What did you do in the Apiary today?

[Millet]

It's an aluminium entrance block developed by big T

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

Took stock after two-and-a-half weeks away with a lot left behind in the form of virgin queens, recent robbing crises etc. Very well pleased, with only one casualty; a nuc that burnt through yet another ripe QC. Shook it out. That and no swarm in the trap; I'll shut that down.

Weather has been perfect but colonies have not put on a lot of weight; the forage is clearly not there. Last extraction next weekend and will retrieve the year a bit but will still be well down on last year.

 

[Fatbee]

Notice that a few people have mentioned dark honey, mine is darker this year than I have ever had, looks like burnt toffee. Taste is fine but just came as a bit of a surprise. I am putting it down to a bumper sycamore harvest.
E

Me to. I was also wondering if it was hawthorn but I do have a lot of sycamore trees around me

 

[Brigsy]

I have an expending one that fits all hive sizes. You can slide a normal entrance (also mouse guard) as close or wide as you like.

You can rotate it to a staggered entrance with small holes for robbing duties, that can go down to one hole.

Also, smaller holes with a sliding tray for pollen trapping.

 

[Brigsy]

Notice that a few people have mentioned dark honey, mine is darker this year than I have ever had, looks like burnt toffee. Taste is fine but just came as a bit of a surprise. I am putting it down to a bumper sycamore harvest.
Aside from that saw a bee collecting pollen from sweet corn plants today. Filling it's bags with the normally air spread pollen.
E

My latest crop looks like molasses. Tastes ok with a slight 'odd' after taste occasionally.

 

[deanrpwaacs]

My latest crop looks like molasses. Tastes ok with a slight 'odd' after taste occasionally.

Odd in what way ? I have some aswell and suspect privet or ragwort .

 

[Brigsy]

I can't put my finger on it. Kind of a flat after taste at the top and back of the palate.

 

[Tremyfro]

Honey on toast for tea today.....totally yummy honey from the Flow frames....lots of floral notes...the best I've tasted yet from my bees.

 

[Plenty of honey]

Checking through nucs and hives at my home apiary, last ditch mating seems good! all laying well
However, had a look at the mite count after first vaporising treatment last week, OMG, pretty impressive mite drop!! But this was the last colonie that was a cell builder, that i didn't unite with the existing colonie after i harvested the cells. I just gave it a queen . I probably got all the mites as there was no brood in the whole box!!
All other nucs have varing mite drops, but just shows, when you add brood from other colonies, the mite count rises rapidly!!
Loads more Vaporising to do this week!! Think i am going to need a larger capacity car battery!! I have a Varrox and after 40 treatments, it gets a little tired!!

 

[Etton]

Inspected hive this evening. found sealed drone brood, is that unusual this late in the year?

 

[GaryB]

My latest crop looks like molasses. Tastes ok with a slight 'odd' after taste occasionally.

Was thinking of getting one. In your experience, are they worthwhile?

 

[GaryB]

Sorry Brigsy...I meant the Roboblock...

 

[Obee1]

Honey on toast for tea today.....totally yummy honey from the Flow frames....lots of floral notes...the best I've tasted yet from my bees.

That delicious taste of 'I told you so!'

Nothing better

 

[Obee1]

Inspected hive this evening. found sealed drone brood, is that unusual this late in the year?

I have a huge colony that turned arsey. Too badly behaved to open up in the home apiary so moved em. I can see there are two whole frames of drone brood in the top box. I'm assuming the worst. Drone layer. Will look in this week over at their new digs to confirm. I have a new queen waiting in a nuc....

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Inspected hive this evening. found sealed drone brood, is that unusual this late in the year?

depends - how much?

 

[Brigsy]

Sorry Brigsy...I meant the Roboblock...

Hi. I guessed that haha. It's very early days to be honest. One colony has it set on anti robbing have accepted it fine and are getting on with it.

The other, (always do everything that I don't want them to) had a reasonable cluster forming under the omf yesterday, I suppose they couldn't find the way back in, although they would have had to leave that way. So I rotated it to the traditional hole and encouraged them back out.

Not sure yet.

 

[Tremyfro]

That delicious taste of 'I told you so!'

Nothing better

....well I didn't like to boast!

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

Inspected hive this evening. found sealed drone brood, is that unusual this late in the year?

As JBM suggests, it is an indicator of good health OR of bad health. Questions include amount of worker brood, overall strength of colony etc. I would not be at all surprised if my strongest colony still had drone brood (no idea; haven't been in brood boxes for a month) but yesterday I shook out a colony that ONLY had it.


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[beeno]

Hoovered up 900 wasps coming from a nest in the roof. That will give the bees a break!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

you sure there was 900?