What did you do in the Apiary today?

[madasafish]

Twit!

That is no way to reply to your grovelling follower...

 

[Millet]

Twit!

 

[Millet]

That is no way to reply to your grovelling follower...

We have several members on here who are quick to help with sensible advise, Erica being one of them, being called a twit is a compliment

 

[Tremyfro]

We have several members on here who are quick to help with sensible advise, Erica being one of them, being called a twit is a compliment

I will join you in your 'Twittery'....lots of help on here.

 

[Tremyfro]

Lovely day here...although a little windy now. All the hives were sending out a few bees into the winters sunshine.
Had a MASSIVE cleanup in the Bee Barn....hurrah OH tools are now banished...only his strimmer has remained...and I'm moving that at the weekend...whilst he is away...he he. All the hives are now stored outside. I can actually walk around inside the Bee Barn.
A list of 'needs' has emerged....some wooden doweling for hanging made up frames...as per suggestion.
A shelf.
More hive ratchet straps.
Washing soda.
I sorted through old frames and separated all the ones which need steaming.
Busy as a Bee today....on a roll...lol

 

[Erichalfbee]

Stan brought me a drone back he found walking about one of the landing boards
Only one pair of perfectly formed but shortened wings. He thought at first glance it was a queen

Had a MASSIVE cleanup in the Bee Barn....
A list of 'needs' has emerged....
Busy as a Bee today....on a roll...lol

Beetradex just round the corner then the WBKA conventiom if you still have any funds.

 

[Tremyfro]

Stan brought me a drone back he found walking about one of the landing boards
Only one pair of perfectly formed but shortened wings. He thought at first glance it was a queen





Beetradex just round the corner then the WBKA conventiom if you still have any funds.

Ha ha...now I have some extra space...
I'm planning on going...we haven't been before but have heard it is a good one. I have loads of super frames, and enough14x12 but I'm sure I will think of something before the day...lol

 

[Saffabee]

A sunny 15oC out this way this afternoon, went down to put some fondant on 1 hive that was a little light. Rest of the poly hives were quite busy bringing in some pollen a quick feel of the poly carbonate crown boards told me most were in serious brooding mode. The smaller of the hives that I thought wasn't going to make it were really pumping out the heat and eating through the fondant I had given them a few weeks ago. So looks like they are all doing okay at the moment. Lots of crocuses out in the garden and next week looks like the same temp. Think I might have to be on my toes this year.


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[wightbees]

Not sure what the weather is like for you mainland folk but here is been great, people out in t shirts so I thought I would lift the roofs and assess with a quick visual and feed those that need feeding. Lots of flying bees at all the apIries , they seem to think spring is here! We got a warm week so hopeful that will help them. Some colonies needed food others had whole super ! Just goes to show how some manage better than others ..

 

[pargyle]

Some colonies needed food others had whole super ! Just goes to show how some manage better than others ..

I would have swapped a few frames of stores around to balance the foodstores in the hives - saves opening up again and on fondant ...

 

[wightbees]

Different apIries though otherwise I could of

 

[B+.]

I would have swapped a few frames of stores around to balance the foodstores in the hives - saves opening up again and on fondant ...

I checked 6 apiaries today. lost 1/18 at one apiary and 1/4 at another. The others are still alive although its too early to start pulling a hive apart to see how strong they are.
Some of the colonies at one apiary seemed to be a bit lighter and a some hives had received attention from woodpeckers where there had been none in previous years. Is anyone else noticing more woodpeckers around?

 

[bjosephd]

Hey B+

I think I've noticed less round these parts actually. But it's pretty anecdotal... and I have seen Green and Greater Spotted hoping around now and again this winter.

However, aside from the odd or abortive and minimal pecking around the corners of my Celotex cosies they have done no damage.

What do you think was the cause of your loses that you saw today?


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[B+.]

What do you think was the cause of your loses that you saw today?

I thought they had enough in the autumn but its been very mild here. I think they just ate all their stores.
I should probably have checked these apiaries sooner but one of them gets flooded when the pond overflows in the winter (about 6" deep in mud so I have to wear wellies when I go there). That's the apiary where I lost 1/4.
The other apiary is usually very good but woodpeckers seems to have found it this year. Its wide open countryside with the colonies against a hedgeline. There is a small wood a couple of fields away. I suppose I got complacent because they've been on that site for at least 3 years with no woodpecker attention at all.

 

[bjosephd]

It's tricky...

It's possible to go belt and braces with a few hives, although even then one can eventually get complacent.

I imagine with a ton of hives belts and braces can start to get insanely costly just to save one or two hives and so doesn't add up. Annoying that the woodpecker somehow finally got a tip-off though!

I rather like woodpeckers, they're quite a good looking bird. But I'm sure I'd soon rethink my opinion if they drilled a hole in a hive of mine, let alone cause it's downfall!

So far I'm on 3/3 surviving - but let's say 3/3 'flying'. Not out of the woods yet... not counting my chickens...


yet...


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[B+.]

I imagine with a ton of hives belts and braces can start to get insanely costly just to save one or two hives and so doesn't add up. Annoying that the woodpecker somehow finally got a tip-off though!

Thats it exactly, although the damage to the hive and the loss of a colony is a cost too.
This one had quite a go at the hand holds on the side of the hive. Not enough to kill the colony but heat loss would finish them off
I didn't have time to check each hive. I'm counting this as dead because I lifted the roof and peared through the clear plastic sheet. There was no sign of bees moving or noise from their wing movements. Thats enough for me at this time of year.

 

[Goran]

I planned to put fondants on some colonies, but low rain and cold postponed my actions for tomorrow when will be warmer and sunny. I turned into prunning today..
All " alive and kicking" so far..
Pics are from last weekend.

Hazels are dusting real good

 

[B+.]

Hazels are dusting real good

It hardly seems possible that you were posting photos of hives covered in snow so recently!

 

[Goran]

It hardly seems possible that you were posting photos of hives covered in snow so recently!

Luckily for me and bees fast change due to woodpecker's new interest in " hive piercing". These days day temps should be above +10C and birds will stay away.
Primroses and snowdrops started to flower in forests. I await soon to cornel open and offer nectar and pollen.
My mentor is also satisfied how his colonies seems. Brooding is accelerating already ( judging on dew on nylon and humming from the hives).
In spring I will have to more carefully watch in searching of AFB signs due to last year AFB outbreaks relative near me.
When I think.. first extraction end of April/beginning of May. It is not so far..

 

[wightbees]

B+ are those poly with the pecked holes? There's huge holes, one of mine, a wooden box has a small pecked hole but the bees prefer it.