What did you do in the Apiary today?

[TryingToLetThemBee]

Good box....like mine
You need to paint it though. The weather and UV degrade the foil.

After considering "fabric-reinforced paint", I think I am going to skin it in ply.

 

[44Whitehall]

Having a look in on the bees yesterday to check they are preparing nicely for winter. It was a sunny and warm afternoon but the girls were feisty and I suffered stings through my suit.

Fixture abandoned, to be rescheduled for another warm afternoon soon.

 

[Tremyfro]

It's going to be another lovely day today.
My containers are full of syrup...ready for feeding.
Everything smells of thymol.....
.......still .....it keeps everyone out of my kitchen and no-one is asking for food...bargain!

 

[nantmoel]

It's going to be another lovely day today.
My containers are full of syrup...ready for feeding.
Everything smells of thymol.....
.......still .....it keeps everyone out of my kitchen and no-one is asking for food...bargain!

I agree you only have to look at 'Thymol' and the smell is on you for the day! Best to wear disposable gloves when 'dishing' it out to the bees.

 

[Erichalfbee]

It's going to be another lovely day today.
My containers are full of syrup...ready for feeding.
Everything smells of thymol.....
.......still .....it keeps everyone out of my kitchen and no-one is asking for food...bargain!

My husband doesn't notice.............alas.

Walking at the back of the hives this morning he remarked that they smell nicely of honey.
To me they STINK

 

[Plenty of honey]

A ratchet strap would solve that problem. It holds everything together nicely during transport.

Of course your completely correct B+!!! Just trying to cut corners and save time!!

 

[user 6228]

Just the joints. Inside and out, though inside is a pain, so mark three had the joints sealed with bathroom silicone inside. Mark one was left out in the winter without painting, whereupon the foil flaked off, so that one has ally tape all over, then paint

Recticel doesnt flake off, celotex, kingspan do...

 

[Erichalfbee]

Recticel doesnt flake off, celotex, kingspan do...

Mine are Recticel. The wet Welsh weather does them in without paint and something else attacks the corners.

 

[madasafish]

Mine are Recticel. The wet Welsh weather does them in without paint and something else attacks the corners.

Mine are Celotex. I paint them and nothing flakes off. ( I use Aldi Metal Paint £5 /liter.

 

[chrisb]

I actually like the smell of thymol, strange I know .. lol
got around to taking a spacer rim off, they had filled it with brace, not surprised and she had laid up with drone brood so that got raked out

 

[Chriszog]

Topped up the feeders, 6 pints on each hive disappeared in 4 days!!

 

[B+.]

Topped up the feeders, 6 pints on each hive disappeared in 4 days!!

Walk into any pub and it will disappear in seconds

 

[user 6228]

Mine are Recticel. The wet Welsh weather does them in without paint and something else attacks the corners.

if the water pools it can be a problem so I use an ally (1.5mm thick) roof cover .
but the sides last bare for at least a couple of years, then its just gloss paint. Blue tits attack the corners if the hive is less than a metre from the hedge...

 

[Millet]

if the water pools it can be a problem so I use an ally (1.5mm thick) roof cover .
but the sides last bare for at least a couple of years, then its just gloss paint. Blue tits attack the corners if the hive is less than a metre from the hedge...

So to Chickens, i had a few bits spare laid it the garden and the Indian Game fowl have destroyed it.

 

[Millet]

Removed the cosey and Fed another 4 litres of thyomol syrup in home made contact feeders in a super used as a eke, the last 4 litres i give them had totally gone.
I also checked the inspection board and it was full of Varroa so they got a third gassing, when i went to remove the kitchen towel from the entrance they was a pile of bees trying to get in with some impressive loads of yellow pollen, what could that be ? .

 

[Erichalfbee]

if the water pools it can be a problem so I use an ally (1.5mm thick) roof cover .Blue tits attack the corners if the hive is less than a metre from the hedge...

Roof cover seems a good idea

So to Chickens, i had a few bits spare laid it the garden and the Indian Game fowl have destroyed it.

Perhaps both blue tits and fowl don't like their reflections.

 

[Webby]

Refilled my rapid feeder. They are emptying it in two days at the mo,and lots of pollen still coming in too.

 

[Webby]

Removed the cosey and Fed another 4 litres of thyomol syrup in home made contact feeders in a super used as a eke, the last 4 litres i give them had totally gone.
I also checked the inspection board and it was full of Varroa so they got a third gassing, when i went to remove the kitchen towel from the entrance they was a pile of bees trying to get in with some impressive loads of yellow pollen, what could that be ? .

I'm having the same with large loads of pollen. Is it ivy?

 

[Millet]

Roof cover seems a good idea



Perhaps both blue tits and fowl don't like their reflections.

I do not think it is that Erica as the chooks go for the exposed foam and not the silver.

 

[Millet]

I'm having the same with large loads of pollen. Is it ivy?

No idea but i do know the ivy on the track has not started to flower yet, they may have found a spot where it is flowering though.