Thank you to all who came today to help with the work on the new apiary. We first checked on the fondant and discovered that most of the colonies needed topping up, all sorted! If you haven’t checked your own bees for a while, we’d suggest you do ASAP, it was amazing how much fondant they … Continue reading →
Check the weight of the hive / level of stores and add fondant if needed.Quite often beekeepers give their bees a Christmas present of fondant on Boxing day.With the entrance narrowed down it’s important to check that the entrance is clear as there is a danger that bees that have died in the hive can start … Continue reading →
Varroa treatment should have been completed. Note treatments are temperature dependent and may be less effective as temperatures drop. Unite small healthy colonies or unite to stronger ones. Assess stores. Nationals need approximately 40lbs /18kg of stores feeding should be finished by mid -September. ( A brood frame holds 5lb/2.3kg, supers 3lbs/1.4kg). Feed 2:1 syrup. feed … Continue reading →
I had planned a meeting based on uniting colonies this Sunday. Due to the very hot weather I feel this is better postponed. Look at the posts for a revised meet date.
Continue reading →Come along to Nowton Park Apiary this Sunday where we will be looking at the Nucs we set up two weeks ago to see how our queen cells have faired. Do we have newly mated queens to clip and mark? We will go on to introduce a Queen to an existing colony. You might want to … Continue reading →
Why make up a nucleus colony? We can use this to aid swarm control, make increase in colonies, a spare colony to overwinter or to re-queen a colony. We will go over the equipment needed, the techniques used and the follow on care. As we will be moving frames and material from hive to hive we … Continue reading →
Do you have trouble finding the queen in your hive? Come and see some techniques to make it easier. Do you clip and mark your queens? We will look at advantages and the different techniques and equipment available – have a go, it really is easy! In case you can’t find the queen we will go … Continue reading →
This meeting is aimed at beginners, with or without bees, and experienced beekeepers . We have looked at trying to prevent our bees from swarming but how do we deal with a swarm when it all goes wrong? As beekeepers we have a responsibility to collect our own, or other beekeepers swarms. The public expect us … Continue reading →
Last week we discussed swarming and how to delay this by under supering, and carried out part one of an Artificial Swarm. This week Jon and Marion will look to see how the colonies have responded to our management. They will also be carrying out a routine inspection. Come along to support the apiary meetings.
Continue reading →Apparently Honey Bees can distinguish Between odd and even numbers – have a read!
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