23rd March 2014 - Feed Check and Annual Equipment Clean.

Welcome to the Petersfield & District Beekeeper's Apiary Blog for 2014. It is intended to publish here all the activities that take place in the apiary.

For security reasons please do not mention geographic or personal details when posting a comment.

General

Temperature 3C, weather sunny. Time 13:30

 

Woodpecker cages on all hives.

 

Local Oil Seed Rape beginning to flower.

The shelter flood has started to subside.

Took spare equipment to annual cleaning day. Returned with following spares:
3x Stand; Floor; Queen Excluder; Deep with 11 Hoffman frames of wired foundation; Crown Board; Roof.
3x Shallow with 11 Hoffman Frames.
5x Queen Excluders
6x Varroa Boards
1x Roof

Hive #1

Brood and half, on grass. Mouseguard on. Hefted medium. Previous fondant gone. Added new carton of fondant (700g).

Hive #4

Brood and half, on slab. This has wooden entrance excluder rather than Mouseguard. Hefted medium.  Still has fondant from last feed looks untouched. Bees down in deep brood and clustered.

 

Hive #5

Double brood, on grass. Mouseguard on. Hefted medium. Added new carton of fondant (700g).

Hive #6

Brood and half, on slab. Mouseguard on. Hefted medium. Added new carton of fondant (700g).

General Actions
Check stores again in 2 weeks time - first Apiary Meeting.
General inspection. Remove Mouseguards and Woodpecker cages. Clean floors; Insert Varroa Boards; Check Queens are marked.
Renumber hives #5 and #6 to reflect positions.

4th March 2014 - Feed Check

Welcome to the Petersfield & District Beekeeper's Apiary Blog for 2014. It is intended to publish here all the activities that take place in the apiary.

For security reasons please do not mention geographic or personal details when posting a comment.

General

Temperature 7C, weather fair. Time 14:30

 

Woodpecker cages on all hives.

 

The shelter is still  flooded.

Hive #1

Brood and half, on grass. Mouseguard on. Bees flying. Hefted light. Previous fondant gone. Added new carton of fondant (150g).

Hive #4

Brood and half, on slab. This has wooden entrance excluder rather than Mouseguard. Bees flying. Hefted medium.  Added new carton of fondant (150g).

 

Hive #5

Double brood, on grass. Mouseguard on. Bees flying. Hefted light. Still has fondant left from last feed.

Hive #6

Brood and half, on slab. Mouseguard on. Bees flying. Hefted light. Still has fondant left from last feed.

Actions
Check stores again in 2 weeks time.