What did you do in the Apiary today?

[For want of a better word]

I applied some fondant to some of my colonies

Yeghes da

 

[pargyle]

Near freezing out there this morning but very bright and sunny .. a few hardy bees out and about and some bright yellow/orange pollen coming in (Crocus ?) and some grey (Willow ?). The ones with orange pollen really had sacks of it on their legs .. I tried to get some photos but they are not hanging about on the landing board .. mostly flying straight into the entrance and gone ! Even my compost bin cut out Nuc is flying ... nice to see that they are going on alright ...

 

[Erichalfbee]

I applied some fondant to some of my colonies

Yeghes da

the title says it all

I applied some fondant to one of my colonies

Yesterday, the bees from one hive were flying straight to the crocuses in the apiary and bringing home a little pollen; brave souls...sunny but cold
The surface frogspawn is frozen this morning but we didn't get the -6˚ advertised.

 

[Cussword]

We didn't get the -6˚ advertised.

Haven't been to see the bees today. It's flipping freezing here, the lake in our local park is frozen!

 

[Monsieur Abeille]

Dropped in some Neopoll into a couple of hives to help them get in the swing of things in time for the OSR.

 

[madasafish]

The surface frogspawn is frozen this morning but we didn't get the -6˚ advertised.

-5C two nights in a row. Frogs have frozen sex lives here..

 

[Tremyfro]

Cold here this morning so the bees were staying inside....unlike all of us who were on barn raising duties! It's like an Amish gathering.....the whole family and a few brave friends.....regular supply of tea and donuts kept us going until nightfall...still a few sheets of roofing to do until it is water tight.....so an early morning again for us. All day lorries delivered builders dust to cover an area so we can access a paddock...the JCB was kept busy spreading it. Tomorrow Woodchip will cover it and all will be smart and no mud...at last! Yet more fencing arrived. One day we will get to the landscaping bit...where we will choose bushes and trees....bee friendly ones to plant some of the bare areas and provide some contours.

 

[Barbarian]

With the dry cold, non-flying weather I took the opportunity to apply a coat of preservative to the outside of a couple of occupied hives.

 

[BrianO]

Sneeked up for a quick check on way to work....

Couldn't resist !

Ear to all hives , great to hear that odd bee in each buzzing away.

All well so far !! Come on Spring ... Only a few weeks to the Willow and Dandelion !

 

[bontbee]

...builders dust to cover an area so we can access a paddock.... Tomorrow Woodchip will cover it and all will be smart and no mud...at last!

Hi Tremyfro, I don't want to speak out of turn, but was just wondering if you have you used woodchip on a trafficked area before? It does look great when it's fresh, but it soon composts down - to mud! well, composted wood chip, anyway. (Unless you're aiming for a soft surface on top of the dust, of course ...)

 

[madasafish]

-2C overnight - warming up.

Nice and sunny with little wind so topped up /added fondant.
So far survival rate is 100%

 

[Charlieanne]

Stopped by my out apiary today to make sure all was ok, some bees flying with pale yellow and orange pollen but quite a few had gotten cold before making it back and were laying on the landing board, can't spend all day reviving bees

Also went to check out a new field for another potential site... totally got my car stuck in the mud and had to get husband to come tow me out with his van...

 

[Erichalfbee]

can't spend all day reviving bees

No need.
You need a small plastic container with a piece of comb with some of your own honey in it. Some empty cells are good too. Tip the bees in and take it home. They will be perfectly happy when they wake on comb.Let them go by the hives the next day.

 

[Tom Jay]

Brief window of sunshine and still air allowed me to slide in some fondant to three hives. I was concerned about the one which spent late summer queenless after a run of casts. The emergency queen they made - from a frame taken from their swarmed mother's new brood nest - was very late mated but made a good beginning with her autumn brood nest. I was thrilled to see them occupying four seams. Hoping she'll prove to be a good 'un.

 

[birdsandbees]

No need.
You need a small plastic container with a piece of comb with some of your own honey in it. Some empty cells are good too. Tip the bees in and take it home. They will be perfectly happy when they wake on comb.Let them go by the hives the next day.

I'm glad it's not just me putting cold bees into plastic tubs with a bit of food to revive them. ;-)
Clear lids warm them up quickly with a bit of sun allowing prompt release, I hate losing bees (albeit only a handful) just because they get caught out by the weather.

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

Brief window of sunshine and still air allowed me to slide in some fondant to three hives. I was concerned about the one which spent late summer queenless after a run of casts. The emergency queen they made - from a frame taken from their swarmed mother's new brood nest - was very late mated but made a good beginning with her autumn brood nest. I was thrilled to see them occupying four seams. Hoping she'll prove to be a good 'un.

Nice when that happens isn't it.

 

[gregior]

Quite mild here today so had a cheeky peep by removing entrance blocks and looking in,very pleased that all are still looking good ranging from 4 to 9 frames in size. Plenty of stores left in them all too

 

[Goran]

Heavy pollen loads, some bees even completelly covered with yellow pollen from forest willow. Entrances of some hives are in yellow also. Temps around 10-11C, cold wind. Gave some fondants. Pruned grape vine in background, in season bees are always on its flowers.

 

[BMH]

hit 12c today in North Wales. All four of my surviving colonies were out collecting pollen and caught a few having a drink in the newly formed pond!

 

[snelgrove]

Cold and cloudy here today with little bee flight just the odd one making an appearance, forcast is for a cold week also