What did you do in the Apiary today?

[Buzzlodge]

we could just assume chemical descriptions refer to licensed products were such exist.

In fact correct procedure would be to mention the active ingredient, in this case oxalic acid, not the brand name.

 

[Swarm]

How much??
No bees fall of the cluster that I can see.

Collected a swarm last Summer, they are currently in a Maisemore double nuc. Hefting on Monday and the slight tilt involved was enough to have them spilling out, sounded like dried peas being poured into the nuc.
I reckon a few taps would have brought the lot out

 

[drex]

Since there is nothing I can do to rectify a dead out etc at this time of year, I just let mine be. After OAV, varroa boards give me an indication of the state of the colony. Tapping the box is to satisfy my own inquisitiveness, not for the sake of my bees. Have not acted on that desire since my first couple of years

 

[BeeKeyPlayer]

But perhaps rather than shut conversations down or suggest post edits, we could just assume chemical descriptions refer to licensed products where such exist.
BIAB

Wise words!

 

[Monbees]

Use a stethoscope... it’s much easier!

Just ordered a stethoscope!

 

[StephenT]

5 degrees and the ‘buckfast’ hive is quite active. They must be desperate for a and/or water. The two mongrel hives don’t seem to be as inclined to come out in this weather.

 

[The Poot]

Just stashed away frames and foundation ordered in the sales. Extremely quick turnaround and well packed by Paynes.

 

[madasafish]

No if your trickling liquid it’s fine if your intention is to clean the wood.....the op does not say his intention was to kill varroa.

He can say what he likes. Any legal case would say it's the wrong time to clean a hive...and the right time to treat varroa.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I would suggest you remove your post.. Illegal treatments are bad enough: advertising it on a forum is just plain...

since when has it been illegal to trickle OA? it seems to be the favoured method for Apibioxial

 

[Somerford]

So today a day of 'WORK' work , interspersed with brief glances at beekeeping emails and the forum to break things up a bit

But yesterday - achieved alot - honey melting apace, jarring in the evening, frame rendering and steam steralising in the Konegin during the day and then my afternoon was spent re-foundationing (if that's a word) 15 supers which I soon rattled through.

Amazing how much faster it is when the frame is nice and clean and already assembled isn't it ?

The only possible upshot from this lockdown 3.0 is a continued demand for local honey from local outlets....let's hope it lasts

 

[victor meldrew]

Every picture tells a story ?

 

[victor meldrew]

Every Picture tells a story??

 

[victor meldrew]

The hives minus snow on their roofs contain live colonies !
the rest are spare hives .
hence every picture tells a story.!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

The hives minus snow on their roofs contain live colonies !

The snow stays on mine thanks to the 50mm celotex inside the roofs

 

[victor meldrew]

The snow stays on mine thanks to the 50mm celotex inside the roofs

Mine have 100mm !
I kid You not !

 

[Erichalfbee]

Checked some of mine. Even the rescue late cut out has bees. I feared they were all dead.

 

[E&MBees]

Hefted and weighed the bees today. It weighed 65.5lbs or 29.7kgs. Down from 69lbs at the end of November. It felt heavy. It’s a cedar national, standard brood box. Weighed without roof in place.
Is this an ok weight for this time of year?

 

[StephenT]

Hefted and weighed the bees today. It weighed 65.5lbs or 29.7kgs. Down from 69lbs at the end of November. It felt heavy. It’s a cedar national, standard brood box. Weighed without roof in place.
Is this an ok weight for this time of year?

What weight are you judging it to be empty? With stand and floor but not roof I calculated about 13.5kg for a single brood box. If about the same then you would have over 30lbs of stores in there still.

 

[E&MBees]

What weight are you judging it to be empty? With stand and floor but not roof I calculated about 13.5kg for a single brood box. If about the same then you would have over 30lbs of stores in there still.

Thanks for the reassurance. It’s only my second winter. 2020 was a difficult year, so feeling nervous about the winter. I weighed them without the stand as I have eye bolts into the omf. So included in the 65lbs is the omf, brood box, bees & frames obviously! and a poly crown board. Using your weights, they should be ok for a bit longer. Thanks

 

[Murox]

Thanks for the reassurance. It’s only my second winter. 2020 was a difficult year, so feeling nervous about the winter. I weighed them without the stand as I have eye bolts into the omf. So included in the 65lbs is the omf, brood box, bees & frames obviously! and a poly crown board. Using your weights, they should be ok for a bit longer. Thanks

1 B.S. brood frame, full on both sides, holds about 5lb (2.26kg). Ted Hooper recommended 40-45lb (18 – 21kg approx)of stores for the winter.