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Re: What have you done today bee-related?
PostPosted:11 Jan 2019, 18:34
by NigelP
Patrick wrote: ↑11 Jan 2019, 14:58
several seen bringing in small orangey-yellow pollen loads, I suspect of snowdrop pollen. I am very close to a nursery who specialise in snowdrops, so we have plenty locally, which is a bonus.
We also have a small field of commercial cobnuts (hazel) next door covered in long catkins
You live in a very different world. 4-5C here no bees flying no sign of snowdrops nor hazel catkins.......Like the bees I'm staying put and keeping warm.
Re: What have you done today bee-related?
PostPosted:11 Jan 2019, 21:07
by Patrick
Nigel, you are not the first to observe I live in a different world.. some have even suggested (not always charitably) an alternative Universe!
Re: What have you done today bee-related?
PostPosted:13 Jan 2019, 17:30
by Jim Norfolk
Meanwhlle next to the North Sea the temperature nudged up to 9 C today but the bees weren't fooled and stayed in out of the wind. I have seen little in the way of flowers on offer and no hazel out yet. I did take the opportunity to weigh my 2 hives and weights are now dropping around half a kilo a week. I counted 6 and 7 seams of debris on the Varroa board extending across 3/4 of the width of the brood box, so they could use a lot of food by spring.
Re: What have you done today bee-related?
PostPosted:13 Jan 2019, 20:09
by Patrick
I too hefted yesterday and some are definitely lightening up.
Need to keep an eye, especially if weather turns.
Re: What have you done today bee-related?
PostPosted:14 Jan 2019, 09:31
by NigelP
Had one that was very light....fondant added and bees working away at it. I was surprised by how large a colony it was, which might explain it's lack of stores.
Re: What have you done today bee-related?
PostPosted:14 Jan 2019, 09:59
by AdamD
As is often the case the weather on the coast is behind inland Norfolk - I see no hazel out near me but around Norwich (Southern bypass) I saw some yesterday. There's a little gorse around.
I have just put a kg of fondant on one of my plywood mini-nucs which was very light. As it was cold, the bees didn't move at all and stayed in cluster - no veil required. This is one of those colonies that I don't really need - the queen was an emergency one of some sort - although of a fair size - however if she survives she might help someone out in spring if they have a DLQ.
Re: What have you done today bee-related?
PostPosted:14 Jan 2019, 15:10
by Patrick
AdamD wrote: ↑14 Jan 2019, 09:59
I have just put a kg of fondant on one of my plywood mini-nucs which was very light. As it was cold, the bees didn't move at all and stayed in cluster - no veil required. This is one of those colonies that I don't really need - the queen was an emergency one of some sort - although of a fair size - however if she survives she might help someone out in spring if they have a DLQ.
Sounds familiar.. I am consistently rubbish at reducing numbers in the Autumn - always end up keeping a few “just in case” colonies. But have had reason in the past to occasionally be pleased I did come Spring.
Re: What have you done today bee-related?
PostPosted:14 Jan 2019, 17:42
by NigelP
Reduction is not easy
Assuming all goes well I intent to sell off some surplus hives and nucs at the beginning off the season....so I can make increase again during the season
Re: What have you done today bee-related?
PostPosted:14 Jan 2019, 18:26
by Patrick
Good thinking Nigel
My granny used to eat reduced fat yoghurt to be healthy but didn’t like the flavour, so would stir in some cream. Very wise.
Strangely, she was unable to suck eggs. I would have been ideally placed to teach her had she thought to ask..
Re: What have you done today bee-related?
PostPosted:15 Jan 2019, 11:46
by Cable_Fairy
It is good to see all the bees on the top, mine have been like that for weeks on one hive and I thought there was something wrong. In my other hive they are clustered between the frames which is what I was expecting.