Archive for the ‘Bee Health’ Category
March Already
Monday, March 1st, 2010
Well, here we are at the start of March. The beekeeping season will now start to get into full swing from now on, weather being favourable of course! The brood nest will now start to increase and demands for pollen and water will likewise also increase. If you haven’t done so already, now is the time to check on food stores in your colonies. As mentioned in a previous entry there are several ways to check. From now on it may be better to feed sugar syrup, either a specialist type or home made. You need a concentration of 1kg (2lb) sugar to 0.5ltrs (1pt) water. I recommend at least 5ltrs(1gal). Use a Rapid/Contact type feeder placed directly over the brood nest, not the Ashforth or Miller feeder type at this time due to temperatures still being low and bees may not enter these feeders.
It is also worthwhile observing your colonies at this time of year. On warm mild days at midday the entrance should be very active with bees taking quantities of pollen into the hive, this being a good indication that the colony has a laying queen and brood is being produced. It is also worthwhile to note that also at this time bees will endeavour to clean the hive, so a number of dead bees may be noticed beneath the entrance, you should not be unduly worried by this unless extremely large numbers or weak and crawling bees are seen, then further checks should be made.
If you are in any doubt as to the health of your bees, collect a sample (30 bees approx) and get them checked for adult bee disease.
Tags: Bee Feeding, Bee Health, Information
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