Apichat

Weather has been poor this last fortnight keeping the bees activity to a short period each day. Was considering the need for feeding but today the sun is out, it's 16C, and they are working hard on the nearby OSR and the many flowering plants and trees around. No sign of swarming yet but drones are on the go and they will be sexually mature at 36 days so there is a need to be vigilant.

Sun shining and 14C, the bees were enjoying the spring weather and abundance of pollen although the breeze putting a chill in the air. Reconfigured the hives for spring. Removed the all important duct tape that kept the draughts out. The honey supers placed under the brood box at the onset of winter have been mostly cleaned out, those that are suitable are used again. Hefted the brood boxes to assess the stores then a careful and quick look at the center brood frames, all was well with eggs and brood all stages, not looking for the queen yet. Cleaned up the floors and Varroa boards, replaced the queen excluder and put on three supers, some with drawn comb some with new. No emerged drones yet.

11th April, temperature up into double figures and the sun's out. Stores nearly all used up and the bees are bringing in lots of pollen and building comb around the feeders, time to put the wet supers on.



Eager to get going in the first week of April, it only took 10 days for this colony have filled the spaces in the eke with comb, which is already mostly full of hatched larvae and a little honey. A sneaky peek in the brood chamber revealed 5 frames of brood at various stages. Time to remove the draft proofing tape and get the supers on! Good start, hope the weather keeps improving, nearby OSR starting to flower.

2nd April - After a spell of really cold dull days the sun is fully out after a frosty start to the day. The temperature is still low at 7C but bees are as busy as any summer day and they are loaded to the hilt with yellow pollen,a glorious sight!

The supers will be going on soon!

Changeable weather, 11C, bees out gathering bright and dark orange pollen between showers. Quick look through the glass cover board to see bees up in eke building comb. Soon be time to take it off, replace queen excluder and get the supers on. :D