What did you do in the Apiary today?

[Murox]

A balmy 13 degrees albeit rather breezy but went around all my hives today and vaped all of them, hefted for stores as well.

 

[Swarm]

Making plans for next year, I've been salvaging timber to construct some stands at home to site a few mating nucs. It's sixteen years since I moved the hives out of the garden and things have changed quite a lot since then, the old apiary site would be too shady these days. I have a couple of options to consider. there will be less space required for these than the old stands and probably no need for them to be permanent.

 

[Newbeeneil]

Heavens! What's wrong with it?
It gets much more work than mine does but nevertheless.......

When I put the battery in, the screen doesn’t light up. It’s completely dead!
I’ve asked for a replacement under warranty as I can’t have it crashing in the middle of a series of vapes!

 

[Erichalfbee]

When I put the battery in, the screen doesn’t light up. It’s completely dead!
I’ve asked for a replacement under warranty as I can’t have it crashing in the middle of a series of vapes!

Computer says no

 

[Penninetrader]

All my girls are out in this very mild and sunny Dec day. Even one of the nucs I had doubts about have broken cluster and basking on the front of the box.Gives me a chance to have a close up look at them, they appear quite active and healthy. Yep, they are just starting to do the communal growl

 

[judy12]

Checked the hives and then sat and wondered about making some beeswax furniture polish with the spare bottle of pure turpentine. I'd like to add some lavender essential oil at the end but wd the different smells clash?

 

[JamezF]

Checked the hives and then sat and wondered about making some beeswax furniture polish with the spare bottle of pure turpentine. I'd like to add some lavender essential oil at the end but wd the different smells clash?

There's only one way to find out. FIGHT!!!!

Sorry. Had a bit of a Harry Hill moment there...

James

 

[E&MBees]

Delivered honey to the landowners of my apiaries. Had a little look at the bees too. Hefting nice and heavy, even the worrisome nuc has finally caught up following extra fondant. A few bees flying. Could hear a gentle scurry and buzz from all the colonies. Checked straps. Next visit will be to do a winter vape.

 

[Swarm]

Checked the hives and then sat and wondered about making some beeswax furniture polish with the spare bottle of pure turpentine. I'd like to add some lavender essential oil at the end but wd the different smells clash?

Lavender would just ruin the aroma.

 

[drex]

Vaped the hives. All but one really bursting at seams with bees . The odd one was half full. All hefted OK too.

 

[Swarm]

Now, the thing I find most poignant is using tools that were my Dads, but I’m so very pleased I have them.

The problem is that so many of his tools were so heavy duty, hardcore. I have two Record quick release vices, models 34 and 23, they are both enormous and way over the top for anything I'm likely to do. The 23 weighs 20 kilos or more and the 34 is not much lighter.
I already have a nice vice, a Record no2 that belonged to my wife's grandfather.

 

[Moobee]

I would be doing mine next week if it wasn’t for the fact my InstantVap has gone wrong for the second time. I hope Duncan gets it back to me quicker than he did last time.

What happened? Mine seems to be using up battery power very fast. Although might that be to having to switch it off between traveling to each apiary?

 

[Moobee]

Vaped two out of three apiaries on Friday and helped put a fellow beek with her hive too until the battery went dead on the Instavap.
Checked the drop today as moving nucs and sealing up entrances as workmen taking out a big horrible eleagnus hedge by the home apiary tomorrow. Drop of 635 on the biggest hive (all the red dots) - another vape needed?

 

[JamezF]

What happened? Mine seems to be using up battery power very fast. Although might that be to having to switch it off between traveling to each apiary?

Moving between apiaries (and having a longer cool down/warm up period) does seem to eat batteries in my experience. I'm not unduly surprised however. I just try to carry enough that it isn't a problem.

James

 

[Moobee]

Moving between apiaries (and having a longer cool down/warm up period) does seem to eat batteries in my experience. I'm not unduly surprised however. I just try to carry enough that it isn't a problem.

James

I carry it in an old ammo box & wondered how safe it would be to leave it on for the short drive between two of my apiaries (they’re less than half a mile apart)?

 

[Sutty]

I carry it in an old ammo box & wondered how safe it would be to leave it on for the short drive between two of my apiaries (they’re less than half a mile apart)?

A risk of dislodged OA being vapourised on the journey, if that is contained I see no problem, though also no advantage, it will take more energy to maintain temperature than restore it.

 

[Newbeeneil]

What happened? Mine seems to be using up battery power very fast. Although might that be to having to switch it off between traveling to each apiary?

The screen just didn’t light up when I plugged a full battery in. (I tried 4 batteries) The same thing happened about 9 months ago when it went back for repair so I’m thinking it’s a dodgy machine.
I keep mine warm in an insulated box between apiaries as I’ve shown before.

 

[The Poot]

Vaped two out of three apiaries on Friday and helped put a fellow beek with her hive too until the battery went dead on the Instavap.
Checked the drop today as moving nucs and sealing up entrances as workmen taking out a big horrible eleagnus hedge by the home apiary tomorrow. Drop of 635 on the biggest hive (all the red dots) - another vape needed?

I would.

 

[Moobee]

I would.

Thought so. Did it yesterday. Alarming drops but the colonies are so big, possible correlation?

 

[The Poot]

Thought so. Did it yesterday. Alarming drops but the colonies are so big, possible correlation?

Sounds a bit like the September treatment may not have been fully effective. If they are big colonies now and as there’s not likely much (if any) brood in the colony, I’d give another vape now and possibly one in very early Spring. Knock the little blighters on the head while you can. What treatment did you use in Autumn?