| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Cosmicwillow
Guard Bee
Joined: 07 Oct 2015
Posts: 89
Location: U.K. Notts/Lincs/Yorks border
|
 Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2016 2:02 pm Post subject: waking bees |
 |
|
| bees are becoming active (uk Gainsborough area), not looked inside hive but should i feed them or just let things play out. if advice is feed what ratio of sugar to water. will they mange to forage at this time of year, daffodil, primrose and certain trees are beginning to blossom. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Adam Rose
Silver Bee
Joined: 09 Oct 2011
Posts: 589
Location: Manchester, UK
|
| Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2016 2:38 pm Post subject: Re: waking bees |
|
|
| Cosmicwillow wrote: | | bees are becoming active (uk Gainsborough area), not looked inside hive but should i feed them or just let things play out. if advice is feed what ratio of sugar to water. will they mange to forage at this time of year, daffodil, primrose and certain trees are beginning to blossom. |
I would say "don't feed".
There are a couple of reasons people say to feed at this time of year. The first is that the bees are running low on stores and despite a few plants flowering, they have no real way to replenish them. At the same time, the nest is expanding for spring. So it is possible for them to starve at this time of year.
The second is that some conventional beeks are obsessed with honey yield, so they want to artificially stimulate brood production now so that there are plenty of bees when the real flows begin.
Now I have never fed at this time of year and never had them starve in spring. So I think this is more worry than fact. It would be interesting to hear other people's experience of this.
Also, I think feeding at this time of year is part of the problem. It artificially stimulates the queen to lay more than she would naturally, and then when the weather turns again, as it inevitably will, the population is too high and what stores there are get consumed very quickly. So feeding now can mean you need to feed again if the weather turns.
Can I ask how many hives you have ?
Adam. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Cosmicwillow
Guard Bee
Joined: 07 Oct 2015
Posts: 89
Location: U.K. Notts/Lincs/Yorks border
|
| Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2016 6:34 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Thanks for your thoughts, I understand your reasons. I have two tbhives with colonies collected as swarms late last season, both are still active so they are, at moment surviving their/my first winter, all new to us, we'll almost. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
trekmate
Golden Bee
Joined: 30 Nov 2009
Posts: 1137
Location: UK, North Yorkshire, Bentham
|
| Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2016 7:38 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Cosmicwillow wrote: | | Thanks for your thoughts, I understand your reasons. I have two tbhives with colonies collected as swarms late last season, both are still active so they are, at moment surviving their/my first winter, all new to us, we'll almost. |
If you choose to feed as a part of your management and you believe the colony is low on stores, fondant may be your best option in your area. This should keep them alive without stimulating colony growth. 1:1 syrup will stimulate growth.
The aim should be to have confidence that they have plenty of stores in the autumn, but that's difficult with an unpredictable climate. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
catchercradle
Golden Bee
Joined: 31 May 2010
Posts: 1550
Location: Cambridge, UK
|
| Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2016 7:40 am Post subject: |
|
|
| I am also of the no feeding group, though if I think a colony is going to starve based on hive weight or a quick peek I will put some candy in. - Haven't had to do this the past 6 years though and haven't fed in autumn either for that period. If I get a truly atrocious season though I am prepared to feed. If judging state of play by weight use a spring balance if like me you have hives of several different types as you won't remember which one should feel like what! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Barbara
Site Admin
Joined: 27 Jul 2011
Posts: 1857
Location: England/Co.Durham/Ebchester
|
| Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2016 12:38 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Tomorrow I will be having a little peak into a couple of my hives that I'm not confident have enough stores.
I'm also in the "don't feed unless absolutely necessary" camp but I would hate for a colony to starve at this late stage. I also agree fondant is probqably the best bet if they need a top up as syrup will stimulate brood production and I'm not confident we are out of the woods as far as winter is concerned yet, so I'd rather the natural nectar flow dictates when they ramp up brood production.
I'm desperately willing my apricot tree to bloom during this mild, sunny spell, in the hope that both my bees and the tree will benefit and perhaps I might see some fruit from it. The buds are pretty much ready to pop open....
.... updated to say that the very first blossom popped this afternoon. It will no doubt be several more days before there are significant numbers of blooms open to attract honey bees. Really hoping my bees are able to work them as I haven't seen any bumble bees about yet.
Last edited by Barbara on Sat Mar 12, 2016 8:57 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
trekmate
Golden Bee
Joined: 30 Nov 2009
Posts: 1137
Location: UK, North Yorkshire, Bentham
|
| Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2016 6:10 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| catchercradle wrote: | | .... If I get a truly atrocious season though I am prepared to feed..... |
That's just about every season in west North Yorkshire!  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jumbleoak
Scout Bee
Joined: 03 Aug 2010
Posts: 295
Location: UK, England, Kent
|
| Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2016 7:43 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Classic catchercradle post:
| catchercradle wrote: | | I am also of the no feeding group |
Erm, but not really...
| catchercradle wrote: | | if I think a colony is going to starve...I will put some candy in |
| catchercradle wrote: | | If I get a truly atrocious season though I am prepared to feed |
Which can be summarised as: 'I'm of the feed if you think it's necessary group' - which probably includes most beekeepers. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
catchercradle
Golden Bee
Joined: 31 May 2010
Posts: 1550
Location: Cambridge, UK
|
| Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2016 8:10 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: | | Which can be summarised as: 'I'm of the feed if you think it's necessary group' - which probably includes most beekeepers. |
True but most bee keepers in this area are of the feed every autumn and spring come what may! I haven't fed for five, possibly six years now, even in 2012 when it rained all year virtually I didn't feed. Mind you I didn't take any honey from my bees that year either |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
catchercradle
Golden Bee
Joined: 31 May 2010
Posts: 1550
Location: Cambridge, UK
|
| Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2016 8:16 am Post subject: |
|
|
| For all year virtually substitute virtually all year. #lackofsleep |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
SPECIAL OFFER FOR UK FORUM MEMBERS - Buy your protective clothing here and get a special 15% discount! (use the code BAREFOOTBEEKEEPER at checkout and be sure to 'update basket')
Are the big energy companies bleeding you dry?
Is way too much of your hard-earned family income going up in smoke?
Are you worried about what could happen if the ageing grid system fails?
You need to watch this short video NOW to find out how YOU can cut your energy bills TO THE BONE within 30 days!
WATCH THE VIDEO NOW
|
Conserving wild bees
Research suggests that bumble bee boxes have a very low success rate in actually attracting bees into them. We find that if you create an environment where first of all you can attract mice inside, such as a pile of stones, a drystone wall, paving slabs with intentionally made cavities underneath, this will increase the success rate.
Most bumble bee species need a dry space about the size a football, with a narrow entrance tunnel approximately 2cm in diameter and 20 cm long. Most species nest underground along the base of a linear feature such as a hedge or wall. Sites need to be sheltered and out of direct sunlight.
There is a spectacular display of wild bee hotels here
More about bumblebees and solitary bees here
Information about the Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum)
|
|
|
Barefoot Beekeeper Podcast
|
|
|
|
|
4th Edition paperback now available from Lulu.com
|
site map
php. BB © 2001, 2005 php. BB Group
View topic - waking bees - Natural Beekeeping Network Forum
|
|
Forum
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Your Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
