The forecast for Sunday was 10 C but luck was on our side and we had 12 -14 C and lovely sunshine, so it was decided to carry on and go through the colonies for the first time, with special attention to number 7 as it had a very high ( 50 in a week) varroa count. As a first measure we will try dusting with icing sugar to encourage bees to groom themselves and clear mites at the same time.
Temperature : 12 -14 C, Sunny, little wind.
Hive#1 Inspected by Brian Herbert
Brood box : 14 x 12 , over 3 frames of brood at all stages, stores ok, room ok, varroa count 4. temper 10.
Queen excluder and super added, some pepper-potting with drone cells needs an eye kept on. may mean the queen is losing her fertility.
Hive#2 Inspected by Brian Herbert
Brood box: 14 x 12 and half, 1 frame in Deep, 2 frames of brood in half. stores, room ok. Queen excluder added , under super put back on top. varroa count 30, so dusted with icing sugar. Temper 10
Hive#3 Inspected by Mel.
Brood box: Deep National. Small colony, only half a frame of brood, no stores, needed feeding 50:50 sugar solution added. varroa count 0, Temper 10
Hive#4 Inspected by Mel.
Brood box: Deep National, 4 frames of brood, room ok, no stores, needs feeding. 50:50 sugar solution added. Qx added under super moved from under brood box. Varroa count 12, Temper 10.
Hive#5 Inspected by Mel.
Brood box: Deep National, 3 frames of brood. room ok, no stores, 50:50 added. Qx added under super, moved up from under brood box. Drone brood and 1 drone seen, 3 mouldy super frames swapped.
Hive#6 Inspected by Liz.
Brood box: Deep National. Brood all stages (BAS) Q seen -still blue. stores and room ok. varroa count 3. Temper 8 mouse dropping again on vb.
Hive#7 Inspected by Liz.
Brood box: All Halves (supers) Peter Streets Method. 6 -7 frames of B A S. stores ok, room ok. Big colony. Varroa count 30 but last week was 50, dusted frame tops and bees with icing sugar. also a few chalkbrood.
Hive#8 Inspected by Liz.
Brood box: National Deep. Q seen,still blue. brood ok, stores and room ok. Under super moved up above Qx and another super added. varroa count 5. Temper 9
Hive#9 Warre Hive Quick check only, light stores so 50:50 feed put on.
Hive#10 Inspected by Richard/Brian
Top Bar Hive, one extra bar put in main chamber, small colony but stores and room ok. 50:50 syrup put on to help.
Hive 15 F Inspected by Liz.
Brood box : National Deep. Q seen, still blue. B A S. stores and room ok. varroa count 3, Temper 8
Hive 15 H Inspected by Liz.
Poly Nuc. Making up nicely. 1 drawn frame moved next to brood frames.
Richard, Liz and Mel. Apiary Custodians
