Word of Warning

[Mike a]

I'm happy to see today the sun is shining and the temps are 20+ 'C here in the south, but I've now heard of two bee keepers who have said their colonies have swarmed in the last week.

They followed the best practice instructions by feeding and treating them by the end of September, reduced the hive down to either brood or brood and a half and were just starting to relax believing that is it for the year.

Off to inspect mine tomorrow, no doubt I'll find one or two have swarmed as well.

 

[susbees]

Have to say I've been somewhat surprised at the comments regarding "most beekeepers" having finished inspections weeks ago. Plain daft in the light of the reality of changing climate, forage patterns etc.

 

[mexbigshow]

Have to say I've been somewhat surprised at the comments regarding "most beekeepers" having finished inspections weeks ago. Plain daft in the light of the reality of changing climate, forage patterns etc.

totally agree sus, i remember the bees were still in and out upto November last year but that could just be down to my location

 

[MrB]

Have to say I've been somewhat surprised at the comments regarding "most beekeepers" having finished inspections weeks ago. Plain daft in the light of the reality of changing climate, forage patterns etc.

recently started feeding

 

[BeeNice]

Was feeding up until the warm weather started have stopped til the weather changes and it's gets cooler and not so many bees flying, I will then keep them happy with the autumn feed again.
S

 

[JamezF]

totally agree sus, i remember the bees were still in and out upto November last year but that could just be down to my location

Same here.

James

 

[Dishmop]

Havent fed any of mine.

but saying that I have nt taken a lot off them either.

Looked the other day and one hive has 2 full boxes and the other had one full box but they swarmed a couple of months ago so had to build themselves up again.
The observation hive was split a couple of months ago but within the last month they have filled over approx 60% of each frame.. Another few days of this weather in the south I think they will have 80% of the four frames capped.
Am very tempted to take one of the full frames out but I dont think I could lift the hive off the support with all that honey weight and the weight of the hive.. They have got more stores than they had at this time last year.

 

[AndreaW]

This is worrying me. I will be checking them again in a few days before the weather gets worse again. No queen cells 10 days ago but they now have a super full of stores and a brood box pretty crammed with bees and stores. First time I have ever looked at lovely weather like this and asked for it to get colder!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can't believe I am doing that!

 

[rockdoc]

Yep, mine are mostly crammed, with four hives on bb+1s apart from a couple of nucs. The ivy looks mostly done here, but I remember last year they went on collecting from somewhere into November.

 

[Andy Duff]

Will be inspecting my lot tomorrow, this sudden mad hot weather may cause a problem.
Trying 3 different methods for over wintering this year. All on OMF left open underneath. Plastic Queen excluder on OMF.
1-double brood box, main on top.
2-brood and a half, brood box on bottom.
3-brood box only.

no.2 may be a problem as last time i opened hive 2 weeks ago the colony was a bit on the small side and the frames were honey light, the new queen is a bit of a no hoper.

2 & 3 have been guzzling sugar syrup like there is no tomorrow as well as getting out and about.

I think not putting all my eggs in one basket applies

 

[Rock_Chick]

I've had 2 phone calls about swarms.

 

[Onge]

Mine are crammed with honey the way I like it.

No feeding here.

 

[Flatters]

I think before an inspection like this at this time of year one needs to be fully prepared as to what they are going to do. If they open up and find queen cells either uncapped or capped. How are they going to handle it? I don't have the answers.

Personally I am reluctant to do any detailed inspections so late in the year. Certainly yesterday, even though it had been 23 degrees at midday, at 5pm the bees had settled down for the evening. The weather here is set to go back to autumnal so the issue may go away.

 

[Onge]

What are you going to do this time of the year?

I haven't seen any drones lately.

I do have a few spare queens in 6 frame poly nuc's but there settled down for the winter now.

 

[Dave /Oscroft]

Apiguard & feeding

Ive been feeding mine up untill this last weekend, the weather has been exeptionaly hot and bees flying everywere. There bringing in lots of pollen ivy I assume its creamy colour. I will not feed any more now as its at least 10 degrees cooler now. With the heat of the last week the second dose of Apiguard has worked well, bees all over the front of the hive at times.

Dave W

 

[Flatters]

Dave, it is useful to change the default location on UK to at least a county or even a town as it gives others an idea where in the UK you are. Here in the NorthWest of England the ivy is only just starting. I thought that ivy pollen was quite a strong yellow.

 

[Pete D]

Did a full inspection on all my hives yesterday with the help of local bee inspector. All hives on single bood either national or 14 x 12.
All ok and assessed as having a good chance of making it through the winter as it currently stands. Brood ranging from 2 frames to 5 frames with the exception of 1 hive which although had some brood it had no eggs simply because there was no room for her to lay. So I have removed 2 frames of stores (frames 1 and 2) and replaced them with 2 drawn frames at position 4 and 5 (not splitting the existing brood) to encourage her to start laying again.
Its really cooled off here today.

Pete D