What did you do in the Apiary today?

[Millet]

Robbing between colonies at this time of year is unlikely, in my opinion robbing is only a problem towards the end of the summer. Bees under mesh floor are probably confused by the mesh and are trying to get in the hive. Bees with no pollen doesn't mean robbing

Maybe and hopefully so,

 

[dpearce4]

bees with no pollen might be doing a cleansing flight, collecting water or taking out dead bees or debris from the hive this time of year.

 

[snelgrove]

bees with no pollen might be doing a cleansing flight, collecting water or taking out dead bees or debris from the hive this time of year.

noticed a big increase in water collection lately

 

[Plenty of honey]

noticed a big increase in water collection lately

Yes i agree, I noticed that on a few brief inspections yesterday..just a few cells, with actual water, or very light nectar, interesting.

 

[Obee1]

I very kindly sacrificed a bee in order that a fellow beek may build up his immunity to stings. Took him to see my apiary at the farm. We peeked through the clear crownboards. All look strong colonies. Unfortunately the fourth colony took exception to having the insulation bonnet removed and came out on the attack. Fellow beek took one sting through his trousers. I took at least 6 through my jeans. When will I learn that jeans are not bee proof when a nasty colony goes on the rampage. Being the perfect gentleman he let me run off in a cloud of bees while he put the bonnet and ratchet strap back on.
Thanks nantmoel!

On the bright side none of the stings are hurting me at the moment.

 

[nantmoel]

I very kindly sacrificed a bee in order that a fellow beek may build up his immunity to stings. Took him to see my apiary at the farm. We peeked through the clear crownboards. All look strong colonies. Unfortunately the fourth colony took exception to having the insulation bonnet removed and came out on the attack. Fellow beek took one sting through his trousers. I took at least 6 through my jeans. When will I learn that jeans are not bee proof when a nasty colony goes on the rampage. Being the perfect gentleman he let me run off in a cloud of bees while he put the bonnet and ratchet strap back on.
Thanks nantmoel!

On the bright side none of the stings are hurting me at the moment.

No problem, my second sting of the year, nice to finally meet you.

 

[Swarm]

You just took a kingspan box off the hive and that was the reaction? I lopped down a Buddleia six feet in front of the hives and had a squint at one that has a clear crownboard and was totally ignored.
Best of luck, sounds like more requeening coming along.

 

[Poly Hive]

Cleared my feet and left the site neat and tidy ready for the bull dozers to clear it all away for 8 x 1,000,000 sq feet sheds for distribution hubs.

PH

 

[Obee1]

You just took a kingspan box off the hive and that was the reaction? I lopped down a Buddleia six feet in front of the hives and had a squint at one that has a clear crownboard and was totally ignored.
Best of luck, sounds like more requeening coming along.

Yes I have some nice buckfast queens on order. This colony will be first in line.
They were pretty awful all last year but I had trouble requeening - their new queen became a DLQ so they were given another one - I had hoped they would be OK this year. Will split into nucs and requeen.

 

[bpmurray]

Yes I have some nice buckfast queens on order. This colony will be first in line.
They were pretty awful all last year but I had trouble requeening - their new queen became a DLQ so they were given another one - I had hoped they would be OK this year. Will split into nucs and requeen.

I'm curious - why do folk buy in queens when they're easy enough to make? I understand there may be a rush with a nasty colony, but otherwise I just don't get it.

 

[Millet]

You just took a kingspan box off the hive and that was the reaction? I lopped down a Buddleia six feet in front of the hives and had a squint at one that has a clear crownboard and was totally ignored.
Best of luck, sounds like more requeening coming along.

I got hammered last week pulling the cosy of to stick some fondant on top and that was without cracking the crown board.

 

[birdsandbees]

My Nuc was cranky recently which I thought odd as they are usually very calm, turns out they were hungry, I'm the same so I couldn't blame them, now they have a new supply of Fondant they have chilled out again, surprised how quickly they have used up all of their supplies.

Will be having a go at raising a few Queens this year, want to replace a three year old with one of her Daughters and make a couple of splits with them too.

 

[dpearce4]

both my sites the bees met me at the gates yesterday and they are 100yds away from the hives.

 

[Poly Hive]

That is not good. Re-queening is the thought here.

Had a few colonies over the years who loved to meet and greet.... a right job to work out which colony it was in a heather apiary of 40.

How? Well kitted up I let them "greet" and bee lined them back to the hive. Very busy entrance with lots of guard bees.. under attack themselves? Possibly but they were de-queened and united to a nice lot and peace returned.

PH

 

[Tremyfro]

No problem, my second sting of the year, nice to finally meet you.

Wow...you are brave...you do know those bees are descendants of Mean Green Queen don't you.

 

[Tremyfro]

I very kindly sacrificed a bee in order that a fellow beek may build up his immunity to stings. Took him to see my apiary at the farm. We peeked through the clear crownboards. All look strong colonies. Unfortunately the fourth colony took exception to having the insulation bonnet removed and came out on the attack. Fellow beek took one sting through his trousers. I took at least 6 through my jeans. When will I learn that jeans are not bee proof when a nasty colony goes on the rampage. Being the perfect gentleman he let me run off in a cloud of bees while he put the bonnet and ratchet strap back on.
Thanks nantmoel!

On the bright side none of the stings are hurting me at the moment.

Poor unsuspecting Nantmoel......did you not warn him about Mean Green Queen and her family....
Obee1.... Hit them hard.....no faffing and take no prisoners!

 

[nantmoel]

I'm curious - why do folk buy in queens when they're easy enough to make? I understand there may be a rush with a nasty colony, but otherwise I just don't get it.

If you have a nasty colony that needs to be re-queened, if you use this as breeding stock it may well end up even worse, you have no control over the drones your virgin will mate with. So if you buy in an F1 queen (open mated) at least you have a chance that her off spring should be true to the breed.

 

[dpearce4]

That is not good. Re-queening is the thought here.

Had a few colonies over the years who loved to meet and greet.... a right job to work out which colony it was in a heather apiary of 40.

How? Well kitted up I let them "greet" and bee lined them back to the hive. Very busy entrance with lots of guard bees.. under attack themselves? Possibly but they were de-queened and united to a nice lot and peace returned.

PH

I don't mind Pete as it stops the local unkempt nosing around without permissions. I think it might also have something to do with this

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-32779424

they are digging the cables about 100m away from both sites.

 

[Nige.Coll]

Not today but over the last few weeks.
Doubled in size and no more bloody weeds


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[Millet]

Not today but over the last few weeks.
Doubled in size and no more bloody weeds


Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk

You seem to have plenty of space to work there.