Emergency Feeding

Hi all

Went to the 'Canal Side' apiary today, cold and bit damp but I needed to check the colonies out.

Most were fine but a few more had left this mortal coil - this is a very difficult time for the bees, all the bees are really old now - hatched October last year (5 months as opposed to the normal life expectancy of 3 weeks in the summer). So any stress to the colony and ....

The colonies which had died had dwindled over the winter and finally died out. The other colonies had very little stores so time for a quick feed, I use fondant which is very similar to fondant icing,

I've given each colony at that apiary about another kilo each so they should have enough to get them through the next few weeks until more flowers are out. I'll be checking the other apiaries this week, if I have time, note to myself - make time!

In the winter some beekeepers put on 'Mouse Guards' these are metal strips with large circular holes in them which you pin over the entrance, the theory being that the mice can't get in. I was a bit lazy last year and a couple of dead colonies now have a little furry occupant. They don't seem to go into an active colony, I think normally the bees would attack any incomers, however dead or empty colonies are a bit tempting. However as they say 'Every silver lining has a cloud' and the mouse nests are excellent for attracting bumble bees to bumble bee nests. So I'm going to remove the mice and collect the nests.

Just a slight worry at the Canal Side Apiary - the farmer of the next door field was spraying tonight, I could smell some horrible chemical - hopefully it wasn't some dreadful pesticide which could kill all the bees. I will keep an eye on this apiary over the next few weeks to check.

All the best

Tony