Spruce's honey bees

These were out and about in the sunshine

 

Cracker photo Zig , they will be collecting water to dilute the honey .
You are turning into a bee inspector

 

Ta Spruce

I didn't dare get any closer as I wasn't using protection

Will they now, I wondered why they were carrying little jugs

 

*Update 25 Jan 2014*

Hi all

Checked both hives today and treated the bees for varroa mite, both hives looking really good more than I expected so a pleasant surprise you just never really know this time of year what you will find inside......
I really needed a week of frost and very cold normally I would of treated by end of December , but I dont want to leave it any longer as if the weather carries on being mild the Queen will increase her laying of eggs.

Each hive covering 5 frames with bees , and both have ample honey stores I have put the inspection boards back in the bottom of each hive so I can check the mite fall off the bees the mites will fall through the metal gauze floor onto a piece of card (sits on top of the inspection board) smeared in cooking oil this helps capture the mites and makes it easier for me to roughly count how many , the earwigs that live in between the crown board and roof not to happy as they got knocked off on to the grass but they don't do the bees any harm.

All of the above took me less than 3 minutes on each hive, I don't want to chill them also I always do in the morning with this Winter treatment as they have ample time to get the temperature back to normal before the cold night draws in.

I will have my mentee start off with two nucleus hives in May on the same Apiary site as me, as he has had a disastrous 3 years, so I will be keeping a close eye on him and every time I will go he will be getting one to one tuition, otherwise I think he will be giving up and that would be a sad loss with all the enthusiasm he has shown, plus another opportunity of showing how to start with a "Nucleus of bees" the Queen are "Buckfast" the bees that the famous Brother Adam created.


Spruce GCOMBK

 

That's good news! It's nice to know that both the hives are looking good.

Just looking at Buckfast bees now on wiki. You learn something new every day on here.

 

You certainly can Fern , thank you for your post it is appreciated

Zigy & Armandii drinking mead

Spruce

 

Lovely to hear that the 2 hives are in good order Spruce and that the V mite treatment went well too.
I know there hasn't been very much sunshine this Winter but there hasn't been that cruel, relentless sub zero temperature time that must sap the strength and endurance of these little creatures. Let's hope it continues in the same vein - every such day means nearer to Spring,
Jenny

 

Ere, @Spruce

Aesculus stuck this up on Facebook

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com...-cross-kingdom-leap-from-plants-to-honeybees/

 

Wow Zig !!!

Just as well we dont grow commercial crops of tobacco here in the UK

 

@joolz68 does I think

 

that will teach them

http://www.london24.com/news/quirky...n_after_targeting_shed_full_of_bees_1_3260256

 

*Update 18 Feb 2014*

Left work and went straight down to the bees (in my office clothes) and both hives flying about in the sunshine, they get the late afternoon sunshine which warms the hives up and no chilling wind.

I removed the "mouse guards"

as you can see from the picture its only big enough to let the bees in & out and keep the rodents out , they will be fine now as the hive is more awake and the "guard" when the bees are collecting pollen and bringing it back home knocks it off the legs and gets wasted, but at this time of year is really important food for the bees.

So both looking good for February

I may get another two new hives this year.

Spruce