Apiary Diary October 2021

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445
327
Mid Canterbury
Experience
Semi Commercial
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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Dansar

Founder Member
BOP Club
6,224
5,708
Putaruru
Experience
Commercial
Collected a two frame swarm early this morning. Poor little critters have been hanging out over the weekend through sun and torrential rain.
66C5CDE7-CD15-4C1B-B44D-5FE6C8EEB1BC.jpeg
 
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736
588
Christchurch
Experience
Semi Commercial
Caught this beauty today. Couldn’t find which hive it came from though… bit of a mystery.

I am cutting down quite a few swarm cells atm. Hives are super strong, some already have easily 30-40kg of honey on top. Don’t want those girls swarming!!!
 

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alc

9
8
bream bay
Experience
Hobbyist
If she comes back mated and she ain't much chop, when you have nurse bees in the colony, then requeen
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!
 

Alastair

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Platinum
8,753
9,966
Auckland
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Semi Commercial
Nearly all swarm raised queens are well fed healthy queens, highly likely she will be a good queen for you.
 
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Alastair

Founder Member
Platinum
8,753
9,966
Auckland
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Yes pretty crazy. I think that may be because they have to order it in special from Italy and freight would be a lot more than the article.
 
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445
327
Mid Canterbury
Experience
Semi Commercial
Caught this weeny beeny today..
It's a blooming swarm
Caught this weeny beeny today.....
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That's what one could call a bloomin' swarm
 

Dansar

Founder Member
BOP Club
6,224
5,708
Putaruru
Experience
Commercial
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.
 

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29
34
Whakatane
Experience
Commercial
Checked out some of bees in pollination this arvo
This paddoxk was sprayed last weekend... bees working blossom today.
Bee friendly chemicals.... yeah right!View attachment 899
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.
 
1,030
748
Christchurch
Experience
Hobbyist
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.

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349
449
Bay of Plenty
Experience
Commercial
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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1,030
748
Christchurch
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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.
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
 
106
248
Dunedin
Experience
Semi Commercial
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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