What did you do in the Apiary today?

[rolande]

Chris Manton from Elm Tree Bees

That's definitely the x feed you need if you're looking for a cheerful, positive read

 

[Erichalfbee]

His callous response was Good riddance to this colony, we don't need bees that need feeding.

My response to that attitude is, the bees worked all summer to make sure they had enough food for winter. If he won't replace the food he takes from them maybe he should consider whether he's the right person to take on responsibility for them.
The world can do without beekeepers like him but unfortunately Darwin has nothing to offer in this instance.

I must say he seems pretty cavalier with his bees. He does moan a lot too.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I have a twitter account which I used to go into every day, can't be arsed now though - Musk has turned it into a cesspit, probably quite a few beekeepers wonder where I've gone!!¬

 

[Sutty]

I have a twitter account which I used to go into every day, can't be arsed now though - Musk has turned it into a cesspit, probably quite a few beekeepers wonder where I've gone!!¬

I can see the resemblance between them - but at least a cesspit is supposed to be full of it!

 

[Parsonage Bees]

His callous response was Good riddance to this colony, we don't need bees that need feeding.

My response to that attitude is, the bees worked all summer to make sure they had enough food for winter. If he won't replace the food he takes from them maybe he should consider whether he's the right person to take on responsibility for them.
The world can do without beekeepers like him but unfortunately Darwin has nothing to offer in this instance.

Chris's twitter account is very honest about what it takes to be a commercial beekeepers having to make a living. Increasing the time between inspections, more colonies in the same number of man hours.
The beekeeper who supplied M&S in the video by Gwen Gryffth(!?) , I think he only visits his apiaries 3 times a season (could be wrong). Puts down 12 colonies and removes them when there are 4 left (probably wrong).
A different type of beekeeping to anyone who is reading this in the afternoon with a cup of tea. Like me.

#edit In the next post on his account he's saying his losses over winter is 10% so he's not without skills.

 

[Parsonage Bees]

How does he know they have been brooding all winter and not just poorly fed in a possibly uninsulated hive?

No idea. But he's opened a few thousand more hives than I have.

 

[Penninetrader]

His callous response was Good riddance to this colony, we don't need bees that need feeding.

My response to that attitude is, the bees worked all summer to make sure they had enough food for winter. If he won't replace the food he takes from them maybe he should consider whether he's the right person to take on responsibility for them.
The world can do without beekeepers like him but unfortunately Darwin has nothing to offer in this instance.

My response would be to quote my good lady" don't listen to others, the girls have come to no harm doing things your way so use your instincts and do what they tell you"

 

[Penninetrader]

I have a twitter account which I used to go into every day, can't be arsed now though - Musk has turned it into a cesspit, probably quite a few beekeepers wonder where I've gone!!¬

Who are you again ?

 

[Moobee]

I'm forgetting that we take their honey so we should be responsible for feeding them. I've left a super of stores on each expecting it to be enough.

I've wondered what would happen if I left the 3-4 supers of honey on the colony that collected it. This very prolific colony @Newbeeneil that died out might have survived.

#edit Here's an idea: Take your honey crop in April ie. what's left over from the previous year. I'm a radical me.

The trouble is the weather is changing and we and the bees have to adapt. Guess it’s all about finding that balance. I feed in the autumn and leave a super each. I then heft mine every two weeks right through the winter just in case. It’s also a good excuse to suit up and watch any hardy bees wandering about and see what nature is doing. But not everyone has the luxury of time.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

happened to be passing the Gelli apiary this morning so as the sun was shining and I felt energetic I went up the field to check up on the bees - one colony was hefting very light Christmas time and I haven't had a chance to go up there since then but they are still going for it and were tumbling put as soon as I disturbed them to put a feeder on, I think sometimes we get a bit too precious and a hive hefting light midwinter doesn't mean it's totally devoid of stores. All hives were very active with bees flying. I should have looked in on the Tŷ Uchaf hives as well, but I had meetings - both work and with the hospital league of friends. If I have a chance I'll have a look Saturday before making my way to Symonds Yat for the BFA meeting Sunday

 

[BeeKeyPlayer]

I've checked all my hives in the last week. A few were a bit light (mostly nucs) but all are alive at the moment - except for the mini nuc colony that I had overlooked at the end of summer. It seemed very vigorous so I made a PIR cosy and topped up their fondant. Unfortunately, they've recently starved. Most of the bees had not decomposed at all so I might have been just a week or two too late with the fondant top up. However, I can't see a queen among the dead bees so perhaps she was already gone.

 

[Wilfredbuck]

I have just the one hive and the Bees were out and about today in the sunshine - lots of pollen going in - still a bit of fondant on the crown board so no need to put any more on yet. I think they are all good.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

happened to be passing Tŷ Uchaf farm so popped in to check on the apiary - bees flying strongly in the full sun from all hives, but it's still cold - not a time for fiddling yet.

 

[Penninetrader]

Chris's twitter account is very honest about what it takes to be a commercial beekeepers having to make a living. Increasing the time between inspections, more colonies in the same number of man hours.
The beekeeper who supplied M&S in the video by Gwen Gryffth(!?) , I think he only visits his apiaries 3 times a season (could be wrong). Puts down 12 colonies and removes them when there are 4 left (probably wrong).
A different type of beekeeping to anyone who is reading this in the afternoon with a cup of tea.

#edit In the next post on his account he's saying his losses over winter is 10% so he's not without skills.

happened to be passing Tŷ Uchaf farm so popped in to check on the apiary - bees flying strongly in the full sun from all hives, but it's still cold - not a time for fiddling yet.

Just had a look in on the girls, fondant still ok, no noticeable drop in weight, plenty flying, but...I notice the amount carrying pollen today has dropped, I am guessing water or something else is of more pressing need.I also noticed when lifting top off of my insulated feeders to inspect that they hardly reacted at all.

 

[gregior]

Checked the bees in my newest apiary and found another 2 that have gone queenless over the winter, that now makes 5 out of 12 that have done the same at that apiary, my other 2 sites losses are 0/10 and 1/20.
This is the first winter the bees have spent on this new site,in theory it looks like the perfect site but there's a BIG mobile phone mast just 30m from the bees, could this be the reason for the queen losses?

 

[Parsonage Bees]

Released 2 queen wasps from the bedroom window. They plainly think winter is over.
Normally I'd sqush them but following previous criticism I've softened.
If I have wasp problems this autumn I'm blaming this forum.