Sunday 22 February 2015

Hive Alive!!

Well over the last few weeks I have been a little worried about the beehives.

You do the best you can in winter but you never really know what is going to happen so it is left up to fate as to what will happen.

So I was getting a little worried...I had been up to the hives a few times and seen no activity at all even on those milder days....I had listened and heard nothing...I had given a good slap on the side of the hives....and still nothing so I was thinking that maybe, for one reason or another (of which I would not be able to determine until the warmer weather had come) that the colonies had died over the winter.

This was my assumption but not certainty so I wouldn't risk going into the hives just in case as I would have to go down to the brood chamber to really determine what had gone wrong and then if there was nothing wrong the cold could kill the colony.

So here I was worrying but without being able to do anything about it!!

Anyway last Wednesday a lovely sunny day arrived with very little wind so I decided I would yet again go and take a look at the hives. I'm sure you can imagine my delight when I found this....


bees on winbter flights
Happy bees in the sun
A very busy colony of bees enjoying the winter sunshine!!

And then this.....

bees in winter
Bees flying in the weak winter sun.

So that is the two poly hives...the wooden one I was still worried about....no activity at all and with a few taps no humming. With the weather being quite warm I decided a quick look into the top box wouldn't do them any harm and when I opened the lids I found................a lovely cluster of bees eating the honey out of the top brood frame....WHAT A RELIEF!!!!!

No pics of the wooden hive as it is very quick in and out and they aren't totally out fo the woods as a colony yet for reasons I will explain in a later post but at least there is a good size cluster so I am very pleased.

As we've has a few warm days and there isn't much about for the bees to collect I gave them all some food which this time of year is fondant and then left them to go about there business.

I am really glad I got this done when I did a the very next day the weather took a turn for the worst again and there has not been a chance since when I could have got into the hives.

Point of interest...this time of year when the bees can't get out much then you give them feed in the form of fondant. this is food that they do not have to process and can eat immediately which means they do not need to go on any cleansing flights so it doesn't matter if they can't get out as they aren't messing up the hive.

So we are all happy here....and I managed to get two post done in less that a week...and I have yet more stuff to tell you so I may be back in the next couple of days!!
.

18 comments:

  1. That's great. I'm pretty sure our's died after our first cold snap early in the season. I'm glad yours are doing ok.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fingers crossed you will get as nice a surprise as me when you get chance to have a good look.

      Delete
  2. You must be very relieved that all is well with the bees and pleased that you were able to give them some food especially as the weather is still very changeable. There's a lot to consider when keeping bees and I hope everything continues well with the hive.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really am relieved Linda...it is always hard starting out on anything new and although I know I did all I could before the weather changed I think I would still feel responsible if they didn't make it. I was very pleased I had chance to get some feed in as we are getting days where the bees are really bust and yet there isn't much out there for them yet so really wanted to give them a helping hand just in case there own supplies run a little low.

      Delete
  3. I'm glad to see your bees are alright. We have very cold winters here so we never see bees until the middle of spring.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You should keep your eyes peeled for the bees Ratty, honey bees don't hibernates and if the sun is out and shiny and the air is still they will venture out even if there is snow on the ground!!

      Delete
  4. Aaah I'm glad your hives survived the winter x

    ReplyDelete
  5. Glad to hear that everything's well with your bees. It must be a bit of a worry over winter when you can't get inside to see what's what.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have worried more this year than last year and kept going and checking...guess I was just checking at the wrong times..lol

      Delete
  6. Poor things having their hives slapped - they were probably snoozing. I'm glad they are OK. Are cleansing flights what I think they are?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Honey bees NEVER snooze Sue so it is really worrying when you can't hear even the tiniest of hums!!

      I should think you are right abut the cleansing flights Sue...such a nicer way for phrasing bodily functions than we have...lol

      Delete
  7. Winter sure can be rough. Glad you saw activity. I'm sure that was a huge relief

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Tanya, I couldn't find an email address for you. I bought the bee fabric along with the others from New Threads. It was if I remember correctly £5.50 for half a meter. xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for this Joanne...I will be checking it out later!!

      I think I want a skirt. :-)

      Delete
  9. Dear Tanya, I am so happy to know all is well. It truly has been a cold!!! winter here too. It has been below zero wind chills. I am looking forward to spring as I am sure you are too.
    There still is so much snow on the ground and more cold coming next week.
    I am looking forward to starting a garden again and hoping that the results will be more fruitful this year.
    Please take care xoxoxo Catherine

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad to here from you and that you are well. Here is praying the weather warms up for us both soon and that we both have a bountiful year in the garden!!

      Delete

keep it clean...keep it relevant...I look forward to reading your comments!!