Three dozen members attended the first Meeting of the season. The weather was kind, sunny & overcast, 12/15C, the five colonies doing well. Floors & brood boxes were changed; queen excluders and varroa trays inserted. Queen cells found, an artificial swarm was performed on hive 1
Hive Records
Hive 1 . Liz Hawes – 14 X 12 with 8 frames brood in all stages. Sufficient room & stores. One full Super of stores. Good temperament. 2 unsealed Queen cells. Artificial Swarm performed. Queen + 3 frames brood, foundation on original site will retain flying bees. Q C’s and remaining 5 frames, 3 stores & 3 foundation established as 1A. Examine 1A in one month
Hive 2 . Rowan Roberts – national. Fed fondant through winter & trickle-fed syrup through early spring. 2.5 frames brood, 2 frames stores. Good temperament.
Hive 3 (formerly 4). Peter Reader – National double brood, top box empty. 5 frames brood in all stages. 4 frames stores. Sufficient room& stores. Good Temperament. Existing fondant left.
Hive 4 (formerly 7) . Brian Herbert – National. Queen seen & marked red. 7 frames brood in all stages. 4 frames stores. One full Super stores. Second Brood chamber added and brood split 4 below + stores & foundation, 3 above + foundation. Second Super added. Drone uncapped, varroa seen. Deformed wings seen. Reasonable temperament.
Hive 5 . Richard Williams – national double brood. 9 frames brood, 4 in bottom box, 5 in top; 10 frames stores, 5 in each box. Sufficient room & stores. Super added. Reasonable temperament. High propolisation between brood chambers (incorrect bee space). 5 wax moth larvae seen.