What did you do in the Apiary today?

[jenkinsbrynmair]

bottled up a load of newly seeded soft set, should have done it yesterday as I could see it was setting quickly but I had no choice but to delay until this morning - you could call it a slow food moment

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[Sutty]

Jarred up another 84 jars, mainly for my local retailer, only got a few buckets left now, so hoping for a good spring crop to minimise loss of supply.

 

[Erichalfbee]

bottled up a load of newly seeded soft set, should have done it yesterday as I could see it was setting quickly but I had no choice but to delay until this morning - you could call it a slow food moment

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How do you avoid those blasted bubbles in the corners? I’ve given up on hex jars. I went back to them after using Wynne Jones’ Pandora which are tall round ones. Jyst finished a case and never again! Bottle company south have 275ml round ones so I’m trying those.

 

[Swarm]

You slow down the flow as the level gets to the shoulder.

 

[Curly green finger's]

You slow down the flow as the level gets to the shoulder.

Or when filling jars from a honey gate, get the jar as close to it as possible and fill jars slower

 

[Erichalfbee]

You slow down the flow as the level gets to the shoulder.

Or when filling jars from a honey gate, get the jar as close to it as possible and fill jars slower

Neither work for me. I watch these filling machines with fascination.They go quite fast and are bubble free. I've tried warm jars, warm honey too....... Some jars are fine some not.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

How do you avoid those blasted bubbles in the corners?

you stop when the honey reaches just below the shoulders, leave it settle, then slowly fill until the corners get filled. But to be honest, unless it's for showing, does it really matter? it's only on here people get their panties in a carrick bend over it.

 

[gregior]

Checked on the 14 x 12 apiary today 3 out of 12 dead nothing sinister, looks like they went queenless/drone layer last Autumn. Actually quite pleased about the losses as i'm not wanting to make any more increase or buy more kit so having the empty hives will come in handy. Of the other 9 all pretty strong but a couple are on the light side.

 

[Nannysbees]

bottled up a load of newly seeded soft set, should have done it yesterday as I could see it was setting quickly but I had no choice but to delay until this morning - you could call it a slow food moment

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Oh my goodness that looks amazing!!

 

[Superlativesoul]

Checked hives in the garden bees bringing in pollen possibly willow as catkins around .Checked my new mouse guard as well nice sunny day
John

 

[Do224]

Home hives and those at my out apiary all busy bringing in dark brown pollen today. 10 celcius now but they were flying earlier in the day at just 6 degrees


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[steve1958]

After what seems like forever hiding indoors out of the cold and rain, today I went out and enjoyed the sunshine.
Checked the colonies have enough food, and tidied up

 

[Parsonage Bees]

Weighed hives, steady drop. Max weight loss about 16lb since end last October. I think they are good.
Counted varroa drop over last week. Worst 1v/day, most hives none. OAD worked.

 

[Sutty]

Neither work for me. I watch these filling machines with fascination.They go quite fast and are bubble free. I've tried warm jars, warm honey too....... Some jars are fine some not.

Try filling to just below the shoulder, then swirl (warm honey) to wet the corners before topping off.
I think I'm more or less doing this by accident and only have a few corner bubbles.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Thanks. I shall try that.

 

[Amari]

Do bubbles matter - except for the show bench?

 

[StephenT]

Haven't posted in ages. Went into winter with 8 hives and lost one a few weeks back. Was well dummied down in a double brood but it just dwindled down to nothing. Another had a small cluster so moved them in a nuc a couple of weeks back when we had some warmer weather. Been weighing them all and weights are fine at the minute. Got some fondant in case it's needed. Have noticed some cherry blossom out and so am expecting them to be busy next week when it's warmer.

p.s. no one has ever commented on the bubbles in my hex jars of honey. Imperfections are expected with hand crafted/poured honey

 

[Erichalfbee]

Do bubbles matter - except for the show bench?

They annoy me.
I have solved my problem though

 

[MrMouse]

Two colonies hefting a little light so lifted the lids - had to replace Payne’s poly hive thin transparent plastic cover for crown board through which to feed fondant.
Both hives 11 solid frames of bees with plenty of pollen coming in in the sun. Great to see.

I’ve got a 3/4 full super of uncapped honey at home from last summer. It was quite tempting to give them this instead of fondant really.