For non-bee related reasons not yet treated and did so today. Used a 50ml syringe but only charged to 40ml, anticipating 8 seams of bees at 5ml a seam - the percentage oxalic in the mix is supposed to be fairly critical but not so sure about the amount of solution but don't like over treating. If I have a full syringe likely to just use it.
7 degrees and little wind. They were clustered and non flying but still active. As on a brood and a half this year meant they were more disturbed when splitting than normally when I just overwinter on singles and lift the cover, so smoker and full protection were most definitely required. I had intended to move the filled super below the brood chamber in the Autumn but didn't get round to it. Surprised the cluster had not moved up more into the supers, although most supers were nearly cleared of stores. Most brood chambers hives still heavy tho.
Broke the habit of a lifetime and inspected a few central frames (could almost hear my Grandad muttering dark words in Welsh at me) - to my considerable surprise there was neither capped nor uncapped brood seen in the two hives I went through. Bees did not appreciate the disruption and I don't blame them in the least and wont make a habit of it. I have theorised on here that with our recent mild winters I thought they probably did not now have a broodless period at all and I am delighted to be proved comprehensively wrong - which means for one thing the oxalic trickling will be more effective and the bees will have a natural brood break and rest. Great. I am on uninsulated wood hives open mesh floor open all year and restricted entrances and closed off crown boards and this year brood and half or double brood overwintering. Other set ups may be totally different of course.
Horribly tempted to nosy into mates poly hive and see if he has brood present (Welsh deceased Grandad now red in face, grabbing me by lapels and slapping me around the face repeatedly).