The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Bees & Beekeeping => Topic started by: Anke on January 21, 2011, 08:17:12 pm

Title: Bees still alive!
Post by: Anke on January 21, 2011, 08:17:12 pm: Did my oxalic acid varroa treatment today (I know it is a bit late, I normally do it before Xmas, but it was just too cold then), and the good news is that all three of my hives are alive. Good sized cluster between the two broodboxes. added some Apifonda. hopefully they will be ok, but will check to see if they take the sugar stuff by mid february.
Title: Re: Bees still alive!
Post by: Greenerlife on January 21, 2011, 08:24:38 pm: Same here! did my treatment a couple of weeks ago and I thought I had lost one hive but they were snuggled up in a few frames at the bottom. Dooesn't look to be that many of them and am worried for them, but fingers crossed!
Title: Re: Bees still alive!
Post by: egglady on January 21, 2011, 08:59:06 pm: same here! Did my treatment yesterday for the same reason and had a good cluster. They are taking the fondant too. Bring on the Spring....
Title: Re: Bees still alive!
Post by: cluckingnuts on January 22, 2011, 04:47:45 pm: After losing 3 colonies the previous year to mice I'm happy to say the 4 remaining made it through so far.
Title: Re: Bees still alive!
Post by: OhLaLa on January 31, 2011, 06:21:45 pm: Have you got mouse guards to put on the entrances? They will nest if not.

:bee:
Title: Re: Bees still alive!
Post by: Rosemary on January 31, 2011, 07:05:37 pm: Well done - we'll be picking your brains next year (I hope) :bee:
Title: Re: Bees still alive!
Post by: cluckingnuts on January 31, 2011, 07:10:49 pm: Quote from: OhLaLa on January 31, 2011, 06:21:45 pm
Have you got mouse guards to put on the entrances? They will nest if not.

:bee:

Yes, forgot the other year, that's why I lost them.
Title: Re: Bees still alive!
Post by: Anke on January 31, 2011, 08:39:56 pm: Lost my first hive that way too!
Title: Re: Bees still alive!
Post by: Greenerlife on February 18, 2011, 10:08:41 pm: Went to put a pollen feed on today and my hive is officialy dead. I may cry.
Title: Re: Bees still alive!
Post by: egglady on February 18, 2011, 10:36:32 pm: so sorry to hear that greenerlife....am now dreading checking mine!
Title: Re: Bees still alive!
Post by: Anke on February 19, 2011, 08:18:42 pm: I have one that looks now quite suspicious too... did a varroa count last week and unfortunatley had to insert Apistan sheets into all three hives, as drop was just a wee bit above what I had hoped for... They must already have had some brood when I did the oxalic acid treatment.... I had hoped that I would get away this year without the knock-out chemicals, but it seems not to be the case...

And one hive was looking fairly empty, but the bees were flying that day too... hoping they all decided to go for a wee cleansing flight while the sun was shining... probably not though....
Title: Re: Bees still alive!
Post by: egglady on February 19, 2011, 09:27:45 pm: did oxalic treatment a couple of weeks ago (when there were bees around), checked this morning and nobody in the fondant pack, no flying and only saw one bee :'( :'( :'(
Title: Re: Bees still alive!
Post by: Anke on February 20, 2011, 07:45:26 am: They might just be clustered up if it is quite cold. Only open up for a quick look when they are actively flying and the sun is out, as otherwise you could chill the brood and the queen might stop laying. You can only hope at this time of year....
Title: Re: Bees still alive!
Post by: egglady on February 20, 2011, 10:40:52 pm: hi Anke, thanks for the vote - that's what I'm hoping for...but......... time will tell of course...keeping ym fingers crossed as really really wanted to be able to have my own honey this year :(
Title: Re: Bees still alive!
Post by: jaykay on February 25, 2011, 08:39:42 pm: I checked mine a couple of weeks ago and they're also still alive. We lost them last winter, I think they froze the night it got to -18C :o.

We're at 1000ft in Cumbria so I am wondering if we are beyond what's possible for bees?

Will be planting them a garden this year :bee:
Title: Re: Bees still alive!
Post by: little blue on February 25, 2011, 08:47:19 pm: greenerlife, I'll share my box of Kleenex with you... my hive is also dead :(
they weren't all huddled together, it looked as if they had started moving around inside the hive then become frozen.
but all dead.

what an expensive and short venture that was....
Title: Re: Bees still alive!
Post by: jaykay on February 26, 2011, 07:28:44 am: Oh I'm sorry - that was what happened to us last year :'(

This year, we insulated their hive with 100mm Kingspan, which we happened to have around from having the roof done. It looks a mess- we have just cut slabs and gaffer-taped them together - but it seems to have done the trick so far.

Will you try again? :-*
Title: Re: Bees still alive!
Post by: Floyd on February 26, 2011, 04:40:24 pm: All 4 of my hives have survived so far, not sure I should count my chickens(Queens) yet as Mrch cn be notorious up here. Insulated on top of the crown boards also but not directly so tht an air gap remained and fed fondant when needed.

There are out in force today and very inquisitive when standing in their flight line even 100 yards away.

Floyd
Title: Re: Bees still alive!
Post by: little blue on February 26, 2011, 05:17:21 pm: HI JayKay.,
I will certainly try again .... but cannot afford a nuc just at the moment. will be on the lookout for swarms and winnig lottery numbers... ;)
Title: Re: Bees still alive!
Post by: manian on February 26, 2011, 05:22:36 pm: little blue
do you go to the derbyshire bee meeting
its on tuesday and they will be able to sort a new neuc in the spring
Title: Re: Bees still alive!
Post by: little blue on February 26, 2011, 06:50:46 pm: I dont yet, am hoping to join soon....
do you? :)
Title: Re: Bees still alive!
Post by: manian on February 26, 2011, 09:29:11 pm: went to the last meeting and was very good. (and well attended). i'm in london on tuesday so not sure can get there but will go next month.
Mx