14th May - Midweek Trustee Visit

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 Apiary
Temperature 16C, weather sunny. Time 17:00

Limited inspection to check nucleus #2 & #3 for brood and stores and Hive #8 for Queen Cells. Hives #1; #4 and #6 not inspected.

Nucleus #2

3 frame mating nucleus plus 2 frames foundation.

Frames
Queen not seen.
No Queen cells.
No brood or eggs.
Stores still OK.
 

Nucleus #3
3 frame mating nucleus plus 2 frames foundation.

Frames
Queen seen.
No Queen Cells.
3 frames of Brood in all stages and eggs. Partially drawn frame replaced with frame of sealed brood from Hive#8.
Shallow stores frame originally supplied now almost exhausted - replaced with deep frame of stores from Hive #8.
 

Hive #8
Double Brood, on slab.

Bottom Deep Brood
No Queen seen.
No Queen Cells.
6 frames of brood including 1 day old eggs.
3 frames of stores.

Top Deep Brood
No Queen seen.
2 charged Queen Cells removed, eggs available.
6 frames of brood including 1 day old eggs. 1 frame donated to Nuc#3 replaced with partially drawn frame at edge of brood nest
3 frames of stores. 1 frame donated to Nuc#3 replaced with foundation frame.

Supers
2 shallow boxes.
Moved new foundation box under box being filled. Both light.

General
Bee Temper: 7
Varroa count: Not checked
 

11th May 2014 - SBI Health Inspection

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 Apiary
Temperature 13C, weather sunny. Time 14:30

All inspections carried out by our Seasonal Bee Inspector. Apiary given clean bill of health.

Hive #1

Instructor:SBI

Class: General

Brood and half, on grass.

Deep Brood
2 Sealed Queen Cells left at last inspection (19th April originally seen 13th April).
Queen seen - unmarked.
No Queen Cells.
No brood or eggs.
Adequate stores.

Shallow Brood
No Queen Cells.
No brood or eggs.
Adequate stores.
Queen excluder moved under box changing function to super.

General
Bee Temper: 9.
Varroa count nil.

Nucleus #2
Instructor: SBI
Class: General
3 frame mating nucleus.

Frames
Queen seen.
No Queen cells.
No brood or eggs - polished cells.
Stores?
 

Nucleus #3
Instructor: SBI
Class: General
3 frame mating nucleus.

Frames
Queen seen.
No Queen Cells.
Brood in all stages.
No stores - needs feeding.

Hive #4

Instructor: SBI
Class: General

Single Brood, on slab.

Deep Brood

Queen not seen.

1 unsealed and 3 sealed Queen Cells found. 1 charged unsealed and 1 sealed cells left.

4 frames of mainly sealed brood.

Supers (2)
4 frames of stores.

General

Bee Temper: Good

Varroa count nil.

Hive#6

Instructor: SBI
Class: General
Brood and half, on slab.

Deep Brood
Queen not seen.
See general for Queen Cells.
5 frames of brood.
Stores OK.

Shallow Brood
Queen not seen.
See general for Queen Cells.
7 frames of brood.
Stores OK.

General
1 emerged Queen Cell and 2xsealed left.
Pollen coming in and cells being polished.
Bee Temper: 8
Varroa count: unknown

Hive #8
Instructor: SBI
Class: General
Double Brood and half, on slab.

Bottom Deep Brood
No Queen seen.
1 damaged and 2 unsealed Queen Cells removed eggs available..
6 frames of brood including 1 day old eggs.
Adequate stores..

Top Deep Brood
No Queen seen.
2 charged Queen Cells removed, eggs available.
6 frames of brood including 1 day old eggs.
Adequate stores.

Shallow Brood
No Queen seen.
No Queen Cells.
No brood.
Frames being drawn and filled with stores.
Queen excluder moved under box changing function to super.

General
Bee Temper: 7
Shallow box of foundation added to top of hive.
Varroa count: Nil

ACTIONS
Hive #1
Check for laying.

Nucleus #2
Check for laying.
Refresh stores frame.
Add sealed brood (from #8) if eggs.

Nucleus #3
Refresh stores frame.
Add sealed brood (from #8).

Hive #4
Awaiting emergence and mating of queen leave 4 weeks.

Hive #6
Check for laying if pollen, otherwise leave for 3 weeks.

Hive #8
Potential to perform Artificial swarm if  Queen found.
Use as donor for sealed brood for nuc's.
 

4th May 2014 - Swarm

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 Apiary
Temperature 13C, weather sunny. Time 14:30

Due to hopeful Virgin Queen mating flights in Hive#1 and Nucs #2 & #3 inspections restricted to Beginner inspection of #4 and #6 and Novice inspection of #8. Swarm found high in hawthorn tree on arrival.

Hive #4

Instructor: FW
Class: Beginner

Single Brood, on slab.

Deep Brood

Queen not seen.

5 unsealed and 1 sealed Queen Cells found. 2 charged unsealed cells left on marked frame.

7 frames of brood in all stages including 3 day old eggs.
4 frame of stores..

General

Bee Temper: 9

Frames of 2 supers repositioned for space.
Varroa board not checked.

Hive#6

Instructor: TB
Class: Beginner
Brood and half, on slab.

Deep Brood
Queen not seen.
See general for Queen Cells.
5 frames of brood.
2 frames of stores

Shallow Brood
Queen not seen.
See general for Queen Cells.
6 frames of brood.
6 frames of stores.

General
6 sealed and 1 unsealed Queen Cells found. 1 sealed and 1 unsealed queen cell left.
Bee Temper: 9
Varroa count: nil

Hive #8
Instructor: BD
Class: Novice
Double Brood, on slab.

Bottom Deep Brood
No Queen seen.
No Queen Cells.
6 frames of brood including eggs.
3 frames of stores half full plus brood periphery.
2 empty drawn frames.

Top Deep Brood
No Queen seen.
2 charged Queen Cells in supersedure position removed, eggs available.
8 frames of brood including eggs.
2 frames of stores plus 1 frame half full plus brood periphery.

General
Bee Temper: 7
Super not yet been drawn. Removed Queen excluder to encourage drawing.
Varroa board checked and low drop (<1 per day).