What did you do in the Apiary today?

[Newbeeneil]

Arrived at a hive this morning that I was going to put a clearer board on to remove two supers only to find the QX resting against the front of the hive! Doh!!
She's laid a few cells up so it looks like I may have to wait 3 week before extracting that one...........

 

[maz0]

Arrived at a hive this morning that I was going to put a clearer board on to remove two supers only to find the QX resting against the front of the hive! Doh!!
She's laid a few cells up so it looks like I may have to wait 3 week before extracting that one...........

Done that last week...shook them into brood chamber and replaced QX - there was some capped drone that I wasn't sure whether to cut out or leave be so I left it...probably not enjoying their super sized prison cell right now if they hatched...

 

[XYZ]

Had a decent enough inspection today but just quickly, I had to take out a frame where the comb was sticking out real far, almost to the foundation of the next frame. I cut out the capped honey (first taste of honey from our colonies) and it is delicious of course.

See pic below, what you do in this situation? I'd stick it in the middle of the garden but I hear that's dangerous. I'm all showered now and don't fancy putting my jacket n veil back on to give them the frame back. Any ideas?

 

[coatesg]

Trim it flush and give it back. Could wrap in cling film and freeze for the moment - don't leave it out or it will encourage a robbing frenzy of bees and wasps.....

 

[coatesg]

Did 5min in the suit to go and open the tab up on queen cage - all very calm in there. Wasp traps working overtime.

Way too hot to do anything else! Bearding bees out front of main hives!

 

[The Poot in Somerset]

Spent most of the day cleaning frames and a very mucky brood box.
Also getting rid of some wax moth infested comb.
Too hot to bother the bees that seem a little more feisty than usual.
Wasps are getting about, so traps will go out tomorrow.

 

[XYZ]

Trim it flush and give it back. Could wrap in cling film and freeze for the moment - don't leave it out or it will encourage a robbing frenzy of bees and wasps.....

Cheers for the tip - I stuck two shallow boxes on as that's all I have, and sat the frame in them. Bees were at it straight away.

When should I go back in to take the frame and shallow boxes?

 

[XYZ]

So today's run down, inspection in order:

Colony 4 - big swarm still doing well. Brood getting capped. Nice and strong. Hopefully will build stronger. Didn't end up putting any near-emerging brood in. Also didn't add super. They still have some comb to draw on what they have.

Colony 1 - saw queen but no sign she's doing anything. I have a nice apidea queen so she will be getting replaced. Took out fat frame of honey and had a taster. Replaced that frame and another of foundation with the best two from micro swarm (3)

Colony 3 - micro swarm. End of the road. A relative wanted the queen for their apidea so collected her yesterday. I picked out the good frames and gave to colony 1. Tipped them out on the grass. Hive 3 now inactive

Colony 2 - with the oldest queen. Still going strong. I could take some brood to put in with swarm (4) but really, they'll be ready to emerge themselves next week won't they? 3 weeks?

So my questions:

1. Pretty much all of micro swarm bees marched into colony 1 - will they play nice?

2. How long does colony 1 have to be queenless before I can put apidea queen in?

3. What do I do with apidea brood frames when queen has been relocated?

 

[Millet]

Had a decent enough inspection today but just quickly, I had to take out a frame where the comb was sticking out real far, almost to the foundation of the next frame. I cut out the capped honey (first taste of honey from our colonies) and it is delicious of course.

See pic below, what you do in this situation? I'd stick it in the middle of the garden but I hear that's dangerous. I'm all showered now and don't fancy putting my jacket n veil back on to give them the frame back. Any ideas?

The bees will do that J..in future just leave them to it till the frame/frames fully capped OSR dependent..regarding that unfinished frame..stick it straight back where you took it from..

 

[Erichalfbee]

So my questions:

1. Pretty much all of micro swarm bees marched into colony 1 - will they play nice?

2. How long does colony 1 have to be queenless before I can put apidea queen in?

3. What do I do with apidea brood frames when queen has been relocated?

Yes
You are putting in a laying queen so you don’t need to wait
Put them in a super?

 

[XYZ]

Thanks Steve, Erica,

I had already replaced the frame with a decent one from the colony I tipped out. They seem quiet right now to be fair.

How soon do I need to remove the frame sat in the two shallow boxes? As in, how soon will the bees have cleaned it up?

Neighbours have mentioned they have wasps in the ground near their bamboo. Killed 4 during inspection, another two flying by my bins, and one was in my veil when I went to go back out - stung me in the neck. Weird little skinny thing but deffo a wasp. They were different types too, I'm guessing a few nests nearby. Not fancying setting out traps either as it may serve more as an attractant.

 

[XYZ]

Woke up early, so went out and took out frame and two shallow boxes. Replaced CB and roof.

Took queen from apidea and placed in queenless colony. She got a lot of attention. I didn't stick about.

Now to get the apidea frames into shallow frames and shake the box out. Maybe in a few days time.

 

[maz0]

Cheers for the tip - I stuck two shallow boxes on as that's all I have, and sat the frame in them. Bees were at it straight away.

When should I go back in to take the frame and shallow boxes?

Is that a Mario themed hive?

 

[GuyNir]

Started looking at couple of hives today. The girls very quickly signaled this is not a good day to open up hives (grey and cloudy). Closed everything up, there’s always another day.

 

[simonforeman]

Checked hives yesterday before heading off for a weeks holidays...
All queen right and the flow looks to of slowed. Super frames are now 1/2 capped so hopefully can extract when I return.

Now on way to Tenby Wales

 

[XYZ]

Is that a Mario themed hive?

Hahaha it was a mess! I grabbed anything I could to get it all set up. The top two are off now so it looks a lot better haha

 

[BMH]

Made 50 x wooden underfloor entrances.

Need to add the mesh still.

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[maz0]

Made 50 x wooden underfloor entrances.

Need to add the mesh still.

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Planning on expanding?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

started the rounds putting on clearer boards, another few apiaries to do tomorrow and Sunday

 

[BMH]

Planning on expanding?

Yep. Already got the splits in nucs and have the brood boxes and supers. Just the floors and roofs needed for their home!

I'll still probably only overwinter 50 colonies plus nucs but need room for flexibility over the season.

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