What did you do in the Apiary today?

[Queens59]

Spent all afternoon trying to get nice pictures of the apiary and bees drinking...almost there, but I wish I could hide the fact that the water is filthy...

 

[Finman]

.
My first swarm left the hive and went to the crown of pig scotch pine. The height was perhaps 15 metres. It was there the whole day.

Beekeeping friend came to look whats upp here, and I showed the swarm. He went home to get a riffle. He shot the twig cut and the swarm dropped down about 22 a'lock. Lots of bees crushed.
Itneeded 5 bullets.

 

[drstitson]

finman

would never have occurred to me to shoot out the branch that a high swarm was on.

will bear it in mind for future swarms.

not sure what the bees will make of 32g of SG shot though!!!

 

[Finman]

.
I learned hoever that when 3 kg swarm drops down in one punch, half of bees wil be cruched by its own weight.

Under the swarm it must be a wide clothe or plastic which is flexiple when ball hits down.
It should be like fire saving clothe.

But I must clip now all queens that will not repeat.

 

[tonybloke]

had to give some 1.1 syrup to a swarm I hived a couple of weeks ago, she's laying well, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of nectar nr that site. ( edge of town allotments )
added clearer boards to 2 hives in back garden, so there is plenty of nectar here ( urban area )

 

[Juststarting]

I've just taken up woodwork and really enjoyed it!

I took advantage of our local Focus clossing down and bought some exterior ply and some plained timber at a discount. (I hope someone takes over as its along way to another DIY shop and my discount wont make up for extra petorl in the long run)

I spent this afternoon cutting it up to make 4 crownboards and 2 rhombus clearer boards. I even "ripped" down the timber to make 9mm laths for rims.

Just hope I've put everything back in the right place before hubby gets home and realises I've been using his tools!!

 

[MuswellMetro]

really pleasant day, 22c clear sky and slight mist this morning, no wind

all the bees were calm, even the aggressive hives inspected first time after requeening were not that bad

not a ping until i came to the swarm caught 6 days ago,and that scored 8 out of 10, i saw the queen walk in but no trace now, perhaps a virgin or perhaps damaged, leave them for 14 days and see

turned down a swarm call via the DARK SIDES swarm collectors list as too far away , I appear to be the only beekeeper in the area who ticked the "will collect swarms" box when registering, but i have also run out of boxes!!!!j

seems to be the only part of their new web site that works, worth a try i have had three calls in two days

 

[Monsieur Abeille]

Rediscovered my love for bees.

Got home about 7:30, and as it was still pleasantly warm went to look at the girls on their landing boards. Lots of activity, but for the first time in god knows how long I wasn't pinged, buzzed, or even investigated, as they quietly went about their business. Wonderful.

What a difference a nice queen makes!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Inspected my hive - a 5 frame nuc hived 3/12 weeks ago - loads of bees, could't find HM for the first time in my (very) short time as a bee accommodation provider. but brood in all stages on six frames so I'm confident she's just a bit coy today, drawing comb on another two but no stores to be seen - weather hasn't been good the last fortnight here so I've given them a quick feed to make sure and I'll put a super on next week weather depending as it's bright today and they're getting busy again.
Tried my special ultra grip baggage examination gloves today, snug fitting and gives plenty of mobility reinforced with kevlar to avoid cuts and punctures from needles etc it said on the cuff - one of the girls was curious as I saw her on my hand reading this: looked up at me, grinned and promptly stung me through said latex/kevlar knitted protective gloves! ho hum
Popping up to my bait hive on the mountain this afternoon to see if the wild/feral colony in the old chapel wall has fancied new accommodation and swarmed in

 

[JCD]

I inspected my two small colonies for the first time since their arrival 12 days ago....one a 5 frame nuc which is developing, and my small cast, which is also developing. Rightly or wrongly, I did the following.....tell me please if wrong! The five frame nuc was hived on arrival and given 6 frames of new undrawn foundation so they could expand. They haven't drawn any new comb in the 12 days. Two of their original 5 frames were 90% plus covered in capped honey. I moved one of them to the back of the hive. Their other 3 original frames were covered in part stores and part brood at all stages. I left them in the middle where they were before. Should I move the other full frame of honey to the back too? I'm thinking that if they're completed, then they should go to one side leaving the girls space to work on other things.
I hived the small cast today, limiting them with a dummy board to six frames. They have only drawn half a frame of new comb, and are laying in the manky old comb which first attracted them to my bait hive. No stores obvious to me, so I've left them with 1/2 pt 1.1 sugar syrup in a super above. The syrup leaked a bit, but hopefully won't do them any harm. Am hoping the warmer weather will encourage them to draw more comb......I must be patient!!

 

[Erichalfbee]

I would have Insulated dummy frame (say a bit of 50mm Kingspan or such)store frame/foundation/brood/foundation/store frame. Add foundation inside store frame as needed till you are up to a full box. I might consider leaving the inspection tray in

 

[MJBee]

Routine inspection revealed a supercedure under way!!

All was normal - stores and brood in all stages then OH OH a single sealed queen cell on frame 5, on the centre of the frame 1" from the top. I turned the frame over and on the other side was the marked (blue) queen going about her business as normal. Rest of the frames didn't throw up any surprises.

I've left them to it

 

[Monsieur Abeille]

Snuck away early from work for a late afternoon inspection. Friendly hive in middle of Bailey change to 14x12 - frames nicely drawn out but not much moved up there apart from a smattering of nectar and pollen. Downstairs DN box pretty full. Stores downstairs scraped to encourage moving them up.

Nasty hive a lot less nasty that it was (was 2/10, now 4/10). Had seen a few grubs last week and delighted to see loads of capped brood yesterday. Don't know if its a queen they've raised themselves from a QC I missed, or the last bought in one making it through - hope the latter, suspect the former. But either way I'm now confident the colony will survive and if they get nasty again then I've a farmer friend who can stick them in a remote field.

Went out again after 8 just to watch them at the entrance. No hassle given or recieved. Bliss.

 

[greatbritishhoney]

What a great day in the apiary today!
Firstly - no stings, always a bonus.
Secondly, the queen in the AS I did a month or so ago is now mated and laying well. I was becoming convinced she had absconded.
Thirdly, there is a queen in a nuc I made up about a month ago that I would swear the bees had torn down the original queen cell. She, too, is mated and laying well.
Fourthly, the chalkbrood in one of my colonies seems to have pretty much cleared up without treatment.
And finally, the colony from hell were like pussycats today. Due to two factors I believe - the improvement in the weather and the fact that I moved the BB about 20 ft away to do the inspection.

Main lesson learned: be patient and listen to the good advice given on this forum!

 

[oliver90owner]

I located some spring-sown OSR and asked if a householder knew who farmed it. Upshot was: this person had already invited for hives on his (fairly substantial) patch some time ago, but no response, so I am now installing some colonies for a second go at the OSR. Obviously missed some of it, but another contact, aother site and possibly another beekeeper eventually.

RAB

 

[nikca]

Great - a bonus colony - just wrong species...

My first Nuc arrived yesterday. Went for a look this evening - seem settled, and most are now flying straight out without having a good look at the house to try and remember what it looks like.

Then I thought to myself - "Hmm... thats a loud bee coming back". I think those in France know whats next... a queen European hornet and a few friends seemed to be investigating my pigeon holes in the barn wall. Thats a good 15 feet from the new hive . NOT where I want them!

Then I went to get some tea and think about it. 15 minutes later, returned to the kitchen to feed the cat and found they were now considering my kitchen as a home.

I am assuming that huge one is a Queen. It was certainly scary as it followed me around the kitchen!

 

[Chris Luck]

Nothing to worry about, they nick a few bees from time to time but not a threat as such, you can relax, I have loads of them every year, I don't even notice them any more.

It's the Asian Hornet that causes the problems if they are close by because they specialise in honey bees.

Chris

 

[Michaelf]

Did a routine inspection, got stung several times by the nasty colony but all seems well.
Plenty of stores, pollen, and brood in all stages

 

[nikca]

I wasn't too worried Chris - I just don't want them in the kitchen!

 

[mannky]

There seemed to be more water under my veil today than in the local swimming pool I went to later. And the water was not caused by Rain! I inspected my nasty colony and found very young larvae and stores and room to grow but was sweating too much to pay respects to HM. These bees even seen to have a gene which seeks out the most vulnerable zip bit between the veil and the suit. I bung it with blue tack. I hope the blue tack is not giving off a scent that attracts them... got my order from Th to unpack