What did you do in the Apiary today?

[boywonder]

As I am wont to do on a Friday, I went out at lunch an dropped-in on my out-apiary today, ostensibly to check-in on two colonies - a nuc and a full 14x12. In the car, I had my suit and my 'bee-box', but had not registered either a lack of gloves or wellies. Hmmmm. Whenever I just 'pop-in' I almost never use a smoker; just using this for planned inspections.

Lack of wellies is always a mistake, and lack of gloves would normally have been a dealbreaker, but this time - for the first time in 11 years - I decided to try and inspect gloveless. In any event a risk, but more so as rain was in the offing.

The reason for posting is that this was (initially at least) revelational. I inspected the (busy) nuc, going through the all frames two or three times, and it has to rank amongst my top three beekeeping experiences. Being gloveless was so much more liberating and felt that I had that direct connection with the bees and the comb.

Wonderful.

On trying to replicate that on the full hive, I got taught a lesson about 3 frames in. Probably half a dozen stings to the hands, but probably double that to the ankles (mea culpa). Now I have the full-on King Charles fingers

I have to say that, if I had had wellies, and access to a smoker, I would have persevered with the inspection. I think there is mileage for me in this gloveless malarkey. Not only did it provide the emotional connection, but I tend to think that it might be a solid way of evaluating the sh*ttiness of the bees (or otherwise).

 

[Curly green finger's]

they'll all be crammed in the brood then

Still a low count considering they haven’t been treated since sept 21

 

[Curly green finger's]

As I am wont to do on a Friday, I went out at lunch an dropped-in on my out-apiary today, ostensibly to check-in on two colonies - a nuc and a full 14x12. In the car, I had my suit and my 'bee-box', but had not registered either a lack of gloves or wellies. Hmmmm. Whenever I just 'pop-in' I almost never use a smoker; just using this for planned inspections.

Lack of wellies is always a mistake, and lack of gloves would normally have been a dealbreaker, but this time - for the first time in 11 years - I decided to try and inspect gloveless. In any event a risk, but more so as rain was in the offing.

The reason for posting is that this was (initially at least) revelationary. I inspected the (busy) nuc, going through the all frames two or three times, and it has to rank amongst my top three beekeeping experiences. Being gloveless was so much more liberating and felt that I had that direct connection with the bees and the comb.

Wonderful.

On trying to replicate that on the full hive, I got taught a lesson about 3 frames in. Probably half a dozen stings to the hands, but probably double that to the ankles (mea culpa). Now I have the full-on King Charles fingers

I have to say that, if I had had wellies, and access to a smoker, I would have persevered with the inspection. I think there is mileage for me in this gloveless malarkey. Not only did it provide the emotional connection, but I tend to think that it might be a solid way of evaluating the sh*ttiness of the bees (or otherwise).

I’ve had a few moments like what your describing gloveless and as you say it’s liberating and more

 

[Erichalfbee]

they'll all be crammed in the brood then

Yes. Its why I asked.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Still a low count considering they haven’t been treated since sept 21

I’m not happy with anything over 20; but then I’m just a humble hobby beekeeper.
Are you going to breed from them?Maybe in seclusion somewhere ?

 

[rolande]

Still a low count considering they haven’t been treated since sept 21

What else have they done in the last three years?

 

[Moobee]

Last of the vaping today and added syrup to a couple of light nucs. Trying to be patient and not disturb two other nucs that were requeening a few weeks ago.

 

[Penninetrader]

Put two mini nucs into dummied down 6 frame nucs and gave them a decent feed - I might do the other 4 as there are so many bees in them they are hanging out the front at night time.
I’ve got one single brood superseding with two capped cells and existing queen still laying well, her brood pattern looks ok but they obviously think there’s something wrong with her.
Mite drops on most colony’s are minimal even after there second vape.

Out of interest on a 2021 colony that has never been treated i vaped them yesterday and mite count was 45/24hrs

You clearly have a large number of colonies and more, you seem not to be averse to varroa control which begs the interesting question for me , why has this 21 colony escaped treatment ?

 

[Penninetrader]

As I am wont to do on a Friday, I went out at lunch an dropped-in on my out-apiary today, ostensibly to check-in on two colonies - a nuc and a full 14x12. In the car, I had my suit and my 'bee-box', but had not registered either a lack of gloves or wellies. Hmmmm. Whenever I just 'pop-in' I almost never use a smoker; just using this for planned inspections.

Lack of wellies is always a mistake, and lack of gloves would normally have been a dealbreaker, but this time - for the first time in 11 years - I decided to try and inspect gloveless. In any event a risk, but more so as rain was in the offing.

The reason for posting is that this was (initially at least) revelational. I inspected the (busy) nuc, going through the all frames two or three times, and it has to rank amongst my top three beekeeping experiences. Being gloveless was so much more liberating and felt that I had that direct connection with the bees and the comb.

Wonderful.

On trying to replicate that on the full hive, I got taught a lesson about 3 frames in. Probably half a dozen stings to the hands, but probably double that to the ankles (mea culpa). Now I have the full-on King Charles fingers

I have to say that, if I had had wellies, and access to a smoker, I would have persevered with the inspection. I think there is mileage for me in this gloveless malarkey. Not only did it provide the emotional connection, but I tend to think that it might be a solid way of evaluating the sh*ttiness of the bees (or otherwise).

With that many stings I think my and my good ladies emotions would be running pretty high for quite a few days Those big colonies once again

 

[Erichalfbee]

why has this 21 colony escaped treatment

I was thinking the very same thing...and if it has, why has it now been treated all of a sudden?

 

[rolande]

You clearly have a large number of colonies and more, you seem not to be averse to varroa control which begs the interesting question for me , why has this 21 colony escaped treatment ?

Perhaps @Curly green finger's is starting to take a more tentative approach to treatment, I'd be interested in hearing more myself, the big question for is is whether there's a trade off of other attributes in the search for an in-house treatment free bee.. mind, three years isn't necessarily a long time for a colony to be treatment free especially if it was quite clean, or a newly made nuc at the start of the regimen. Years six and seven are often when you see the big crash .

 

[Vanterrier]

Combined the two bb's I did a newspaper unite with last week. Went well so I have a viable "hive 3" with brood and stores.
Hive 2 has a small amount of brood and lots of stores so I swapped a frame of stores into Hive 3 to help it.
Hive 1 ( the original) is also doing well.
All given fondant, although I don't think H2 needed it... and a vitafeed pollen patty each.
Apivar strips scored and moved to new position.
Bees were very calm throughout.
I'm happy to have three colonies at the end of my second season and feel I have learnt an awful lot, much of it from these forums, but of course I know I don't know enough yet and continue to learn this fascinating and challenging hobby.
K

 

[The Poot]

Combined the two bb's I did a newspaper unite with last week. Went well so I have a viable "hive 3" with brood and stores.
Hive 2 has a small amount of brood and lots of stores so I swapped a frame of stores into Hive 3 to help it.
Hive 1 ( the original) is also doing well.
All given fondant, although I don't think H2 needed it... and a vitafeed pollen patty each.
Apivar strips scored and moved to new position.
Bees were very calm throughout.
I'm happy to have three colonies at the end of my second season and feel I have learnt an awful lot, much of it from these forums, but of course I know I don't know enough yet and continue to learn this fascinating and challenging hobby.
K

Well done, all good

 

[The Poot]

Results of second vape after 48 hours. A couple seem to be mite bombs…..same order as previous post.
View attachment IMG_6223.MOV

 

[Erichalfbee]

A couple seem to be mite bombs

A mite bomb is a collapsing colony. Do you mean these just have a lot of mites?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I would say that that is just a healthy drop and the 'stuff' (we'd better not call it OA now in case the snitches are watching) is doing its job

 

[Erichalfbee]

I would say that that is just a healthy drop and the 'stuff' (we'd better not call it OA now in case the snitches are watching) is doing its job

Agree. Thats not bad at all.

 

[The Poot]

A mite bomb is a collapsing colony. Do you mean these just have a lot of mites?

Yes, sorry for misconstruing it.

 

[Curly green finger's]

What else have they done in the last three

On holiday mate when I have more time I will respond with a post why and what I’m trying to do.

 

[rolande]

On holiday mate when I have more time I will respond with a post why and what I’m trying to do.

Misread that, thought your bees had been on holiday , seriously, I have a pretty good idea where you'd like to be heading but I think a few gentle questions could produce some interesting discussion that many might benefit from. It's all good stuff.