What did you do in the Apiary today?

[user 22450]

9 Celsius and I haven't been able to visit the apiary much since before Christmas.
Fed one hive [single BB] with Ambrosia as they have a record of numerical strength and had average stores in October. They didn't have the usual dedicated super which is my practice.
The other is a potential loss being two weaker colonies combined after a disastrous September varroa treatment leaving no sign of Qs, but 2 BBs with plenty of stores: totally quiet, no sign of anything except stores through the central hole in the crown board. Reluctantly I lifted the upper BB to reveal a moderate cluster in the bottom BB. So quickly put everything back. I was concerned that if that colony was dead the other hive would rob. Given what I have seen it will be leave alone until 15 Celsius [March?] and tape the join between the BBs as I broke the propolis seal.

 

[gregior]

9 Celsius and I haven't been able to visit the apiary much since before Christmas.
Fed one hive [single BB] with Ambrosia as they have a record of numerical strength and had average stores in October. They didn't have the usual dedicated super which is my practice.
The other is a potential loss being two weaker colonies combined after a disastrous September varroa treatment leaving no sign of Qs, but 2 BBs with plenty of stores: totally quiet, no sign of anything except stores through the central hole in the crown board. Reluctantly I lifted the upper BB to reveal a moderate cluster in the bottom BB. So quickly put everything back. I was concerned that if that colony was dead the other hive would rob. Given what I have seen it will be leave alone until 15 Celsius [March?] and tape the join between the BBs as I broke the propolis seal.

if I can't see them I just blow down the frames, they will buzz if they're alive.

 

[Murox]

9 Celsius and I haven't been able to visit the apiary much since before Christmas.
Fed one hive [single BB] with Ambrosia as they have a record of numerical strength and had average stores in October. They didn't have the usual dedicated super which is my practice.
The other is a potential loss being two weaker colonies combined after a disastrous September varroa treatment leaving no sign of Qs, but 2 BBs with plenty of stores: totally quiet, no sign of anything except stores through the central hole in the crown board. Reluctantly I lifted the upper BB to reveal a moderate cluster in the bottom BB. So quickly put everything back. I was concerned that if that colony was dead the other hive would rob. Given what I have seen it will be leave alone until 15 Celsius [March?] and tape the join between the BBs as I broke the propolis seal.

I get itchy fingers too, but as you realised you were a wee bit too previous.

 

[user 22450]

I get itchy fingers too, but as you realised you were a wee bit too previous.

Yes - we live and learn!

 

[The Poot]

Mine were all busy today too. Like you last years buckfast much busier than the rest. Interestingly I have one with a local queen who has had a nil varroa drop all winter. Might have to try and get a daughter from her.

A little strange today, as my Buckfast were out and about again, but I didn’t see any pollen going in. One of my three locals was somewhat busy (about half that of the Buckfasts), but the majority of bees were returning with small amounts of pollen. The other two locals were conspicuous by their absence.

 

[Xander]

Thats given me an idea. Thanks! I'll post how I get on....

 

[Swarm]

Took advantage of the gorgeous, sunny morning to find an excuse to visit the farm for some bee therapy. Despite the sun, I was surprised by a very chilly breeze that we didn't have back home but nevertheless, the bees were out in droves. I sat next to the Oak tree stand for a while, the Oak tree colony is now two colonies and each as busy as the other, They are as dark as any of my Amm colonies and coming home laden with Gorse and Hazel pollen, wonderful bees.
Moved on to check a few nucs I'm over wintering that are going to a friend's apiary to replace his grumpy bees, all flying and looking happy.
Therapy session over, headed back to crack on in the garden.

 

[Penninetrader]

Took advantage of the gorgeous, sunny morning to find an excuse to visit the farm for some bee therapy. Despite the sun, I was surprised by a very chilly breeze that we didn't have back home but nevertheless, the bees were out in droves. I sat next to the Oak tree stand for a while, the Oak tree colony is now two colonies and each as busy as the other, They are as dark as any of my Amm colonies and coming home laden with Gorse and Hazel pollen, wonderful bees.
Moved on to check a few nucs I'm over wintering that are going to a friend's apiary to replace his grumpy bees, all flying and looking happy.
Therapy session over, headed back to crack on in the garden.

Just come inside for a snack, what you describe is very similar in my patch but no pollen in evidence, very cold but still flying and the last of the stragglers just arriving home which is a surprise. I am wondering whether the stragglers were scouts who had travelled some distance from their colony. I think we are under starters orders.

 

[holmbee]

Just come inside for a snack, what you describe is very similar in my patch but no pollen in evidence, very cold but still flying and the last of the stragglers just arriving home which is a surprise. I am wondering whether the stragglers were scouts who had travelled some distance from their colony. I think we are under starters orders.

Perhaps you could let us know your location to help understand your comments. Maybe also how many hives you keep and their type. Thanks

 

[Penninetrader]

Perhaps you could let us know your location to help understand your comments. Maybe also how many hives you keep and their type. Thanks

Aye, I live in the hills on the Lancs / Yorks border with half dozen hives Brit standard and stacked nucs. A mile or so either way has quite different weather on many occasions. My girls tend to fly South Easterly towards the river valley, which makes sense. There may be other beeks around here but I have not come across any in proximity. There are feral colonies in factory roofs about half a mile away. Just checking your local, 2 completely different worlds here and there. You live in what is probably the best spot in the UK.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I think you are now. I think it is all of wales. If you have registered your flock you should get regular updates from the APHA.

They've sent me nothing I do get regular updates about Bluetongue however. I don't think my chickens or bees are likely to catch that though.

James

this is the latest bulletin on chicken fever, it's just some places in Engerlund that are locked down

an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) with mandatory biosecurity measures is in force across Great Britain and a regional Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) with mandatory housing and biosecurity measures is also in force and covers the following:

North Yorkshire York An area in Shropshire The East Riding of Yorkshire The City of Kingston upon Hull Lincolnshire Norfolk Suffolk.

All bird keepers in these areas must keep their birds housed to protect them from bird flu. This applies to pet birds, commercial flocks and just a few birds in a backyard flock.

 

[enrico]

this is the latest bulletin on chicken fever, ity's just some places in Engerlund that are locked down

an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) with mandatory biosecurity measures is in force across Great Britain and a regional Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) with mandatory housing and biosecurity measures is also in force and covers the following:

North Yorkshire York An area in Shropshire The East Riding of Yorkshire The City of Kingston upon Hull Lincolnshire Norfolk Suffolk.

All bird keepers in these areas must keep their birds housed to protect them from bird flu. This applies to pet birds, commercial flocks and just a few birds in a backyard flock.

Yes the misinformation I muddled it up with came from the hen welfare trust. Thanks for the info

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

not quite in the apiary, although I did barrow a load off woodchip from the remains of the wind blown apple tree and spread it around the bee shed, then the surviving sort of upright main trunk started playing on me - the tree was almost horizontal after the wind, with a big gaping hole where the roots had given way, although it had righted itself somewhat when the branches the windward side was still raised about two foot above the lawn level and the cavity below still visible - no way to get a vehicle near enough to haul or push the plug back into place, and even after sawing up the whole tree, it will take a lock of backwork to make the whole good - then I had a brainwave, there's an old 6" iron pipe bedded in the concrete about seven yards away which used to be the top end of the clothes line (but the spread of the apple trees made it impractical) I have tens of yards of four ton test braided rope kicking around (Bosun's perks from the boats) so lets go old school and rig up a rather long Spanish windlass!
It worked, couldn't quite get the root plug all the way back in (probably a lot of debris in the hole since last December) but there's only a six inch 'step' there now and a bit of weather will help it settle once I fell the rest of it.

 

[juno]

I stood in the cold, gazed at my hives, sighed, walked back into the warm.