This hive was made up from a nuc supplied by Melo Bees two weeks ago, doing very well and filling a super - very happy with these bees.
This Year’s Queens
Two of this years queens successfully mated and laying now, so I marked them today. Both colonies aught to do well, they are nice and strong, and in a good location.
Active Bees
The bees are lovely and active today, which is great to see. I have been making new hives all day yesterday and today as I have some new colonies of bees on the way, plus I need to make a few more splits. I have a few empty nucs which I can use, but I … Continue reading Active Bees
Population Explosion
I managed to get the inspections done on the hives in my garden today - all queens seen, all laying well and a fair few drones in the hives, especially the double brood hives. I have one weak hive, on about 6 frames, but there is a lot of sealed brood so numbers will pick … Continue reading Population Explosion
We have a winner – or two!
A very good first ever honey show for Lytchett Bay Apiaries, and I won what I considered to be the creme-de-la-creme, first prize for my honey in the Commercial Section. I got two First places for honey, a second for honey, a second place for Honey cake, a second for photography, a third place for … Continue reading We have a winner – or two!
Not quite right…
I've been rendering and cleaning wax for entering into the honey show, and moulded some wax yesterday to see how it came out. The 8oz blocks were a dismal fail, I must've got some water (probably from steam) into the wax, because this happened; This would have been my entry into class10; Class 10 One … Continue reading Not quite right…
End of season work
I'm taking advantage of the decent weather and painting a load of new poly mating nucs so I think it's time that I tidy up the stands for them too - 'insect friendly' paint being used, of course. I also have some new Maisemore's 6 frame poly nucs to paint. I use Valspar "Oxford Blue' … Continue reading End of season work
An Inspector (or 5!) came calling…
I had a visit from the National Bee Unit today, two bee inspectors and 3 auditors (why are there always more bean counters?). The auditors were checking that the bee inspectors carried out their work as per ISO standard, and that they were using and filling in the correct paperwork. The National Bee Unit (NBU) … Continue reading An Inspector (or 5!) came calling…