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Re: What have you done today bee-related?

PostPosted:03 May 2021, 18:02
by NigelP
And when a tree falls in the forest with no one around does it make a sound....
It's a bugger this weather.....I'll be packing snelgrove boards in double figure amounts for when we get next inspections done.

Re: What have you done today bee-related?

PostPosted:03 May 2021, 18:54
by Steve 1972
The weather up here on the Northumbrland coast is brutal..rain then cold weather then rain again..today it is flooded everywhere and blowing a hooligan and terential rain..prior to this two weeks ago in nice weather I put Queen excluders òn five colonies and a super as the bees where very busy..(bad decision)..?..all but one has carried on expanding the other four are stuck in limbo..
Yesterday we had 11°C and the bees where bringing pollen in so I gave another three colonies more room as they where desperate for it..I give these three and a weak six frame nuc fondant which I am glad I have done with today's weather and the rest of to foreseeing few days..
I have been lambing up here for the past 12yrs and had bees up here for six years and to date this is the worst the weather has ever been..I will be loosing the cherry and blackthorne blossom if it does not warm up soon and hopefully the OSR..
My main goal now is to keep the all alive regardless of a spring crop ready for the summer crop..
PS ordered more Fondant ..

Re: What have you done today bee-related?

PostPosted:04 May 2021, 11:08
by mikemadf
There is a 10 year solar cycle and mid 2020 was the end of one .We are now in for 2-3 coldish years then a hot spell 2024 to c 2027.
In anticipation, I hold stocks of fondant over winter (and in advance of queen rearing).

I see the forecast suggests rising temperatures this next weekend.

Re: What have you done today bee-related?

PostPosted:04 May 2021, 16:14
by Alfred
Need a hot spell tomorrow if you dont mind mike
Repared two bait hives wbich the winds took out of their positions last night.
They ended up 15 ft from the starting grid.
So in conclusion I cant get to my bees and now Im not supposed to source replacements either.
The beekeeping gods are showing their displeasure.
Was it something I said

Re: What have you done today bee-related?

PostPosted:04 May 2021, 17:10
by Bobbysbees
I spent the day in the shed building super frames (with wax wired foundation as mine seem to hate the plastic stuff)
got two supers put together with fresh foundation all though the way the weather has been I don't think i will need them anytime soon.

Re: What have you done today bee-related?

PostPosted:04 May 2021, 19:23
by AdamD
Someone recently asked me when I'll have a spare 2021 queen available. That's a laugh as colonies are small and they haven't gotten the idea that drones are worth producing yet; So queen-rearing is not on the agenda. (I've had queens mated and laying before the end of May in the past). I am surrounded by OSR that's been out for a couple of weeks and the colonies I quickly checked this weekend (I don't usually do it wearing a fleece under my beesuit) had a frame or two of stores and that's it. Supers are not on yet, apart from two colonies. But the weather could change very soon and all will be rosy!

Re: What have you done today bee-related?

PostPosted:04 May 2021, 21:02
by JoJo36
Wondering now if my two supercedure cells are swarm cells??!!

After speaking to a few other beekeepers I mentioned my laying queen being superseded and that I had two cells on two different frames on the upper face and a few thought they could be swarm cells!!
Looks like I'm going to have another look tomorrow and decide:(

Re: What have you done today bee-related?

PostPosted:05 May 2021, 09:49
by Patrick
“Normal” i.e. not emergency, Queen cells seen in April, May and June are most likely to result in swarming.

It’s a subjective judgement by the beekeeper that they are there for supercedure purposes and in those months I would simply assume not. If the queen is laying well and nothing is obviously amiss with her, you have less to lose assuming they are attempting to swarm and doing something about it with a split. You can reunite later with the young queen and so achieve the same as a supercedure anyway.

Re: What have you done today bee-related?

PostPosted:05 May 2021, 11:14
by JoJo36
Makes complete sense Patrick, I will try to check today although could be warmer here!!

Re: What have you done today bee-related?

PostPosted:05 May 2021, 12:56
by JoJo36
Did a check but really a bit too cold!

One cell pulled down and other empty so wondering whether I am imagining the whole swarm/supercedure problem or I need my eyes tested??!!

I'll take another check in a weeks time and see if any charged cells then, if I find any I will carry out artificial swarm and my snelgrove board just arrived so could try that if needs be as I don't have that much space!!