What did you do in the Apiary today?

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Second dose of apiguard at the association hive and distributed Invert syrup to those members who ordered it (ably assisted by Redwood I may add thanks!!) realised that the 'spare' apiguard trays which i had taken home were for the hives of one of the members who uses our apiary. Our chairman had turned up to help put them on as the bees are a bunch of absolute vicious psychopaths (and that's being generous) - i'll now have to go down on my own to do it during my lunch break
Then hung around a pub car park and exchanged some Invert syrup for wads of cash proferred by some foreigner who turned up there - Nice to meet Ericahalfbee in the flesh!!

 

[Tim.S]

Spending my evening jarring honey - 120lbs, not much this year but enough for our needs. Spent my year getting up to 6 really strong hives now all treated and fed with 100kg of syrup. I am confident for next years crop, but then I always have a plan for next year. Just ask me again next year!

 

[Erichalfbee]

Foreigners bearing wads of cash can't be bad.......
The meeting might yet cost me dear in fishing licences

 

[VEG]

Took off the last of the supers today. 16 full the others not much in them. I am half way through extracting and will finish tomorrow.
One colony that I thought was queenless did have a new queen which was i
laying in the supers, no brood in the brood box so she must have mated, got through the queen excluder and got stuck above it after fattening up.

 

[Putnamsmif]

Fed some syrup. Did a quick inspection. I know many people don't inspect at this time of year but my rationale being I need to learn as much as I can and a quick peek to see the state of stores is going to help me a lot - there's no point or use in 'hefting' if I have no idea how much I'm actually hefting if you see what I mean?

Then panicked because neither hive had eggs or brood! The bees don't seem too concerned though and were busy bringing in bright yellow pollen. I'm assuming their majesties are on an apiguard enforced break. Too late now to do anything about it but just hope they know what they're doing - they usually do as has been pointed out before.

 

[Margaret Elisabeth]

Took off the last of the supers today. 16 full the others not much in them. I am half way through extracting and will finish tomorrow.
One colony that I thought was queenless did have a new queen which was i
laying in the supers, no brood in the brood box so she must have mated, got through the queen excluder and got stuck above it after fattening up.

Maybee she just fancied a bijou little hi-rise.

 

[Margaret Elisabeth]

Kept myself amused by watching bees que up to feed from the sprayer (Nozzle)I used to spray syrup and essential oils on to the brood frames and then forgot to put it away.
Swelling from sting on Thursday has gone, just a little itchy now and then. After trying everything else I resorted to the old fashioned remedy of vinegar. I react quite badly and had hives around the sting area. All better now.

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

Completed a 180-degree turn as part of the move to a winter position, and had a quick rummage through the colony. All looking v good and pollen/nectar still POURING in. Neon orange, cream and grey. Rolled about 400 bees in sugar, looking for varroa-none found-then held 5 little funerals :-(

 

[Hachi]

Found out stings on the chin flippin hurt!

 

[REDWOOD]

Found out stings on the chin flippin hurt!

Hence the retro veil

 

[REDWOOD]

Second dose of apiguard at the association hive and distributed Invert syrup to those members who ordered it (ably assisted by Redwood I may add thanks!!) realised that the 'spare' apiguard trays which i had taken home were for the hives of one of the members who uses our apiary. Our chairman had turned up to help put them on as the bees are a bunch of absolute vicious psychopaths (and that's being generous) - i'll now have to go down on my own to do it during my lunch break
Then hung around a pub car park and exchanged some Invert syrup for wads of cash proferred by some foreigner who turned up there - Nice to meet Ericahalfbee in the flesh!!

I'm only to pleased to help but if it was to put the Apigaurd on the bunch of absolute vicious psychopaths bees you would not see me for dust

 

[youngyoungs]

Fed two hives, both guzzling down the syrup. On the other hand, the nuc isn't taking any syrup, and doesn't have much in the way of stores.....

 

[Erichalfbee]

Test the nuc for nosema?

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

Wish I was there, watching and listening to the beeline. Stunning foraging day in London.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Put second dose of Apiguard on Garn cottage hives - it's evident now that the (well, darker bees anyway) bees are hunkering down for winter - cluster sizes smaller than a few weeks ago but I think that the reported brood breaks have a part as well - bees still working hard on the balsam. Melted down this years cappings amd made some wax blocks for showing. Ir'sa amazing, even after being lovingly washed in vodka and fresh water how much slumgum has come off just the purest of white wax . Now girding my loins for a visit to the association apiary tomorrow and the phsychoturbonutter bees

 

[ichbinpaul]

Put second dose of Apiguard on Garn cottage hives - it's evident now that the (well, darker bees anyway) bees are hunkering down for winter - cluster sizes smaller than a few weeks ago but I think that the reported brood breaks have a part as well - bees still working hard on the balsam. Melted down this years cappings amd made some wax blocks for showing. Ir'sa amazing, even after being lovingly washed in vodka and fresh water how much slumgum has come off just the purest of white wax . Now girding my loins for a visit to the association apiary tomorrow and the phsychoturbonutter bees

I hope you have your north sea survival suit on, goggles an all, Ill be there in spirit with my blue invisible suit on.

 

[youngyoungs]

Test the nuc for nosema?

good idea.

 

[Headnavigator]

Came home this afternoon to find one hive calm but active, as usual. Second hive was surrounded by upset, noisy bees on a right rant and the heavy well-fitting roof (yes, one of yours, HM) was half off as though it had been lifted from one side and pushed forward. Fortunately hive was still waterproof as it has an eke with insulation and another with a feeder above the broodbox. I'm baffled as I cannot see what might have done it except a human, and nothing else but the bees appeared disturbed. The hive is on a stand and I wouldn't have thought a badger could have even reached the roof. Any thoughts?
(Needless to say both roofs strapped on now just in case).

 

[Limousin Lass]

Have watched badgers climb an 8' high block wall to get at a molasses feeder in the dry cow yard.
CCTV = Calving Cows TV

 

[Chris Luck]

Not a good video but shows the levels of activity here today on Ivy, all colonies the same and dull overcast weather.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQsBbAbBCTA"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQsBbAbBCTA[/ame]

Chris