What did you do in the Apiary today?

[Erichalfbee]

Lets hope they end up being one of your strongest colonies come summer time.

Poly nucs have been a real game changer where it comes to nursing **** colonies through a mild winter, I dont think I've lost a single colony barring those with failed queens.

I don't hold out much hope but it brought a tear to my eye....bees! who'd have 'em?

 

[Somerford]

Is THAT how you lay a hedge in Wales ?!!


S

 

[Somerford]

new out apiary

Took a visit to discuss the 2nd new out apiary this year - all WBCs and had a good chat to a couple of master thatchers working overtime thatching 2 purpose built garden granaries on old staddle stones.

Fell about crying with laughter as while the gardener and I were chatting about the world, my youngest who'd been trying to get as close to the geese as possible suddenly squawked and took off as fast as his little legs could carry him hotly pursued by one of the Ganders who too umbrage at his personal space being abused.

Funniest thing I've seen in a week or two and the Thatchers almost fell off the roof in hysterics too.

Goose survived as did my youngest's pride to live another day ;-))

As for the apiary - just need to convince the site owner that lining up WBCs may look attractive but not great from a drifting point of view and the ground he'd selected isn't level enough so a bit of work to do there too.

KR

S

 

[Goran]

White pollen, orange pollen, red pollen, "dirty" yellow pollen..Sunny, about 16 celsius. Meadow full of bees.. I could make inspections, but delayed due to other jobs I unfortunatelly have.. But maybe better to leave them in peace when work so hard..

Today reprise..
Only a bit warmer 17-18 celsius..
Nearby apiary has scales, said it was in plus today, nectar pouring.. It is said mostly there are 4-5 frames of brood.. That is something usual for now. Till 1 st april it should be about 6-7 frames..
I still didn't inspect. Will do if not tomorrow afternoon, for a next weekend..

 

[For want of a better word]

Only the TBN bees /QUOTE]

Top Bar Nasties?

Too true.. that is why they got themselves ensconced in the coffin in the first place!

Nos da

 

[nantmoel]

Changed 2 crown boards today to clear ones, had a peek at down into the frames, I could see brood and loads of stores.

 

[Brian Bush]

I spent 3.5 hours in glorious sunshine cutting the grass and cutting back the brush in one out apiary today. The girls were flying and bringing in loads of pollen and they even ignored me and the mower. It was reading 15C on the car thermometer when I left at 1pm. 3 miles away at home it was 10C. At 3pm it was down to 7C. Where is Spring???

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

Declaring victory

FINALLY the highs seem to be sustaining above 10C and the 2 small fondant feeds I had applied are back to being ignored, suggesting forage is coming in. So I am calling five successfully overwintered. I don't know for sure the state of the queens but all give evidence of brooding and are 2015 queens so I'll find out in a month or so for sure at first inspection but for now am happy.

 

[victor meldrew]

Checked mine the other day . Colonies are small, queens present , bags of stores , no eggs or brood . No drones !
It's early days yet !


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[dpearce4]

some of mine are massive. some are really small on the same site. makes no sense to me

 

[victor meldrew]

Snap


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[dpearce4]

so glad its not just me vm. how many have u lost so far

 

[victor meldrew]

Just the one colony thus far !


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[newbeeinbromley]

Added syrup to three of my hives. Loads of pollen coming in all of the hives. 4 had a real mixture of colours but one only bringing in very pale grey, almost white pollen? Seems like they are the only colony that's found it! Mixture of Miller, frame and quick feeder used to find what works best. Great weather at last if only for a couple of days


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[BeeJayBee]

Great weather at last if only for a couple of days

Heavy frost this morning here, didn't lift until after 9:00

 

[drex]

All have come through so far, including two nucs in home made ply boxes. Put inspection boards in the main colonies and from the cappings, all are brooding. The very strong colony, which was building comb in the fondant eke, is now hefting ok, so they are getting forage from somewhere. Two hives still very light so they continue with fondant. Yet to inspect, despite yesterday being t shirt weather.

 

[alldigging]

Assisted with the new concrete base and path in the new apiary. That involved raking some concrete about and then being tired.

Photos will follow eventually!

 

[B+.]

Counting varroa mites on the sticky plastic insert from under the floor. As usual, I am seeing quite a variation: some have hardly any (the lowest I have found so far is 2). It is easy to believe that this is a good sign but, often, the colonies with the lowest natural mite drop do so because they have the smallest population. They fail to build up properly and are unsatisfactory in other ways too.

 

[newpete]

lidl nail staple gun

Hi bought nail/staple gun from lidl yesterday £9.99 nocked up a couple of frames including wax, turned out to be the easiest and neatest frames I have made,also picked up 1000 more nails 15mm from eBay £2.99 should see me through most of the year,best buy I've had in my short beekeeping life....

 

[madasafish]

Fed all colonies yesterday during lulls in the rain (!) - the AMM mongrels had consumed all their fondant.. Topped up feeders on other hives.

After a week of dull grey days - max temps 9C - today is bright and sunny.

Bees enjoying crapping on my newly painted gate which is about to get its second gloss coat...must finish it before the rains..