Spruce's honey bees

Hi Jenny
Zigs is correct the "beekeeper" imagine a tiny blob of "tipex" put on the Queens thorax , it helps us to spot the queen more easily , some people put a tiny disc on with a number so they can keep more detailed notes on how each one peforms over the seasons

Spruce

 

have I got news ......Will update this week Spruce

 

Hi All

Sorry its late !!

So the good news is I have honey roughly about 50lb/60lb so not bad for such a bad summer plus they both swarmed as well just to add to the insult.

I have attached a couple of photo's of the honey frames , these are kept in the "super" above the brood box where the queen lives and lays her eggs .

I will spin the honey out on Sunday (photos's) to follow so you get a better understanding how it all works.

The last photo is of a frame they never filled out or finished building the rest are full of honey

I have started the winter prep so they will be happy over winter and they already have enough stores of their own to last until spring over 50lb easily and "hefting" the hives both are really heavy and they are still collecting pollen and nectar from Himalayn Balsam and the ivy its just stating to flower as well so more pollen and nectar so its all looking very good if we have a couple of warm dry days over the next couple of weeks.

Half way through the "Varroa Destructor " treatment this is a external parasite that sucks the hemolymph out of the bees and makes them weak and vunerable to other illness viruses and could kill out the whole of the hive if I dont treat.
Spruce

 

Aw brilliant Sprucefacinating stuff...'spinning' the honey...looking forward to that...so really the Bee's have done well considering the summer they've been through...

 

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Thanks Loli , yes not bad for the GC apiary.

Yes will take lots of photo's of the "Spinning" thats a lolipoint

Spruce

 

Armandii you have made me go red again

Thanks though
ps if any one has noticed no wasps about they have had it bad as well !!
Spruce

 

Yes definatley noticed no wasps...i've always got bombarded with them whilst picking plums and normally run around the kitchen likebut without the smile whilst making jam ...so it just goes to show...

 

Nice one Spruce, looking well good

Only one or two wasps around here too. Not seen a single Hornet this year.

 

Thank you Spruce. really gorgeous pictures . Those frames look so clean and healthy. Why is it an insult when they "both swarmed" as you said please? Does that mean that some of them did a runner?
Jenny

 

Hi Jenny
Glad you like the photos I see what you mean they do look clean & healthy I try my best with them ....

Not some did a runner, about 20 thousand (workers) out of each hive plus my two new Queen's that cost £30 quid each !! with all the rain we had they got too congested inside 24 hours a day , woudnt we all !! decided enough is enough I missed them leaving by one day, from what I gather they were trying to get into the roof space of a farm building 200 yards away but decided then just to fly off again I woudnt of been able to get them back as the farm building is 60 feet high and no way would you get me up a ladder in a beesuit.
But good news I have two new (free) Queens going into winter which is very helpful
So busy day tomorrow.
Camera is all ready

Spruce

 

I would love to keep bees

 

Get in touch with your local Society they run a 6-8 week courses over the winter months

I only have the two hives at the moment want to get to four. finding the right spot to keep them is a good start as Jenny has said before , mine are in the Mayfair/ Park Avenue of bee areas.

Spruce

 

Thank you, Spruce! I shall do that

 

So glad you have a new Queen Spruce. Looking forward to tomorrows "bees on parade"
Jenny