Beekeepers’ Notes (Seasonal) by Conlawer 25th March 2006
NB North Angus and East Perthshire
Although it is near the end of March we are still looking at white hills to the north, all along the Angus Glens. Most beekeepers around here have been using fondant blocks to supplement bee stores since the New Year. We feel the weather must get milder soon when we can then resort to traditional sugar syrup feeding.
Historically we were taught thin syrup in spring and thick syrup in autumn. Usually agreed at 1 lb sugar to 1 ½ - 2 pints water in spring then 1 lb to 1 pint water for autumn feed. One of our local men has experimented with dampened sugar bags as has been done in the west of Scotland for a long time. Our man appears to have mastered this ‘art’ and is willing to share his finding if anyone is interested.
A few of our local beekeepers and almost all the commercial bee farmers us inverted sugar. This is in liquid form and the feature of this is that the bee can digest it directly without having to generate a lot of extra heat to evaporate off water, as tin the sugar syrup form. There are other advantages to the bees and wee feel this form of feeding deserves a trial. However one must realise you require large plastic storage drums.
We are constantly asked, “What type of feeders should I use?” The most popular used to be a 2 lb jam jar with muslin tied over the neck, inverted. In post war days every household had loads of jam jars but no longer. Today the bulk of syrup feeders are made from used 250g, 500g or 1kg plastic margarine tubs with a few holes in the lid to be inverted immediately over the brood nest. The holes are most easily made with a red-hot steel knitting needle or small nail or bradawl.
Does anyone out there still use the old wooden miller type feeder which covered the whole crate and held from 1 to 3 gallons of syrup?
Have we all got enough spares for the coming season? Do you need crates, excluders, cover boards, brood frames, shallow frames, was, nails and panel pins of the correct lengths? Have you cleaned up all your excluders, cover boards, crates and so on to be ready for a sudden nectar flow or SWARMS? Have you looked out sites for lime, oilseed rape fields, white clover, raspberry, Bell/Ling heather sites? If you have difficulty whey not come to our meetings or field demonstration and enquire from our members.
One must bear in mind new problems may arise from new “Rights to Roam” laws which are now in force and may add to problems for out-apiaries such as heather sites on the hills.
Do you use a cardboard box or a ‘Ruskie’ to retrieve a swarm? In either case have you checked you have an old sheet or window screen to help in catching the swarm. Also remember to either smear some honey over the top inside of said box or ruskie or spray with strong solution of sugar syrup to encourage the swarm to remain clustered inside. You then require a spare hive with feeder in place to home your swarm inside.
Can you mark and clip your queens? If not ask some of our more experienced members of better still come to our summer demonstrations. You can even learn how to do it yourself at these events.
NB North Angus and East Perthshire
Although it is near the end of March we are still looking at white hills to the north, all along the Angus Glens. Most beekeepers around here have been using fondant blocks to supplement bee stores since the New Year. We feel the weather must get milder soon when we can then resort to traditional sugar syrup feeding.
Historically we were taught thin syrup in spring and thick syrup in autumn. Usually agreed at 1 lb sugar to 1 ½ - 2 pints water in spring then 1 lb to 1 pint water for autumn feed. One of our local men has experimented with dampened sugar bags as has been done in the west of Scotland for a long time. Our man appears to have mastered this ‘art’ and is willing to share his finding if anyone is interested.
A few of our local beekeepers and almost all the commercial bee farmers us inverted sugar. This is in liquid form and the feature of this is that the bee can digest it directly without having to generate a lot of extra heat to evaporate off water, as tin the sugar syrup form. There are other advantages to the bees and wee feel this form of feeding deserves a trial. However one must realise you require large plastic storage drums.
We are constantly asked, “What type of feeders should I use?” The most popular used to be a 2 lb jam jar with muslin tied over the neck, inverted. In post war days every household had loads of jam jars but no longer. Today the bulk of syrup feeders are made from used 250g, 500g or 1kg plastic margarine tubs with a few holes in the lid to be inverted immediately over the brood nest. The holes are most easily made with a red-hot steel knitting needle or small nail or bradawl.
Does anyone out there still use the old wooden miller type feeder which covered the whole crate and held from 1 to 3 gallons of syrup?
Have we all got enough spares for the coming season? Do you need crates, excluders, cover boards, brood frames, shallow frames, was, nails and panel pins of the correct lengths? Have you cleaned up all your excluders, cover boards, crates and so on to be ready for a sudden nectar flow or SWARMS? Have you looked out sites for lime, oilseed rape fields, white clover, raspberry, Bell/Ling heather sites? If you have difficulty whey not come to our meetings or field demonstration and enquire from our members.
One must bear in mind new problems may arise from new “Rights to Roam” laws which are now in force and may add to problems for out-apiaries such as heather sites on the hills.
Do you use a cardboard box or a ‘Ruskie’ to retrieve a swarm? In either case have you checked you have an old sheet or window screen to help in catching the swarm. Also remember to either smear some honey over the top inside of said box or ruskie or spray with strong solution of sugar syrup to encourage the swarm to remain clustered inside. You then require a spare hive with feeder in place to home your swarm inside.
Can you mark and clip your queens? If not ask some of our more experienced members of better still come to our summer demonstrations. You can even learn how to do it yourself at these events.
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