Tips for the Month:
When you do your first inspection, move the broodbox onto a bench or some stacked empty super boxes and remove the dirty old floor and place a clean, flamed floor onto the original site, replacing the brood box on the clean floor. If you have another hive, clean and flame the floor you have removed from hive 1 and repeat the process on hive 2.
Tips for the Month:
Make sure bees have easy access to water to dilute crystallized stores or fondant.
Feed fondant if hives start ot feel light when hefting them.
Tips for the Month:
Do not disturb your bees at all by opening the hive, if you need to feed you can do so over the feed hole, or if the colony is weak lift the crown board and place the fondant directly on the top of the frames above where the bees are clustered. If you check your varroa board first you can see from the debris on the floor where the bees are.
Tips for the Month:
If you are planning to use oxalic acid to treat your bees for varroa in the broodless period, make sure you follow instructions carefully or you risk harming your colony fatally. Remember also to record any medications you use as this is a legal requirement. Keep your records for at least 5 years.
Tips for the Month:
Do not disturb your bees at all by opening the hive as the winter cluster will have formed and the bees will have propolised the hive to make it watertight and draught proof
Make sure your mouse guards are in place and if you know there are green woodpeckers about, protect your hives with wire netting or strips of plastic which flutter.
