What did you do in the Apiary today?

[einsteinagogo]

did a detailed inspection today as per this thread and fix my "queen included issue", must be a mad beekeeper to do an inspection today at 1pm, my electronic thermometer was reading 35.6 degrees C, think it was wrong, but was very hot in a full bee suite.

but the bees seemed a lot calmer, and less of them, at 1pm, so I think in future, good time to inspect (maybe).

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Beginners day at the association apiary today. got there early to do a bit of trashing, but another member arrived same time as me, I'd forgotten that urgent repairs were needed to the storage shed door so started on that instead - decided to have a quick peek in my hive to se the state of play with the QC (swarmed over a week ago loads of QC's so decided to split as I had planned increase on this one) Queen had emerged so all the beginners got to see a classic big fat vacated QC with hinged door swinging. Did nothing else in there - just closed up and will leave alone for a few weeks.
Did a bit of trashing, but due to one of the other members doing a rather invasive inspection on his (extremely, love them) feisty colony had to do it in full bee suit so after twenty minutes and almost passing out, left it until midweek sometime! One of his bees not only followed me out of the apiary, but carried on chasing the car for two hundred yards!

 

[kighill]

Lost some hard won bees

Concluded today however started yesterday.
I spent about three hours inside a very very hot attic and bathroom recovering some bees which had taken up residence.
Having cut through the KIngspan loft insulation I located the bees in the roof space in the bathroom. I next chopped through the bathroom sealing and exposed the bees. Diligently recovered all of the comb complete with brood, I then fixed a swarm box next to the hole in the ceiling in the hope the bees would enter the box.
I returned at 21.30 no bees left in the roof void so sealed the box, having done this I was informed a swarm had been seen in a nearby tree (12 feet high)
I climbed up a ladder captured the bees in a Heath Robinson made on the spot contraption FELL OFF the ladder placed the bees in a skep leaving the skep in situation.
I then returned very early this morning and recovered the complete swarm, YES it was the bees out of the roof space, the swarm box was empty.
On arrival home some 10 miles away I hived the swarm, I saw the queen enter the hive so was very excited.
Unfortunately two hours later the hive was empty and my hard work was undone.

I have not seen the bees since.

By now I expect a few nods in agreement that Beekeeping is often a challenge, however please do not feel sorry for me.

THE NEXT BIT USUALLY HAPPENS TO PEOPLE WHO YOU NEVER MEET OR SEE.

Did I receive a financial reward for my endeavours NO.

I RECEIVED A BRAND NEW TH???ES WBC HIVE COMPLETE WITH INNER BOXES AND FRAMES.

The householders had planned on becoming Beekeepers but decided against it and being so happy with the service and result decided my Apiary would be the ideal place for the WBC.

The moral of my story is not to gloat but just to remember.

IT'S NICE TO BE NICE

 

[Tabby15]

Super, brood, hooray!!

Hubbie on point duty due to operation on my wrist so i was observer only. Inspected hive two which was a swarm we took at beginning of June. Doing so well have put super on.
Inspected hive one which swarmed right at end of may. Have been fretting over not seeing queen or eggs but yippee lots of larvae and some capped brood.
Victory dance stalled by being stung...

 

[leonotron]

Second inspection on two week old colony. Removed feeder, bees have taken 5L since I got them. 3 frames of foundation drawn out. Didn't spot the queen but plenty of eggs present. Spotted what looked like chalk brood on one of the recently drawn out frames that isn't being laid in yet, just used for stores. Slightly confusing.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Spotted what looked like chalk brood on one of the recently drawn out frames that isn't being laid in yet, just used for stores. Slightly confusing.

Pollen?

 

[leonotron]

Pollen?

Yeah, actually, that could be it. It just seemed a little sparse. They have been bringing in a lot of white coloured pollen lately so that's probably it. Thanks.

 

[lebouche]

Eventful day today.

Did my first queen marking. The bees seemed to be upset as soon as she was removed. Didn't realise they would notice she was missing so soon!
When I popped her back a few bees rushed towards her aggressively so I put her back in the marking cage and added a few bees from the brood comb one by one. They said hello to her and after a min I let them all go together and she seemed to wander round like nothing had happened.


I took a frame of young bees and brood over to my weak nuc.
Can't see any signs of disease on the nuc and figured they really need a boost.
I bought an apedia to put them in but it was a top bar design and the queens laying has picked up a little.
Sprayed them all with sugar water and vitafeed gold and smoked them then put the comb in.
They didn't fight so fingers crossed.

 

[victor meldrew]

Watered Holly hedge !
Weather hot and sunny !
Reseeded bald patches in lawn where Sasha had damaged the turf.
Sadly this won't happen again
VM

 

[Erichalfbee]

Reseeded bald patches in lawn where Sasha had damaged the turf.
Sadly this won't happen again
VM

NO VM.... There must be a Sammy rescue .......go for it!!!

 

[victor meldrew]

NO VM.... There must be a Sammy rescue .......go for it!!!

Sasha was from the Samoyed rescue society, she was 6 years old when we got her , we had her 8 years 14years old is a good age for the breed !
Trouble is ( having had my 3 score and 10 plus 6 of some one else's ) a young dog will almost certainly out live me and an older dog will have attendant health problems (more heart ache) !
She was a character and really is irreplaceable !View attachment 8989
Thank you for the thought
Regards VM

 

[Walrus]

Sorry you have lost your dog VM. It is good that you gave her a loving home - you did a good thing & I'm sure she repaid you with devotion like only dogs can.

 

[Polyanwood]

Today I was moist in my beesuit and wellies.

VM perhaps you aren't ready for another dog. Could live to 100 though. We would miss a lot of fun if we all just put things on hold and waited......

what about a foster dog? You would make a fantastic dog foster carer

 

[Alabamaeee]

VM sorry for your loss. My advice is to get another, it will keep you young!

 

[pigletwillie]

With it being so hot during the day I have just done my inspections. Three hives resulting from AS have eggs and lots of them, a fourth I have reduced to one big fat sealed queen cell so I am a happy bunny there.

Of my three original colonies, one has built a classic supercedure queen cell, just one and smack bang in the middle of the frame. The original queen is of a lovely temperament but is very slow when it comes to laying. As a 2012 queen she may not have been mated properly so I am leaving well alone. Another of the originals is a bit full and has for a second time made queen cells so I will be doing an AS tomorrow. This is a very prolific queen and her daughter in one of the splits already has brood over three frames compared to just one on the others. The last one is just bumbling along quite nicely.

All in all, I am a happy beek today.

 

[victor meldrew]

Today I was moist in my beesuit and wellies.

Love the pun ?
VM

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

Dug a hasty small rock-filled pond (40 ft from the apiary). ****** got me all fired up with an email about nuc collection a week ago then-silence. Nervous energy to wear off as my bees are enjoying this beautiful weather somewhere else.

 

[MonseigneurBienvenu]

Today, I've spent the morning visiting the hive, checking up. Yesterday, I topped up a nuc with frames and dummy board (going from three to six), seeing that as of this weekend it is occupied by a small swarm. It was fun, as due to not so perfect positioning for humans I have to balance of top of a ladder, head up a tree, to manipulate this one.

Thankful for the marvellous weather, which will surely help them along!

Kind regards,

A

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

Also I swear I saw a black bee (landed). Thought it was a drone at first.

 

[Queens59]

We did an inspection and tried no smoke but sprayer - my girls did not approve - and both of us well stung.

Emma my 'I'm only laying in one super' Queen has finally realised that she has a whole hive and has taken over the BB - yeah, moving the boxes around worked . Swarm I thought to be superceding (but tore down the cell)...is now Q- with no way of making a cell so gave a test frame. We shall see what happens.

Otherwise they seem to be better all round apart from the 'where's our smoke?' attitude. My lovely QC hatched Buckfast is laying the prettiest comb ...I tried to get a picture. she is laying lovely but missing a circle of 5-6 cells which look like flowers (Sorry, excessive female moment )