Recent content by gwt_uk

Inspected all but 2 of my colonies (the other 2 hopefully have newly hatched queens out getting mated!). Added additional supers to 2 and reduced QCs in two that were split last week. The nectar is pouring in to some colonies very rapidly.

Inspected a colony that I hadn’t checked last week due to the cool weather. Several sealed Queen cells but eggs present. Spotted the Queen after going through them twice - she had slimmed down quite a bit and was obviously getting ready to go when the weather improved! Put her in a Nuc and...

Inspected 2 Nucs. 1 coming along nicely at a steady rate. The other was very populous and had a number of charged Queen cells. Also inspected two other colonies at another apiary. One quietly bumbling along and the other very busy and storing nectar in their super. There was a couple of Queen...

Went into 2 colonies that I took Nucs from last week. Reduced both down to 1 QC. 11 degrees but no wind. Bees were very tolerant.

Went into 2 colonies that I took Nucs from last week. Reduced both down to 1 QC. 11 degrees but no wind. Bees were very tolerant.

I am going to have to do the same tomorrow - the forecast looks slightly better!

Added some more 1:1 syrup to 2 nucs that I have temporarily relocated to my garden. I don’t get much of a chance to sit and watch my colonies as they are in other apiaries. Nice to observe them for longer periods!

Found a charged QC in a very populous colony. Made up a Nuc with the existing queen and removed to another apiary. Added supers to 4 colonies All right next to fields of OSR.

Hello - quick question. I am planning to bring the colonies to my garden that is almost 3 miles from their current site. How long should I keep them in the garden before moving to the new site?

Two of the colonies are in Poly nucs so it would be too hot to close them up. I am thinking to bring them back to my garden which is just under 3 miles from the new site. The bees should survive but I may not when my wife finds out my plan.

Yes that could be an option. I have access to another site just under 3 miles away.

Thank you. Looks like I will have to move them 3+ miles away first.

Hello all, I have to move 3 of my colonies quite soon. Got a couple of complaints from a homeowner about bees in her garden/house and a horse owner who wasn’t happy that the bees were collecting water from her buckets. I have another possible site lined up but it looks about less than 0.5...

Yes very lucky. Will keep a good eye on her!

Update on this. I hadn’t had time to go back and follow your instructions. I inspected today and fully expected to find an empty Nuc box. Instead I found that the population had increased significantly (due to emerging brood) and the queen I released was alive and laying well. I have been very...