A huge advantage of a Forum such as this is people telling you what they are finding out in with their bees in real time. Right here, right now, as that noted beekeeper Fat Boy Slim points out.
A post from thewoodgatherer recently mentioned that after autumn feeding his colonies had actually started to to get noticeably lighter again, which would normally be expected much later and nearer to next Spring. Some other beekeepers have reported exactly the opposite, with a big flow off Ivy or Balsam. Either way, the bees are not hunkering down by the looks of it.
I don't get much Ivy flow (which is a bit of a mystery, tbh) and so with thewoodgatherer's experience at the back of my mind, I briefly hefted my colonies yesterday. And found most are already significantly lighter that they should be at this time of the year , i.e. they do not feel to a casual one handed attempted tip up from the stand, to feel like they are nailed to it. Most irritating. You might usefully think to check as well, particularly if expecting to follow the advice of most older books that after feeding well in September, you can confidently take up learning the tuba until April next.
I know if i mix up more syrup now it will immediately signal historic low temperatures and I will end up with feeders of unused syrup to deal with and still insufficient stores to last the winter, so my next move will probably be to either put on a good wodge of fondant now or be prepared to do so later.
I probably favour now on balance. My thanks to thewoodgatherer for making me think to check.
A post from thewoodgatherer recently mentioned that after autumn feeding his colonies had actually started to to get noticeably lighter again, which would normally be expected much later and nearer to next Spring. Some other beekeepers have reported exactly the opposite, with a big flow off Ivy or Balsam. Either way, the bees are not hunkering down by the looks of it.
I don't get much Ivy flow (which is a bit of a mystery, tbh) and so with thewoodgatherer's experience at the back of my mind, I briefly hefted my colonies yesterday. And found most are already significantly lighter that they should be at this time of the year , i.e. they do not feel to a casual one handed attempted tip up from the stand, to feel like they are nailed to it. Most irritating. You might usefully think to check as well, particularly if expecting to follow the advice of most older books that after feeding well in September, you can confidently take up learning the tuba until April next.
I know if i mix up more syrup now it will immediately signal historic low temperatures and I will end up with feeders of unused syrup to deal with and still insufficient stores to last the winter, so my next move will probably be to either put on a good wodge of fondant now or be prepared to do so later.
I probably favour now on balance. My thanks to thewoodgatherer for making me think to check.