So I realise it has been a long time since I posted but there has been nothing to report. The bees are snug in there hives eating their honey and waiting for warm spring like days.
Today Suzanne and I met up to plan the start of the season and get ready for some Spring jobs. Even though it was really cold we went out and hefted the hives and had a quick look. All colonies and still alive and have stores - so far so good.
First job of the season is to do an intensive Hive Clean treatment on all three hives as soon as the weather warms up a bit. We used Hive Clean last year to great effect and since I wimped out of using Oxalic acid on the bees this winter and Beatrice hive has a high varroa count - we need to get cracking on our varroa treatments.
The second big job of the season is to do a bailey comb change on Adele hive. This is where you empty the bees onto all new frames and foundation, so that they start the season on fresh wax. But you must feed them since you will have taken away all their stores with the old wax. Wax making takes a great deal of energy and uses up alot of honey.
I have ordered new frames and foundation in the Thornes sale so as soon as that arrives we need to start using our haphazard carpentry skills.
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