What did you do in the Apiary today?

[Tremyfro]

Smart set up B+. I have a spare QC...but it is sat on top of the Aga in a queen catcher. Could it emerge?
We spun out the honey from 5 frames today....the smell was heavenly. Rich spring honey...no sign of OSR. It's all we get this spring. Hoping the bees have a chance to forage this summer.
We now have about 8 brood frames to harvest....if it isn't like rock from last year. I have kept a few back for feeding nucs but I shall soon need the beehaus hive where they have been stored....so needs must.
There is a small but significant hope that I will get all 5 of my beehaus occupied.

 

[Erichalfbee]

We spun out the honey from 5 frames today....the smell was heavenly. Rich spring honey...no sign of OSR. It's all we get this spring. Hoping the bees have a chance to forage this summer.

Lucky girl. I have just spun a super of honey out and I suspect it is largely dandelion. Pooooooo!

 

[B+.]

Smart set up B+. I have a spare QC...but it is sat on top of the Aga in a queen catcher. Could it emerge?

That would depend on the temperature of the aga. My incubator gives ideal conditions for the developing pupa but they can take a bit of variation (they would in the hive anyway). You might be lucky....nothing ventured, nothing gained, eh?
If she does emerge, be sure to give her some honey straight away....I hear you have lots to spare ;-)

 

[AndyTh]

Collected a small swarm about a month ago. Only covered two frames in the nuc. Now on 4, in a 6 frame box and yesterday there were charged queen cells.

They are building up quite quickly and as the initial brood laid a month ago has hatched and more following every day, maybe they need more space than 6 frames. Congestion is a trigger for swarming. Sometimes a duff queen in a swarm triggers queen cell production. But given space to grow rapidly, and a n ok queen you'd be unlucky if they swarm again this season.

 

[Sadders]

Weekly inspection. Now 2 hives after AS 3-4 weeks ago.

The original hive now moved to the side and queenless with 1 QC. Q seems to have emerged but couldn't find her. No brood at all but weather has been bad so I presume if she is in there she is not mated yet. Numbers starting to decline.

The 2nd hive on the original spot with original queen is now queenless. She absconded early after the AS. I added a test frame that produces 3 QCs. I destroyed 2 and the remaining one is now open. No brood at all and no sign of queen. Lots of bees but onlly 3 frames of pulled foundation. Bees running on frames but not violent. Some pollen coming in.

Hope the weather improves to allow mating. If still no Qs or brood next week will have to think about opening the wallet, clearing the moths and buying in some queens. Prefer not to have to though.

 

[nantmoel]

Our hive numbers arrived today, Bespoke size and we are really please with them, all plastic 75x50mm oval. Just need a few hole to screw them to the hives.

 

[BMH]

Our hive numbers arrived today, Bespoke size and we are really please with them, all plastic 75x50mm oval. Just need a few hole to screw them to the hives.

Look very nice.

Hive numbers play on my OCD though.

When you have a row of 5 and then you merge 3 and 4.

Then what do you call the new one you add in the gap. 3/4 or 6?

I now name my hives after the colour of the paint from Valspar (over 2 million names!) and use a qr code thats been laminated for reference and inspection purposes.

Doesnt look as nice, but is effective.

[/url]2016-06-18_03-34-58 by laurence edwards, on Flickr[/IMG]

 

[Cussword]

When you have a row of 5 and then you merge 3 and 4.

Then what do you call the new one you add in the gap. 3/4 or 6?

.

 

[Finman]

.
Nice hives !

But they should stand straight, because combs bend if hives are slanting that way.

i was searchng outer pastures, and I made more good deals.

Raspberry will finish its blooming in a week.

First fireweeds are open

First summer rapes start to bloom after 2 weeks.

The goal is to find places, which have these all plants.
IT is like salmon fishing. IT is worth to try, even if you do not get it.
.

 

[BMH]

.
Nice hives !

But they should stand straight, because combs bend if hives are slanting that way.


.

Well spotted! I've been meaning to fix that one.

5 supers and its definitely not in line with the rest!

 

[Swarm]

Transported my friend's hives to their new location at my apiary and introduced myself as their new beekeeper. They were so excited they all piled out to say hello.

 

[Finman]

Well spotted! I've been meaning to fix that one.

5 supers and its definitely not in line with the rest!

i noticed it 2 weeks ago. Langstroth frames were drawn together. i wonder, but I saw the hive was sideways obligue, and even much. Combs were curved like arch.

 

[Brigsy]

Popped out a couple of frames of the queenless side of my A/S to check they had enough stores. They are ready to burst.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

How many QC's have you got kicking around in that hive?

 

[Brigsy]

I don't know JBM. It's the other half of the Wally Shaw that I am leaving alone. I'm supposed to leave them be rather than knock down I believe. (Don't give me a heart attack please)

 

[Erichalfbee]

Transported my friend's hives to their new location at my apiary and introduced myself as their new beekeeper. They were so excited they all piled out to say hello.

Hey........ Good one

 

[Erichalfbee]

I don't know JBM. It's the other half of the Wally Shaw that I am leaving alone. I'm supposed to leave them be rather than knock down I believe. (Don't give me a heart attack please)

Well leave them alone. Why are you looking in?

 

[Brigsy]

I only took out a frame to check they had stores as the weather has been bad for about a week and these were on the next frame I could see.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Ok I forgive you
Have they enough food BTW ?

 

[Swarm]

Hey........ Good one

Ta!
Pretty little black bees Got a little covered in bees and had to hang around to give them chance to find their way back to the hive.