We were a bit concerned that the number of bees flying was very low but due to cold or poor weather we’ve not been able to check.
Today was our first check of the year and to no surprise there were very few bees, no eggs, no larvae, no food. We found a very new queen however but not mated yet. Our options are: Re_queen. Feed the hive and hope new queen mates and starts laying or let the colony die off and start from fresh.
Watch this space.
Sunday, 19 May 2019
Sunday, 8 June 2014
Amber Nectar
Jars bought, cleaned and stacked, preparation area ready. Now to fill..
Today's findings
Checked the girls today, marked 1 new queen, found a little virgin queen and remarked a queen from last year because her red dot was almost gone.
One of the nucs had no sign of the queen, no stores, literally about 20 capped brood but 8 queen cells!!! so to save the colony we have ordered a new queen to put in the hive and will remove the queen cells at the same time. Hopefully then the colony will grow.
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| His nibs filling jars |
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| Jar 1 |
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| 139 in total whooppeeeeee |
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| Just a few more :) |
Today's findings
Checked the girls today, marked 1 new queen, found a little virgin queen and remarked a queen from last year because her red dot was almost gone.
One of the nucs had no sign of the queen, no stores, literally about 20 capped brood but 8 queen cells!!! so to save the colony we have ordered a new queen to put in the hive and will remove the queen cells at the same time. Hopefully then the colony will grow.
Sunday, 1 June 2014
First honey harvest 2014
Hot, humid and very sticky!
Today we took off the first harvest of honey. From 4 hives 5.5 supers were ready. This year we cleaned down, did a lot of preparation. Arranging the garage, we had it kind of like a production line. The cleaner and tidier the better because if the workers get a hint of that honey smell they will try their best to join us in the garage. (previous years we've had 100's of bees sneak in) this year just the odd one. Success!!!
Uncapped, spun off, filtered then decanted into the large valved containers to rest until next weekend when we start to fill the jars.
Because we almost definitely have oil seed rape honey in there somewhere, we have sat one of the containers on a heated pad to make sure it doesn't set solid.
Weight taken off today = 117lbs Brilliant!!!!!!!
Today we took off the first harvest of honey. From 4 hives 5.5 supers were ready. This year we cleaned down, did a lot of preparation. Arranging the garage, we had it kind of like a production line. The cleaner and tidier the better because if the workers get a hint of that honey smell they will try their best to join us in the garage. (previous years we've had 100's of bees sneak in) this year just the odd one. Success!!!
Uncapped, spun off, filtered then decanted into the large valved containers to rest until next weekend when we start to fill the jars.
Because we almost definitely have oil seed rape honey in there somewhere, we have sat one of the containers on a heated pad to make sure it doesn't set solid.
Weight taken off today = 117lbs Brilliant!!!!!!!
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