The 'season' is almost over but the most important operation
is yet to be done. This the extraction of the honey crop. That wonderfully
sticky and pleasureable operation will run smoothly if you have managed
to 'clear' your supers of bees before bringing them back home. If you
are using Porter bee escapes make certain that they will work.This is best
achieved by placing the escapes in an emppty coffee jar and then filling the
jar with sufficients methylated spirit to cover the escapes. Now leave for
say three days.At the end of this time take the escapes from the jar and place
in a bowl with warm soapy water. Open escapes up and with a stiff(ish) artists
brush clear any remaining wax from the tynes.Re-assemble , give a final rinse
and they will be ready for use. When clearing supers it is a good idea
to put a super Under the clearing board so that the cleared bees don't
cause too much conjestion in the brood chamber..
Before you start to load the extractor make sure the tap on you extractor is closed and for a belt and braces approach tie a piece of cord round the tap. It is surprising how easy it is to knock a tap open or for it to 'become open'. The same applies to the settling/bottling tank.
As I know many beekeepers record the crop individual hive produce, return supers to the hives they came from.for the bees to 'lick out' This helps reduce the spread of anything nasty that may be lurking in the hive. Stack supers carefully using a wax moth repellant .Whatever this is, observe any health and safety advise given with the product.
Finally back to the bees. You should continue to examine brood for foul brood diseases but if in the course of these examinations you see a lone queen cell I would suggest you leave this as it might be an indication that it is a superceedure cell. If the hive has a history of this happening every year it might be an idea to consider breeding from it next year. Superceedure is a lot easier to handle that the time consuming methods of swarm control or even having to chase round catching swarms .
Before you start to load the extractor make sure the tap on you extractor is closed and for a belt and braces approach tie a piece of cord round the tap. It is surprising how easy it is to knock a tap open or for it to 'become open'. The same applies to the settling/bottling tank.
As I know many beekeepers record the crop individual hive produce, return supers to the hives they came from.for the bees to 'lick out' This helps reduce the spread of anything nasty that may be lurking in the hive. Stack supers carefully using a wax moth repellant .Whatever this is, observe any health and safety advise given with the product.
Finally back to the bees. You should continue to examine brood for foul brood diseases but if in the course of these examinations you see a lone queen cell I would suggest you leave this as it might be an indication that it is a superceedure cell. If the hive has a history of this happening every year it might be an idea to consider breeding from it next year. Superceedure is a lot easier to handle that the time consuming methods of swarm control or even having to chase round catching swarms .
Disease update
To date some 32 cases of EFB and 14 cases of AFB have been found in the region. The EFB cases are well below the figure at this time last year. However the AFB found is 14 times greater.. It is hoped that the AFB instances are a one-off. This year the region has been running well under strength with three inspectors seconded to help with FMD work in various parts of the country.In May I took on a new inspector David Sutton .David replaces Emlyn Roberts, who retired last year, and will cover Shropshire. David Maslen (Avon and Glos.) returned from FMD work beginning of July .Leo Fielding is covering 'the Midlands'and I am currently covering the rest. So just because you may not see us about so much doesn't mean you don't have to check the brood chamber. If you are not sure who is covering your particular area then give me a ring.
Cheshire
OS 10km Square Area Name
SJ65 Nantwich
SJ68 Lymm
Hereford and Worcester
SO35 Lyonshall
SO45 Upper Hill
SO65 Hanley Child
Shropshire
SJ32 West Felton
Warwickshire
SP15 Bidford
SP24 Shipston
SP25 Stratford
SP28 Pickford
To date some 32 cases of EFB and 14 cases of AFB have been found in the region. The EFB cases are well below the figure at this time last year. However the AFB found is 14 times greater.. It is hoped that the AFB instances are a one-off. This year the region has been running well under strength with three inspectors seconded to help with FMD work in various parts of the country.In May I took on a new inspector David Sutton .David replaces Emlyn Roberts, who retired last year, and will cover Shropshire. David Maslen (Avon and Glos.) returned from FMD work beginning of July .Leo Fielding is covering 'the Midlands'and I am currently covering the rest. So just because you may not see us about so much doesn't mean you don't have to check the brood chamber. If you are not sure who is covering your particular area then give me a ring.
Cheshire
OS 10km Square Area Name
SJ65 Nantwich
SJ68 Lymm
Hereford and Worcester
SO35 Lyonshall
SO45 Upper Hill
SO65 Hanley Child
Shropshire
SJ32 West Felton
Warwickshire
SP15 Bidford
SP24 Shipston
SP25 Stratford
SP28 Pickford
The area name refers to a main town village or area in the relevant 10km OS square. The name of a square serves only to help identify that square
