Like the swarm collecting box Adam. Great idea to have a queen excluder for the bees to move through.
Started varroa treatments yesterday (and today). Apitraz strips this year. From what I could see most queens have been on a brood break, only patches of sealed and very young brood present, eggs only in some colonies. I'm presuming (with no evidence) that they have now switched to making winter bees. Will let them get on with it for a couple of weeks before starting winter feeding. I don't want the brood box clogged with stores until the queens have have done their laying.
All are fairly light but have sufficient stores for the time being with the balsam providing a little income.
Started varroa treatments yesterday (and today). Apitraz strips this year. From what I could see most queens have been on a brood break, only patches of sealed and very young brood present, eggs only in some colonies. I'm presuming (with no evidence) that they have now switched to making winter bees. Will let them get on with it for a couple of weeks before starting winter feeding. I don't want the brood box clogged with stores until the queens have have done their laying.
All are fairly light but have sufficient stores for the time being with the balsam providing a little income.