http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php British Beekeepers Association discussion forum en Tue, 06 Jan 2009 07:29:52 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=180 Sun, 04 Jan 2009 13:45:46 GMT Still very mild weather hovering around the mid teens although mostly overcast skies. Fitted a new floor to my TBH and modified it with hinges and... Still very mild weather hovering around the mid teens although mostly overcast skies. Fitted a new floor to my TBH and modified it with hinges and hooks and eyes together with a bottom varroa screen. I will convert all my Kenyan TBH's with this modification to enable easier mite counts. I also retro-fitted legs to it as it can no longer sit on blocks because of the new opening floor. I have incorporated the same floor design to my hybrid hive although I still have the legs to fit and a roof to make. ]]> Norm http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=180 http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=179 Wed, 31 Dec 2008 18:04:49 GMT After the warm sunny weather of yesterday(20 deg C), the grey skies are back today but still mild at 13 degrees. Bees going mad on the lavender with... After the warm sunny weather of yesterday(20 deg C), the grey skies are back today but still mild at 13 degrees. Bees going mad on the lavender with a hum so loud, my wife asked if they were swarming!
Modified my Layens transfer box roof to give it a beespace above the frame top bars and to put a skirt of wood around the periphery to make it more weather proof. Last time I used it, there was some ingress of rain water into the hive. Gave it, Hybrid hive and TBH roof a coat of fence stain. Need another sunny day to render some cruddy wax in the solar melter. ]]> Norm http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=179 http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=178 Mon, 29 Dec 2008 17:53:53 GMT Although overcast with a few bright spells and temps around 12 -13 degrees C, the bees are flying and foraging on the lavender. If we don't get a prolonged frosty spell (highly unlikely) the lavender will continue blooming until late spring, early summer. It has been a mild winter with old leaves still on the almond trees with flowering about to commence in the next few weeks. There are other wild flowers blooming and I really must get a book on european wildflowers and identify what are useful to the bees.
Did some filling of gaps & holes in my hybrid Top Bar Hive. I have designed it to hopefully have all the advantages of a TBH without some of the disadvantages. I will post some photos when it is fully finished. It uses cut down British National frames with the hoffman side cut off at about 10cm from the top bar. The idea is to give the comb more support than a standard top bar whilst allowing the bees to construct natural comb on the starter strips of my own pure wax that has not been tainted by any chemicals or antibiotics. The gaps in the bars allow the bees up above the bars, so there are removable panels set a beespace above the top bars. Each panel only uncovers a couple of the combs so the whole colony is not exposed when the roof comes off. ]]> Norm http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=178 http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=177 Sun, 28 Dec 2008 15:54:01 GMT Rainy day again and although it is 10 degrees, no sign of bee activity. A bit of internet research revealed the identity of an abundant plant that... Rainy day again and although it is 10 degrees, no sign of bee activity. A bit of internet research revealed the identity of an abundant plant that has just started to flower here. It is Bermudan Oxalis or something. I don't believe it is of any value to bees as the web site I visited said it was a poisonous plant. Shame really as it is all over the place. Spent some more time in the workshop and completed 3 more warre box elements. I am looking to have 5 elements for each hive.
edited later
Just been past the bee water trough I provide for them and there are a lot of bees collecting water from it. Seems strange that on a drizzly day, they fly the 100m or so to the trough to collect the water when it is right outside their hive! ]]> Norm http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=177 http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=176 Sat, 27 Dec 2008 17:36:42 GMT A non flying day today, about 8 deg C, grey and drizzly. Decided to clean up some Layens hives and a Layens transfer box plus a Kenyan TBH. Cleaned... A non flying day today, about 8 deg C, grey and drizzly. Decided to clean up some Layens hives and a Layens transfer box plus a Kenyan TBH. Cleaned the debris out of the Layens then left them open to the birds so they can find any wax moth grubs that I didn't. Gave 2 coats of fence stain to the transfer box and the Kenyan. Need to make a new floor for the Kenyan before next duty. ]]> Norm http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=176 http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=175 Tue, 23 Dec 2008 17:28:17 GMT Took jar of honey round to neighbour to offer seasons greetings. Got ear ache from her about how she got stung in the Summer and she has taken a... Took jar of honey round to neighbour to offer seasons greetings. Got ear ache from her about how she got stung in the Summer and she has taken a photo and how she didn't want any bees by her boundary wall. (Had left a stack of empty supers.)

She asked that I keep the bees out of her garden. Last time I asked her to show me the bees in her garden she showed me a hover fly.

Am left feeling rather unseasonal towards her!!!! Tried to smile anyway. ]]> Karin http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=175 http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=174 Mon, 22 Dec 2008 13:33:14 GMT It looks like robbing in December. There is an angry buzzing noise and loads of bees outside on the front of, and flying back and forth, in front of... It looks like robbing in December. There is an angry buzzing noise and loads of bees outside on the front of, and flying back and forth, in front of one of the small colonies that has been sleepy since it got cold.:( ]]> Karin http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=174 http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=173 Sun, 21 Dec 2008 16:18:48 GMT Sunny today and 2 of the hives flying and bringing back pollen.. bright golden yellow; perhaps mahonia? Removed sticky insert from biggest hive... Sunny today and 2 of the hives flying and bringing back pollen.. bright golden yellow; perhaps mahonia?

Removed sticky insert from biggest hive (that I put in after the oxalic acid treatment.) 28 varroa on it after 8 days. Seems low, but guess is should be as it is not that long since they were given the thymol treatment.

From the pattern of the wax on the sticky sheet, I wondered if they are still brood rearing or not, but didn't look as it is cold.

The small vicious colony were making an effort to throw out a drone who didn't seem to want to go. Rio the dog who has come for Christmas, got stung. She'll be more careful of the hives now, so I think it is probably for the best that she gets only one sting and is wary.

Took Christmas cards and honey to long suffering neighbours, but they weren't all in so didn't all get the honey. ]]> Karin http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=173 http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=172 Sun, 14 Dec 2008 15:40:25 GMT No. 4 daughter's 15 year old buddy Sanchia has been ringing and posting facebook messages to me about when she can start to learn about beekeeping hands on. Decided today was the day.

Briefed her she would probably get stung but she didn't. She was gentle and interested.

Hives were light!!! Got some cheap baker's fondant from a bee buddy, so am in luck with that at least. Gave them all fondant and did OA treatment. The biggest colony did land on us, but not in the usual numbers. The other two mostly stayed in the cluster. I felt a bit uncomfortable giving them OA, but in the end thought that I can't follow everybody's advice, I have to to choose and take my own path.

So far so good. Checked the stack of supers with comb I had left outside and they are wet!! One crown board was mouldy.:eek:

No sign of waxmoth, but haven't really taken adequate precautions... so more hope than anything else. Am hoping the frost has killed the eggs.

Put everything in the dodgy shed now. At least it is dryer in there. ]]> Karin http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=172 http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=171 Sat, 13 Dec 2008 00:43:29 GMT Having a minor wobble about whether I am going to treat with oxalic acid or not.

Evidence I has read says I should, if i need to, but I can't really tell if I need to. I have bought this sticky boards to put in the bottom of the hives that are marked up in squares... suppose I could do a mite count in one of the hives and then decide.

I do like the bees and I know the thymol, which I treated them with in the autumn, wound them up... but think that this is me being sentimental. Feel I ought to treat them, but part of me doesn't want to! :o

Unless there is a bit of sun this weekend won't be doing it so, more time to mull it over. ]]> Karin http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=171 http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=170 Sat, 06 Dec 2008 13:36:25 GMT Back from Asda, the land of the living dead* to look at the hives. The bees are flying. It is cold. They are coming back cold and struggling to... Back from Asda, the land of the living dead* to look at the hives. The bees are flying. It is cold. They are coming back cold and struggling to find the entrance. Some... the smaller ones it looks like.. fall in the grass. Picked a few up and warmed them and put them back in the entrance. Then wondered whether the cold ones were possibly sickly and should have been left to die??

Went to B+Q looking for Cuprinol in light colours to paint the newly contructed hives. Steve says he puts 4 coats on his, and mine with one coat already look a bit ropey, so was looking for a big tin in a light colour. £17.99?? Went away grumpy and empty handed. Husband tells me that you can sometimes get them in the pound shops... so the quest continues.

Think I am turning into a supergrump!!!!

On a more cheering note, one of 15 year old daughter's friends is pestering me to let her help me with the bees. Happy for her to do it as long as her mother agrees and understand that she is likely to be stung. Said I would let her help with the oxalic acid treatment. She keeps asking when it will be.... next weekend I think... keep telling her that getting stung hurts... but she says she is tough.


*This is a bee blog so just a PS:
I have lost confidence in some of the human species! I got the bags I had taken to put the shopping in, STOLEN off the trolley. They weren't even nice ones!!!! I suppose you could frame that as a new version of recycling. ]]> Karin http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=170 http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=169 Sat, 29 Nov 2008 13:19:19 GMT I sent beek micrologist (is that a word?) a sample of my honey and he has managed to identify lots of them. I expect there were hundreds of... I sent beek micrologist (is that a word?) a sample of my honey and he has managed to identify lots of them. I expect there were hundreds of different types of pollen in it.

Was very excited. There was saxifrage, oxeye daisy, dewberry, cotoneaster, top fruit and alder, hazel, horse chestnut and elm. Interestingly there was also some evidence that they have been collecting honeydew.

I was not too chuffed by the honeydew diagnosis. When we were kids we always used to avoid the sticky bits of trees where there was honey dew... think I told my kids the same... that this stickiness was greenfly POO!!:o

Since it is in my honey I am going to reframe honeydew as sweet sap that rises up the plants in the Spring.

Still looking for a cheap source of suitably coloured cuprinol so hives are still in the kitchen... need to sort it out soon. ]]> Karin http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=169 http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=168 Sat, 22 Nov 2008 16:55:29 GMT There were tiny grains of snow/hail falling this morning, even though it was mostly sunny. The bees in one hive might have diarrhoea? Lots of... There were tiny grains of snow/hail falling this morning, even though it was mostly sunny.

The bees in one hive might have diarrhoea? Lots of orangey brown streaks on the hive floor inside the entrance. Not sure there is anything
I can do. Too late probably?? Anyone reckon I should have a go with Fumidil B is the Spring just in case?

The fence I put up to protect people on the path to the back gate has fallen down. Husband told me if I wanted a fence I would have to put it up myself - so was the first fence I have ever done. The posts are standing solid still, so should nto be such a bad job to fix it.

Now the evil squirrels... yes there are still loads despite my efforts.... are coming out of the woods at the back, jumping onto the tops of my beehives and then running down to dig up bulbs. Caught another squirrel today. Have left it for the fox to eat. Yesterday the fox had dug holes in the lawn trying to get at the guinea pigs, so must be hungry.

Husband quite keen for me to remove the pile of hive parts I have constructed from the kitchen. Explained that they can't stay outside until painted, so he is off looking for suitable paint as I write. Told him that I want another lot of hives just the same before middle of March... got a "maybe" out of him that he would make me some. Given the fence falling down am now less sure that woodwork classes for me is the way forward. ]]> Karin http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=168 http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=167 Sun, 16 Nov 2008 23:34:58 GMT Been working on putting the boxes together. Skills only marginally improved. Husband sayings like, "Why don't you hold the hammer at the end and swing it" and "I think you would find it easier if you hammered the nails in straight - can't you see that they are not straight?" and "There is no kind of thing as, more or less square, it either is square or it isn't Karin!". I was glad for his help anyway.

This lot of boxes not as good as the last lot I got. Quite of few of them not cut quite correctly, warped or with big knot holes. Same price, but got these sent direct from Maisemore and the others I went down to Bluebell Hill Apiaries to get.

Now on the look out for some cheap Cuprinol. Not sure I'll have time to have fun doing fancy designs on this lot. ]]> Karin http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=167 http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=166 Sun, 16 Nov 2008 21:39:44 GMT Well, its another sad one, this entry.
Hubby been to out apiary to check hives after the last few days awful weather - we've lost 3 hives out of six. Drowned in over thrown hives.
Am gutted and disheartened.

Feeling increasingly 'removed' from the bees - due to work, Hubby has been visiting them more often than not without me in tow - hoping in the spring, to schedule my days/evenings better to get to spend time with them - thats if we have any left of course! ]]> Citrine http://www.britishbee.org.uk/forum/blog.php?b=166