Yokel Matt 918 Posted February 29, 2016 Report Share Posted February 29, 2016 Totally gutted - went to check my bees at the weekend and the colony has perished. I only started last year and it's quite demoralising to have lost them when I can't see what more I could have done. They've still got at least 4 14x12 frames of capped honey stored and never touched the feed I gave them and there were good signs of life a month ago before our run of bad, windy weather. Just spoke to a local bee keeping supplier to put my name down for a colony and he says I'm not alone and a lot of people are in the same boat this year. Hopefully you lads on here have faired better than I have! Anyway - If anyone has a spare colony they are looking to sell please PM me - i'd be very interested. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
moxy 617 Posted February 29, 2016 Report Share Posted February 29, 2016 That's a shame to hear mate. Mine are doing well. I'm keeping them topped up with fondant but thankfully we haven't had too much cold weather. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
forest of dean redneck 11,189 Posted February 29, 2016 Report Share Posted February 29, 2016 Shame that,is their something that could have been brought back in an killed them all? It's just said on radio been mildest winter in ages. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Yokel Matt 918 Posted February 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 29, 2016 I didn't bother with fondant as I didn't rob them in the autumn and just gave them a winter syrup mix - That's a hard lesson to learn. They were possibly a bit exposed to the bad weather we had a few weeks ago and I was going to move them this year - their positioning was dictated by the farmer which wasn't necessarily as good as it could have been. Properly pissed off about it! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jocky 198 Posted March 1, 2016 Report Share Posted March 1, 2016 Moxy. glad your doing well with your bees, how many you got now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Blackdog92 2,047 Posted March 1, 2016 Report Share Posted March 1, 2016 Bad luck there matt. A fella i know who keeps bees lost one of his colonys this year because of a mite that gets in to there throats and kills them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Yokel Matt 918 Posted March 1, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2016 I've brought the hive back and given it a good look over - no sign of infection / paracites although you can never really tell for sure. Looks like one moment they were in a cluster with several workers going about their chores and the next they were all dead. There are about 5/6 14/12 frames full of capped honey in the brood box - is the worth 'harvesting' or should I leave it for a new colony I need to try and get hold of? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
devon flighter 421 Posted March 1, 2016 Report Share Posted March 1, 2016 thats bad news matt! bees are something im thinking about in a couple of years once i find a mentor ! when you say not the best position for the hive how exposed was it ?the reason i ask is were trying to rent a we bit of extra ground and thats quite exposed i was thinking of making some willow or hazel hurdles to put up for shelter for them coming in and out whilst hedges were getting established ,ive not spoken to anyone yet about how much shelter is needed its all just in my head at the moment ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
moxy 617 Posted March 1, 2016 Report Share Posted March 1, 2016 Moxy. glad your doing well with your bees, how many you got now.Cheers pal. I've the super colony I got off your good self and another 2 smaller colonies. Which should hopefully do well this year. I'm set up to take another 2 come swarming but if I get my finger out of my arse and into the workshop I maybe able to take on a further 2. It's a pity your not closer..!!! Matt. I would have gladly sorted you with a swarm come the time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jocky 198 Posted March 1, 2016 Report Share Posted March 1, 2016 I can get quit a few swarms moxy, as i do them for someone who does pest control. But dont need them now have sold the hives and all my stuff. Thank you for the offer. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jok 3,035 Posted March 1, 2016 Report Share Posted March 1, 2016 Devon. Another reason to get over to Melrose I've friends and family in strange places pal.jok. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Yokel Matt 918 Posted March 1, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2016 Very kind of you all the same Moxy mate. I'm kicking myself about the hive placement Devon - it was on the west facing side of a large barn exposed to the south westerlies which they would have got in spades a few weeks ago, to the left of the hive was a big crab apple tree so they didn't get the sun until 1am - really not ideal. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
moxy 617 Posted March 1, 2016 Report Share Posted March 1, 2016 So have you smoothed things over with the landowner for a better site Matt? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Yokel Matt 918 Posted March 1, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2016 I'm going to present a couple of better options although it will involve me getting stuck in with the strimmer and chainsaw first to improve the site first. Hopefully he'll see it as improving the land without any cost to himself... Most farmers I know are normally up for a bit of free labour and a bargain! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
moxy 617 Posted March 1, 2016 Report Share Posted March 1, 2016 Bees can also offer benefits for a few environmental and bio diversity grants that are currently available. That's always an incentive Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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