M4tt 4,941 Posted September 30, 2016 Share Posted September 30, 2016 Well, after September being so wet with very few flying days, it is interesting to see one of the commercial beeks around me reducing boxes on hives down to singles, the same as I've been doing . Let's hope October weather improves quickly because there are plenty of flowers about Link to post Share on other sites
Daley 4,351 Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 My hives are all doubles at the moment, but for the rest of the year they are singles. some will be split and some won't make the cut, we pushed some of mum and dads down again yesterday after letting them up when the strips went in. Singles are a bit less labour intensive if you can manage the swarming. Link to post Share on other sites
Popular Post Rob Stockley 3,417 Posted October 1, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted October 1, 2016 Had some fun today. Stripped brood from a couple of strong hives into QL nucs ready for a cell in a couple of days. Cells are looking good, maybe 14 out of 20 taken. Populated the Q8 with bees and gave them a feed ready for a cell. Found and marked another supercedure queen. Did some sampling. Made bases and lids. Also wired and waxed a few frames. Did a bit of everything really. 5 Link to post Share on other sites
api mania 205 Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 Had some fun today. Stripped brood from a couple of strong hives into QL nucs ready for a cell in a couple of days. Cells are looking good, maybe 14 out of 20 taken. Populated the Q8 with bees and gave them a feed ready for a cell. Found and marked another supercedure queen. Did some sampling. Made bases and lids. Also wired and waxed a few frames. Did a bit of everything really. How are you keeping the bees in the Q8 for 2 days while they wait for your cells? I have just got some false Queen strips, I look forward to see how they work. Link to post Share on other sites
Popular Post dansar 5,524 Posted October 1, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted October 1, 2016 Picked up a new apiary today that has about 250 Pear trees ready to flower in the next week or two. No nectar to speak of from the pear flowers but bees will be in the middle of clover heavy pasture. I forsee bottled pears for winter deserts and lots of Pear Cider being made 5 Link to post Share on other sites
Daley 4,351 Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 Picked up a new apiary today that has about 250 Pear trees ready to flower in the next week or two. No nectar to speak of from the pear flowers but bees will be in the middle of clover heavy pasture. I forsee bottled pears for winter deserts and lots of Pear Cider being made That sounds good. I love pear cider. Link to post Share on other sites
Janice 3,991 Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 I had a nasty dream last night here in Bali that I got home and all my hives were dead. I will find out on Friday when I get back. Link to post Share on other sites
frazzledfozzle 7,483 Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 Ohh you are in Bali now !! I'm completely envious Link to post Share on other sites
Kiwi Bee 589 Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 Ohh you are in Bali now !!I'm completely envious Get back to your hive tool. Bali is only for those who are bathing in manuka honey :rofl:. Link to post Share on other sites
Janice 3,991 Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 No manuka honey money here. Just spending my savings . . . They go much further in Bali 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Daley 4,351 Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 I had a nasty dream last night here in Bali that I got home and all my hives were dead. I will find out on Friday when I get back. :lol They will be ok. Those kind of dreams are the worst Link to post Share on other sites
Hector Wong 263 Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 @Janice Hope they are all OK. When I returned from holiday at the end of August one of mine died of starvation. Link to post Share on other sites
Popular Post Rob Stockley 3,417 Posted October 1, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted October 1, 2016 Pretty pleased with that 5 Link to post Share on other sites
Janice 3,991 Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 @Janice Hope they are all OK. When I returned from holiday at the end of August one of mine died of starvation. That's what is worrying me. Link to post Share on other sites
dansar 5,524 Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 Pretty pleased with that[ATTACH=full]14940[/ATTACH] Cool. Did you provide any extra feed in the hive during the process? Link to post Share on other sites
Rob Stockley 3,417 Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 Cool. Did you provide any extra feed in the hive during the process? Yes. 3FD squeezed to 2FD when the Cloake board went in. After the hive was spun the 1FD starter was jam packed with bees. Fed about 3L 1:1 when the cells went in. Link to post Share on other sites
Philbee 4,675 Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 Ive been out and about today for a look and between showers the bees are flying. Ive refrained from doing any grafts so far this year. This coming week I will get started. My focus this season on the breeding side is going to be on more quality and less quantity which will start at the larvae graft and finisher loading. Link to post Share on other sites
dansar 5,524 Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 And this is how wet it's been...a bee drowned on a flower. Link to post Share on other sites
Rob Stockley 3,417 Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 Checked on first spring mated queen this afternoon. Three frames like this in a five frame nuc. Thinking awesome! Got to frame five without sighting queen. I'm sure I marked her. Back through the frames looking for an unmarked queen. Still nothing. Hmmm. Cluster of bees on the inner cover? No. Oh dear! What's that on the grass? She must have been playing hide and seek on the bottom bar of the first frame and got caught. She looked lifeless but undamaged. Fainted maybe? Scooped her up and dropped her between the frames. She might wake up. If not I'll be back there tomorrow. Now if only I had a cell to drop in Link to post Share on other sites
Philbee 4,675 Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 One hazard of being a Beek. On the boundary of one of my blocks is a lone isolated house. The couple that live there are the type that just want to be left alone to live an uncomplicated life. The husband phoned me today in an accusing tone and asked if I had been stealing his wife’s Knickers off the clothes line. I went to see him and explained that I have sleepless nights already without being accused of this kind of thing. We spoke about other possible suspects and I suggested he talk to his 4 dogs . Link to post Share on other sites
tommy dave 1,184 Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 Poked my head through a few hives that are part of a community project here in Lower Hutt this afternoon. Nice way to spend some time. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Rob Stockley 3,417 Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 How are you keeping the bees in the Q8 for 2 days while they wait for your cells? I have just got some false Queen strips, I look forward to see how they work. I stuffed that part of the plan up! Fortunately for me a kind friend gave me some queen and brood pheromone to try out. Cells go in tomorrow or Tuesday so fingers crossed. Link to post Share on other sites
Philbee 4,675 Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 I stuffed that part of the plan up! Fortunately for me a kind friend gave me some queen and brood pheromone to try out. Cells go in tomorrow or Tuesday so fingers crossed. What is the basis of this type of Pheromone? Is it a synthesized pheromone or a Volatile Link to post Share on other sites
Rob Stockley 3,417 Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 What is the basis of this type of Pheromone?Is it a synthesized pheromone or a Volatile English, please? This is it PseudoQueen 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Philbee 4,675 Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 English, please? This is it PseudoQueen What I mean to ask is, I note that you describe the PseudoQueen substance or device as "Queen and brood" Pheromone My question relates to the method of production for the product. Is it a chemical copy or is it a brew made up with a solvent that dissolves the Volatiles from within a mash. My interest is in producing the latter and any information/ advice would be appreciated Link to post Share on other sites
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