. Quite a few dead.
So relief that not poison, though I did quickly lift all brood boxes to check OMF weren't covered with dead bees. All well.
Still there, though so hope they go through the night and set off again when warm air hits them.

 

[Roola]

Painted some supers I made up and made up brood frames.

 

[Heather]

At my out apiary the farmer phones me if he is going to spray. I just block them in for a few hours. He only sprays herbicide (think that's right) but I don't want bees soaking wet.
Worth contacting your local chap. They do try to help usually

 

[Heather]

Thinking about it.. err... must be fungicide unless he wants to write off his crops!