What did you do in the Apiary today?

[Will C]

Today I went in and removed the Apivar strips from both hives. I added Perspex crown boards six weeks ago so could see they were busy and clustered. A few angrily buzzed my veil when I took off the porter escape to place the fondant in hive one, grumpy to be disturbed.

The second hive, they’d managed to remove the apivar and both strips had dropped down to the bottom of the brood box, so as it was mild, we lifted the base and pulled them out.

After the ferocity of late autumn, today was very quiet. Lots of bees in both hives.

Now to wait till March.

 

[Moobee]

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?

OA vape x 3 at 5 day intervals early September (once honey was off). The colonies were very full in September and I think producing brood through October as it was so mild here, so maybe it allowed the varroa to build up again?
They're definitely broodless now as little to no uncappings on the boards. Just given them a second vape and will continue to monitor.

 

[JamezF]

Did a tour this morning to make sure everything looked safe. Took away bits of kit that didn't need to be out in the apiaries on the grounds that if it isn't there then it can't get blown about.

Found a group of fallen elder trees in one apiary, but fortunately no damage done other than to the stock fencing. Looks like the ground has just become too soft to hold the roots. I could barely squeeze past to get to the hives though. They can wait until conditions are a little safer to get dealt with.

There are a few more trees that have come down by the looks of the hedgerows as I was driving around. And things have barely kicked off yet.

James

 

[Penninetrader]

Did a tour this morning to make sure everything looked safe. Took away bits of kit that didn't need to be out in the apiaries on the grounds that if it isn't there then it can't get blown about.

Found a group of fallen elder trees in one apiary, but fortunately no damage done other than to the stock fencing. Looks like the ground has just become too soft to hold the roots. I could barely squeeze past to get to the hives though. They can wait until conditions are a little safer to get dealt with.

There are a few more trees that have come down by the looks of the hedgerows as I was driving around. And things have barely kicked off yet.

James

The Elder trees, do you have the responsibility for clearing them ?

 

[JamezF]

The Elder trees, do you have the responsibility for clearing them ?

I'll just discuss it with the landowner and we'll sort it out between us. We have a very easy-going setup.

James

 

[Penninetrader]

I'll just discuss it with the landowner and we'll sort it out between us. We have a very easy-going setup.

James

That is good, I like that

 

[Parsonage Bees]

Today I dribbled.
This hive on double brood was strangely big and DEFENSIVE. Not sure what's going on with them but see you in April.

 

[Penninetrader]

Today I dribbled.
This hive on double brood was strangely big and DEFENSIVE. Not sure what's going on with them but see you in April.
View attachment 41750

What sort of temperature did you have there, if I had opened my girls up like that they would be having an eppy. Have they settled and returned inside

 

[Parsonage Bees]

What sort of temperature did you have there, if I had opened my girls up like that they would be having an eppy. Have they settled and returned inside

7degC and overcast. I thought between 5 and 10degC, between clustered tight and flying was the right temperature.

Photo was after I'd done the dribble. The top of the bottom box looked the same. I was expecting them to be mostly in the bottom box but they were right up to the crown board. Much bigger population than my other hives.
The other hives, yes, the odd bee flew up and expressed their annoyance but these guys were up and at me in numbers. You can see by the number on the outside of the box. Yes they all headed back in. They are the most defensive hive.

#edit I thinking something is wrong but not going to investigate.

 

[The Poot]

7degC and overcast. I thought between 5 and 10degC, between clustered tight and flying was the right temperature.

Photo was after I'd done the dribble. The top of the bottom box looked the same. I was expecting them to be mostly in the bottom box but they were right up to the crown board. Much bigger population than my other hives.
The other hives, yes, the odd bee flew up and expressed their annoyance but these guys were up and at me in numbers. You can see by the number on the outside of the box. Yes they all headed back in. They are the most defensive hive.

That’s why I wouldn’t dribble. Too intrusive this time of year.

 

[Parsonage Bees]

That’s why I wouldn’t dribble. Too intrusive this time of year.

Someone else suggested that you also get a significant drop of dead bees but not checked this myself.
Yes, I don't like doing it but a couple of my colonies are dropping 20+ mites per day. I used ApiVar early in the year before supers ( and Apiguard after).

 

[The Poot]

Hefted all five and checked debris on the trays. Added fondant to the lightest one. Came away concerned that one had hardly taken fondant and had virtually no debris of any kind in the tray. All were quiet, not a bee to be seen.
Will vape as soon as the temperature rises a little.

 

[Cuckmere couple]

checked fondant...need to trickle

 

[Penninetrader]

7degC and overcast. I thought between 5 and 10degC, between clustered tight and flying was the right temperature.

Photo was after I'd done the dribble. The top of the bottom box looked the same. I was expecting them to be mostly in the bottom box but they were right up to the crown board. Much bigger population than my other hives.
The other hives, yes, the odd bee flew up and expressed their annoyance but these guys were up and at me in numbers. You can see by the number on the outside of the box. Yes they all headed back in. They are the most defensive hive.

#edit I thinking something is wrong but not going to investigate.

If they are so well populated they are clearly doing OK, the supplies will need a close eye on for so many bees. Being up top is I suppose what you would expect being the warmest area and usually where the girls keep their stores. As for defensive, big hives know they are and act accordingly, this being something generally accepted and your experience will I imagine bring you to that view also.

 

[Parsonage Bees]

As for defensive, big hives know they are and act accordingly

Agree,
I've got this idea that I want bees that . . . "know what they're doing".
They don't expect me to come back with more stores over-winter so they should naturally shrink down and cluster with what they have (which from notes was a full BB of honey in early October). My 3 other 2024 queens have sensible clusters about the size of a rugby ball, stores above them, no worries about them, probably won't need to feed them. This hive, with this number of bees will need watching.
My scenario? They went queenless mid-October, the old bees are hanging on hoping to welcome a replacement. Unsettled, defensive. Last gasp will be drones flying next March and I shake out what's left out in April. Aren't I a bundle of joy!!
I'm often wrong. Time will tell.

 

[Macbear]

Despite today's weather [drizzly/rain] there was light traffic for both hives. Very happy to see this and that Darragh had not upset anything.
Next job: dug a couple of parsnips for my independent 92 year old dad [my second daughter is doing the 200 mile round trip to visit] him and his wife. Ground was very sticky, but [unlike other allotment tenants] my parsnips are good this year.

 

[Macbear]

Agree,
I've got this idea that I want bees that . . . "know what they're doing".
They don't expect me to come back with more stores over-winter so they should naturally shrink down and cluster with what they have (which from notes was a full BB of honey in early October). My 3 other 2026 queens have sensible clusters about the size of a rugby ball, stores above them, no worries about them, probably won't need to feed them. This hive, with this number of bees will need watching.
My scenario? They went queenless mid-October, the old bees are hanging on hoping to welcome a replacement. Unsettled, defensive. Last gasp will be drones flying next March and I shake out what's left out in April. Aren't I a bundle of joy!!
I'm often wrong. Time will tell.

Time will tell. I united what I took to be 2 Q-less colonies in late September. Left both BB and they had chewed the newspaper well at the final [early October] inspection, but no sign of eggs or brood in either box, but plenty of stores. Plenty of traffic and they seem to have been the more active of my hives - the other had Q and she was happily laying at the final inspection. Patience is important, and good surprises will be welcome in the spring.

 

[ericbeaumont]

Very happy to see this

Very unhappy to see this...

 

[Parsonage Bees]

Time will tell. I united what I took to be 2 Q-less colonies in late September. Left both BB and they had chewed the newspaper well at the final [early October] inspection, but no sign of eggs or brood in either box, but plenty of stores. Plenty of traffic and they seem to have been the more active of my hives - the other had Q and she was happily laying at the final inspection. Patience is important, and good surprises will be welcome in the spring.

The first united hive. Even if they are queenless the bees will look after the comb overwinter, keeping down the wax moth and you won't have to freeze it, store it. And it will be useable for a new hive in spring.

 

[Penninetrader]

We are in reality already interfering by housing and managing, that comes with some responsibility which might be considered interference. It is up to each individually to determine those boundaries. When they have determined the need for large supplies to prepare a large colony for winter we then interpret that as honey to harvest, it is then imo our responsibility to replace that reserve.