Yesterday’s grafts

[Ian123]

Quick check of grafts I did yesterday and it looks like 21 out of the 24 taken. I didn’t go mad brushing bees off but looks good.

 

[jeff33]

Looking good, let's hope for a good September for mating!

 

[Ian123]

Looking good, let's hope for a good September for mating!

We’ll see it’s normally good and realistically you only need a couple of days or even afternoons in a couple of week time frame. I tend to find late season quite consistent.

 

[Ian123]

Just been and checked on cells, some ready to go out Thursday others next week
View attachment IMG_0817.MOV

 

[RichardK]

Looking great! I'm so looking forward to getting stuck into grafting next season after a couple of tentative goes a month or so ago.

 

[Ian123]

I’ve just put 25 cells out and have this lot to go in next week, there’s 19 on each frame. Some are going to need a little wax removal.
View attachment IMG_0819.MOV

 

[Ian123]

Looks like I’ve got to chop some of these out. Also some frames brood from the previous occupants of the mating Nucs with new cells added.

 

[Ian123]

This is the previous cell raiser that had a cell left in now up and running with some well laid up frames.

 

[TomH]

We’ll see it’s normally good and realistically you only need a couple of days or even afternoons in a couple of week time frame. I tend to find late season quite consistent.

Are there many drones around in September? Have watched most of my hives kick the boys out over the past week or so.

 

[Ian123]

I find late season very consistent. Don’t forget there’s plenty of normal supcedure that happens. Some of mine evicted some after the main flow. But even in those hives there’s plenty still. If bees have an income there generally far more tolerant towards drones and atm the heather is producing and there’s ivy to follow.

 

[Curly green finger's]

Are there many drones around in September? Have watched most of my hives kick the boys out over the past week or so.

I think this aldepends I have drone brood in strong colonys that have a good nectar source still.
Where as a whole apiary yesterday were kicking drones out where the source wasn't so good.
One thing I've noticed my mini nuc queen's have mated quicker over the last two weeks and laying well which was surprising.

 

[TomH]

Thanks Ian and Mark. I just wasn't sure how drone rearing fitted in with the time of year. Good point on the supercedure.

 

[Ian123]

Trying again on video
View attachment IMG_0836.MOV

 

[Curly green finger's]

Thanks Ian and Mark. I just wasn't sure how drone rearing fitted in with the time of year. Good point on the supercedure.

After todays inspections I have some more colonys superseding.
Had to squash two little queen's.
And unite a nuc and single brood.

 

[Stiffy]

Trying again on video
View attachment 28090

Look nice, quiet non runny bees and certainly filled the frames with brood

 

[Ian123]

Thks.. those bees there aren’t hers yet that’s her first sealed brood. Hers should be a little better. Am hoping there’s a few that have got mated this week as I’ve a good number in the back garden

 

[Curly green finger's]

Trying again on video
View attachment 28090

I Don't seem to be able to watch the video Ian, good evening.

 

[Ian123]

Hi should be playing, does take a moment on my phone. Ian