What did you do in the Apiary today?

[Xander]

Moved the hive with the prime swarm that moved in last month to my out apiary as they are seriously bad tempered bees. I've been stung loads of times by them, they've been patrolling a good 30 yards from the hive and following every chance they get. Swmbo threatened me with divorce if I didn't shift them so they're now out in the sticks with nought to bother but the badgers.
The queen will meet the gatepost next inspection ready for a new royal line.

 

[gregior]

No full inspections as it's too wet and windy but had a peep in the supers. Colonies really strong and primed for honey production but with the terrible weather only very small gains being made. If the weather could sort itself out there will be a fantastic flow on!

 

[beeboybee]

Quick check between showers - so was expecting tetchy bee's.
my split from a few days ago had produced more queens cells so cut them out leaving original Queen cell.
considering doing some late queen rearing - anything has to be better than this colony - if all else fails will combine with the better colonies.

 

[The Poot]

Whizzed round the out apiary yesterday between storms. One hive from a split at the end of May is going like a train and up to 11 frames of brood. Gave them another super.
Checked home nucs and found 4 out of 5 have requeened successfully. Marked 3 of the queens which have all laid up 2 frames of brood - all very different shapes, sizes & colours.
Couldn’t find the 4th as the nuc was absolutely bursting with bees and they had filled the roof with wild comb and honey! Need to sort them out later today when it stops raining.

Such diversity! Very politically correct bees you have - creative too!
Looks like some serious crush and strain might be in order from the nuc!

 

[user 819]

Checked on the swarm that arrived in my long hive back in May, lovely tempered quiet bees and the Q laying up 12 BS deeps. A decent amount of honey stores but as normal for long hives often never really enough to remove for surplus.
Will wait for next year and carry out an AS and harvest QC's when and if they decide to do so ( in to a vertical National) clipped the Q today so I don't lose her or the bees.

CBPV colony in the same out apiary looking really good , bees all moved when lightly smoked so signs looking very good. Again no sickly bees seen and the old duchess now laid up 17 combs, forage is steady but slow might get about 40lbs to harvest by August.
Other wise will see and hope they get thru next winter.
No wasp issues so shall leave the floor out for longer.

 

[The Poot]

Very strange day in my main apiary, did some quick inspections and rearrangements (hiving nucs and adding supers etc.) on 20 of the 26 colonies and every one seemed very up set and stinging me (I must of had 30 plus stings to my fingers and legs ( through jeans))! No obious reason as although it was a bit overcast it wasnt thundery and I had a brand new jacket on so unlikely to be any washing powder.
I treated them as usual with a warning puff of smoke to the entrance and another puff as I raised the super/crown board but the intial attack was fierce for about 30 seconds before they settled down.
As I said.... strange day.

Must have been weather related I reckon, perhaps rapidly falling pressure, or the banana scented aftershave you had used……

 

[Goran]

My friend use clove oil if want to calm down/repel attacks of bees ( spray gloves and suit and hive entrance), I don't it repels me either..

 

[elainemary]

Had a fab day at the Great Yorkshire Show. I entered a few classes for the first time (only entered my local show before). I won 6 x First prizes and a 3rd. Couldn’t believe it!
My heather came first and my heather blend was put forward for a bigger prize and it went on to win Reserve Champion (basically the best honey at County level in the show)
Dead chuffed

 

[The Poot]

Had a fab day at the Great Yorkshire Show. I entered a few classes for the first time (only entered my local show before). I won 6 x First prizes and a 3rd. Couldn’t believe it!
My heather came first and my heather blend was put forward for a bigger prize and it went on to win Reserve Champion (basically the best honey at County level in the show)
Dead chuffed

Well done! You did well in the photography and flower arrangements too? We have a star in our midst!

 

[elainemary]

Well done! You did well in the photography and flower arrangements too? We have a star in our midst!

Thankyou. Was bee friendly flowers picked from my garden and the photo was a macro photo of a bee in flight collecting nectar from crocosmia flower

 

[Goran]

Division boards in.. 1st batch, I will have to squeeze somehow in August 2nd batch.. This 1st mother queen laying the brood combs like a "bricks" ( no arches of stores, just full brood).. Have couple more awesome queens, but not time for all..
Colonies are still strong and kicking.. I am not increasing numbers of colonies due to low price for our honey, in fact if this continue will start decreasing..
Seems will have some minor extraction of linden mix honey, maybe barrel or two..

 

[Parsonage Bees]

Moved clearer boards from first couple of colonies onto smaller hives. Sorted out honey frames to put above the excluder. Some colonies are huge and not sure what is going to keep them busy. Sunny day but they are not very active. Lime, bramble - over. Some privet but not much. Clover?
Orange pollen coming in. Guessing this is dahlia or asparagus (asparagus farm about a mile away).

 

[Just Steve]

No inspection due to weather, hopefully the bees will spend the time capping the honey already stored so much I can begin reducing the amount of supers in use.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Moved clearer boards from first couple of colonies onto smaller hives. Sorted out honey frames to put above the excluder. Some colonies are huge and not sure what is going to keep them busy. Sunny day but they are not very active. Lime, bramble - over. Some privet but not much. Clover?
Orange pollen coming in. Guessing this is dahlia or asparagus (asparagus farm about a mile away).

Orange might well be clover

 

[Wilco]

A few appear to be superceding.

Pinched a few sealed frames from various colonies to make nucs up with.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Tried to consolidate two demarees and a unite. Hopeless. Have left them on double 14x12 with top boxes filling with honey
A few wasps sniffing around while I had hives open.
One colony superseding. Single queen cell cracked open. Still eggs in the hive but no sign of the first queen.

 

[Curly green finger's]

Just wishing any heather goers the best of luck, I’m prepared and moving bees , the heather has started flowering here in places .
Good luck all

Mark

Summer crop is poor at the moment we’ve had some clover and lime but not much yet still lots around but just need some consistency in the weather pls.

 

[Nannysbees]

Had a fab day at the Great Yorkshire Show. I entered a few classes for the first time (only entered my local show before). I won 6 x First prizes and a 3rd. Couldn’t believe it!
My heather came first and my heather blend was put forward for a bigger prize and it went on to win Reserve Champion (basically the best honey at County level in the show)
Dead chuffed

Well done, that's amazing, congratulations to you and your girls

 

[BeeKeyPlayer]

I found a caged queen in my pocket when I got home at 9pm last night. I wanted to make the job of returning her to the hive as quick as possible and thought of leaving her to enter through the entrance but decided against that. (I haven't done it before. Just unsure what the reception would be.) I opened the hive (no smoke) and was stunned by the ferocity of the bees as they smothered my hands and veil. I put the cage down on the top bars and it was instantly covered in bees. A fist-size ball. I opened it and I could see the white spot of the queen slowly emerge, quite unperturbed by the mayhem everywhere.

Not the first time I've done this. Hope it's the last.

 

[Wilco]

I found a caged queen in my pocket when I got home at 9pm last night. I wanted to make the job of returning her to the hive as quick as possible and thought of leaving her to enter through the entrance but decided against that. (I haven't done it before. Just unsure what the reception would be.) I opened the hive (no smoke) and was stunned by the ferocity of the bees as they smothered my hands and veil. I put the cage down on the top bars and it was instantly covered in bees. A fist-size ball. I opened it and I could see the white spot of the queen slowly emerge, quite unperturbed by the mayhem everywhere.

Not the first time I've done this. Hope it's the last.

I regularly forget to zip up my veil...