Weekly Inspection 13th May

Weather starting to improve – temperatures around15°C but still quite wet. Plenty of forage out with Chesnut, hawthorn main sources.

Inspected both sites as I wanted to get samples for the local association health clinic. Given the state of my bees I suspect that they have Nosema as they are not expanding as they should now that Spring has arrived.

No brood in 2 of the colonies which is worrying, so will give them another week before acting further.

 

Results of Health Clinic show heavy nosema in 2 of the 4 hives.

Weekly Inspection 7th May

Weather has still been poor – cold and wet with temperatures struggling to get above 15°C. Plenty of forage around with Apple, Lilac, Dandelion & Chesnut.

I’m having a tough time with my colonies as they seem to be going queenless. The introduced queens don’t seem to have been accepted – have’t seen them and no real brood in 2 of the 3 home apiary colonies.

Will need to hope that they pick up or I get lucky and pick up a swarm.