What did you do in the Apiary today?

[Chris Luck]

Took out the inspection boards after having them in for 8 days (a bit long I know but just didn't get around to it). Counts were 0, 0, 2, 8, 30 and 40... Guess the oxalic will be coming out for a couple of them at least. The two worst affected were swarms collected mid-summer.

And there are STILL damn wasps around - chilly today so not much bee activity, wasps wandering in and out at will - thankfully not too many though.

Strange world, no wasps or hornets here for a month and bees generally staying at home apart from perhaps an hour in the afternoon if the sun shines.

Chris

 

[user 6228]

It would have been a different story if you had hit the power lines. I hope they were insulated ones lol.

I forgot to mention the wind was blowing them on to the road and the power lines, so we had a tractor and rope to "persuade" them to fall the right way.
but since this was a hedge that got away about 25 yrs ago it was a mess from about 4ft off the ground. We could have dismantled instead of clean felling but we would have been there still.

 

[VEG]

They are the devils curse lol


Craig

 

[madasafish]

Moved two TBH nucs about 15 meters in the garden. Hard frost so few bees came out in the process - I was too lazy to block entrances.

I intend to transfer them to Langstroths in spring so placed them on the (new) hive stand I built for the purpose

 

[beehive1234]

Forgive me but they are angels when the neighbour at right angles has a decking with 4x 200 watt lights and a 500 wat light above them and the decking is 10 foot high.
In my new house garden my Christmas tree must be 80 foot. Lots of pollen.

 

[pargyle]

Forgive me but they are angels when the neighbour at right angles has a decking with 4x 200 watt lights and a 500 wat light above them and the decking is 10 foot high.
In my new house garden my Christmas tree must be 80 foot. Lots of pollen.

Mine went in as 6' saplings 30 years ago when my neighbour cut down a complete 100 year old yew hedge (with TPO on it) that completely blocked the view of the backs of other houses ... his excuse 'his garden wasn't big enough'. Council did nothing ... So, I sorted it my own way. My conifers from hell now screen our garden from the view of gable ends .... mind you, they do need trimming every year and sometimes twice a year !

 

[Suzi Q]

Took out the inspection boards after having them in for 8 days (a bit long I know but just didn't get around to it). Counts were 0, 0, 2, 8, 30 and 40... Guess the oxalic will be coming out for a couple of them at least. The two worst affected were swarms collected mid-summer.

And there are STILL damn wasps around - chilly today so not much bee activity, wasps wandering in and out at will - thankfully not too many though.

I'm getting that as well, the wasp thing, probing, until they find an entrance undefended and they nip in. Also found some bees, still moving, with their abdomens ripped open.

 

[VEG]

Finally got round to melting down my cappings wax. It will get another go again tomorrow to make sure it is nice and clean.

 

[Swarm]

Finally got round to melting down my cappings wax. It will get another go again tomorrow to make sure it is nice and clean.

That reminds me, two buckets and a couple of other containers. I'm going to have to get around to sorting the cappings out.

 

[curry756]

Applied oxalic acid by dribble to my 7 hives today. Temp 6C but a couple of hives rather frisky and stung newbie who had decided not to suit-up

Hello,

I am a new to beekeeping so apologies for the questioning. I need to apply oxalic acid to my two hives - is it not a bit early for this now? Its still rather warm and we haven't had a hard frost yet?

Thanks

PC -

 

[user 6228]

Mine went in as 6' saplings 30 years ago when my neighbour cut down a complete 100 year old yew hedge (with TPO on it) that completely blocked the view of the backs of other houses ... his excuse 'his garden wasn't big enough'. Council did nothing ... So, I sorted it my own way. My conifers from hell now screen our garden from the view of gable ends .... mind you, they do need trimming every year and sometimes twice a year !

It was my 6m leylandii hedge(came with the house) that made me get a top handle chainsaw. Every two years I have to get up on top balance on cut trunk tops and saw it down to the previous point - 300mm.its now 4m. The other leylandii that came with the house are now gone.

 

[pargyle]

Yes .... exactly, chain saw, petrol hedgetrimmer, long handled lopper, short handled telescopicn ratchet loppers and (as I'm getting a bit too old to bounce along on the top of Leylandii hedges) an aluminium tower with integral stairs !!

Great for geriatric cleaning of gutters as well !

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Great for geriatric cleaning of gutters as well !

Do you get many geriatrics clogging up your gutters then?

 

[madasafish]

Yes

Great for geriatric cleaning of gutters as well !

Hmm your gutters are obviously not very high and teh land underneath is level..

I need to use a double extending ladder, some timber to level the base and a strong drink afterwards...Just been up replacing some plastic downpipes which came adrift in last night's wind (the retaining screws had rusted away.. new ones of brass)

 

[Norfolk]

I have been making frames this afternoon.
Great fun
This evening I'm planing a session with the tweezers to see if I can get all the splinters out of my fingers.

 

[Goran]

Morning -4C, midday around 7C. Bees stretched their wings on sun after approx a week of temps around zero.. Just watched them fly.
Pics are from today, in morning frost, after few hours it is gone..

 

[user 6228]

one or two bees bringing in pollen... late xmas shopping I suppose

 

[pargyle]

Do you get many geriatrics clogging up your gutters then?

No ... more the likelihood of a geriatric hanging from them when I used to do it from a ladder !!

 

[pargyle]

Hmm your gutters are obviously not very high and teh land underneath is level..

I need to use a double extending ladder, some timber to level the base and a strong drink afterwards...Just been up replacing some plastic downpipes which came adrift in last night's wind (the retaining screws had rusted away.. new ones of brass)

Ha ... just a modern two storey house for me but it's the prospect of landing on the paved patio that sent me off to buy a tower ! I've got five 'lifts' (sections) that will get me up to about 30 feet (with stabilisers) although it's a bit scary getting the platforms up to the top ! Still can't reach the full height of the gable end chimney though and it's got a plant growing out of it ....

 

[clv101]

12C in Bristol today and all hives flying ~20 comings and goings per minute, a few coming back with pollen.