The bees I have had from Frazz are lovely, you will enjoy 
Apiary Diary October 2021
- Thread starter James
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Frazzie my dear - as a reporter you are in my sights. Whatch out for next winter. It won't be too hard to work out your address. I will ask your candy maker!!!!!! Ha ha. I might even bring a bottle or two of superior Leeston mead (to die for) and of course if you want candy without freight, at the interview.
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Collected a two frame swarm early this morning. Poor little critters have been hanging out over the weekend through sun and torrential rain.
Checked today and there are finally fresh eggs and a nice looking queen. Must have taken about 8-11 days to start laying from when I first caught the swarm with the virgin queen.. Hopefully she turns out alright!
Your prices are very very high.. often I forget..I bought it although they are not hard to make. Here is a link to a similar one
Lega 7170 Solar Wax Melter 7170 - Large • Ecrotek
www.ecrotek.co.nz
It's a blooming swarm
That's what one could call a bloomin' swarmCaught this weeny beeny today.....
Swarm #4
I was out doing a COI yesterday afternoon and received a call about a swarm that was just settling. 3 minute drive away. Fortunately I had all the gear needed to collect it. Enough bees for 2 FD boxes.
Down side is they were down a scrubby bank filled with blackberry, Japanese honeysuckle, barberry….and I can advise that the privet isn’t too far off flowering 🤣
Went out and picked up the bees 6am this morning and added a second super once in their new location.
I was out doing a COI yesterday afternoon and received a call about a swarm that was just settling. 3 minute drive away. Fortunately I had all the gear needed to collect it. Enough bees for 2 FD boxes.
Down side is they were down a scrubby bank filled with blackberry, Japanese honeysuckle, barberry….and I can advise that the privet isn’t too far off flowering 🤣
Went out and picked up the bees 6am this morning and added a second super once in their new location.
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Just went and told hubby about your photo James and commented that given so many of us who did pollination in the north have suffered high hive losses this year.
I Said Orchardists have to declare what they spray with for EuroGap etc.
We (beekeepers) should be uniting and demanding what and when all orchards were sprayed with so we can see what affecting our hives plus we have to test to see what poisonings they are dying of.
He then told me what a friend Beek (selling last of Hives) told him this week. Had hives like yours in orchard and questioned manager why bees dying, manager went back to big (glossy covered, corporate) boss and was told change the beekeeper next year.
We will have to unite if we want change.
Fun day in the hive this weekend. But the real treat is the smell of boiling propolis & wax that has yet to leave my nose.
Pollination in full swing. So grabbed nannas cloths dryer n decided to give oxg strips ago in pollination. Followed ottos mix plan, got a nephew who’s a plasterer so get tape for nix, wifey got a sewing machine, with the price of everything going up got to look at alternatives, either the biggest mistake I’ve made or a penny saver I’ll let u all know, I do let them dry a couple of days before placing in hives.
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I like the rack, although it'll be interesting to see what the OA does to the plastic coating.
Amazing that you have feeders on all the hives despite being in a orchard
Kiwifruit pollination can be pretty dire for beehives. Kiwifruit only offers pollen, there is often not much else other than Kiwifruit in the area and there tend to be plenty of beehives. Feeding is important, both to keep the hives going and it makes the bees more interested in collecting pollen.
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