Its the 31st January 2014, about 5C, there is a stiff South Westerly, its trying to rain. Sounds like every day we have had this 'Winter'. We have still not had a serious cold spell and the long range forecasts don't predict one. Fairly soon if this keeps up the wild willows will flower and then the bees will start production in earnest.
So, push has come to shove. The bees will have to be treated for varroa control with oxalic acid whether we have ideal conditions or not. I will be treating my bees on the next cold day that comes along. There is bound to be some brood present in all my colonies, but hitting varroa after this mild Winter is essential.
Friday, January 31, 2014
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Fondant
The first week of December is when I put fondant on all my hives, some take to it more readily than others, but usually a colony will make their way through half a kilo in a week or so. In normal Winters by now we are knee deep in hard frosts and near freezing daytime temperatures, with howling North Easterly winds that cut across our flat fenlands like a knife.
I say usually because this 'Winter' is not very usual. Its January 5th today and we had a bairly visible frost first thing this morning, I think we had another a couple of weeks ago. Yesterday, 4th January there were bees flying in large numbers from most of my hives.
Back to the title, fondant. As I said usually a colony will take about half a kilo a week. The pictures are of two colonies, E and I. They are the only two that have taken any noticeable amount from the first half kilo in the five weeks its been on top of the crownboard. I have looked down through the crownboard feed holes and all of the other colonies appear to be ok. Does this mean that the unusually mild Winter is allowing the bees to access their own stores or that the colonies are in trouble.
Very soon push is going to get to shove and the oxalic acid treatment will have to done. The ideal is two-three weeks of freezing temperatures, thats not on our forecast any time soon. Whats that saying, if it was easy...................
I say usually because this 'Winter' is not very usual. Its January 5th today and we had a bairly visible frost first thing this morning, I think we had another a couple of weeks ago. Yesterday, 4th January there were bees flying in large numbers from most of my hives.
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| hive E |
Back to the title, fondant. As I said usually a colony will take about half a kilo a week. The pictures are of two colonies, E and I. They are the only two that have taken any noticeable amount from the first half kilo in the five weeks its been on top of the crownboard. I have looked down through the crownboard feed holes and all of the other colonies appear to be ok. Does this mean that the unusually mild Winter is allowing the bees to access their own stores or that the colonies are in trouble.
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| hive I |
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