Since last I wrote Greg has been very busy. Very busy weather watching ... The weather has been rubbish - rainy and cold - and the temperature has barely got above 12°C which means we've been unable to inspect as it'll kill the brood if there is any.
He took a chance mid-week as the temperature was about 14°C to see if the food had gone down anymore - which it hadn't. Greg investigated further and noticed that the sock he had placed on the feeding hole wasn't soaking up the sugar syrup far enough so that the bees could reach it. Greg, as is his custom, did some research and decided to cut the top of the sock to allow the bees into the hole but, because the sock was there, weren't able to drown. We're hoping this will make a difference for them this week.
We've also transferred one of the new nucs to the apiary just in case we want to put Kate into it. This new one takes 12 frames rather than the original 6 as it includes an extender which allows for an extra 6 frames. I am happier about Kate going into this as she will have the room that she needs but, as it's so compact, she won't get as cold and will be able to keep it warm. Personally, I think we should just keep her in the hive she's been in all her life but Greg is concerned that she's not large enough to keep it warm over winter. I guess it all depends on the weather. Unless we get a warm sunny autumn day (above 14°C but preferable 15/16°C). In this regard, Wednesday looks like it might be good as the forecast says 15°C. We'll see.
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This weekend Greg has been to visit the hives and seeing as it was relatively clement he managed to pretty much do a full inspection. He was pretty pleased with Kate's progress she has 8/11 frames of stores which means that cutting the end off the sock has worked! He saw Kate and some eggs which is promising. He has since rescinded his idea to transfer her to the nuc and I have been very good and not told him I told him so ...
On the other hand, Greg came home worried about Laura. While she's taken down 10 kg of sugar syrup in 5 days! he didn't see Laura or eggs. I've tried to calm his worries by explaining that not seeing Laura at this stage is not unusual and that many queens stop laying at this time of year to make room for stores. He is however paranoid that she's dead but if she is there's nothing we can do until Spring anyway
The only thing really left to do now is to continue feeding them until they're not taking down any more sugar syrup, especially Laura as the super was empty. We're both a bit nervous about facing our first winter overwintering bees but I think in honesty that's going to be about it for this season until about March when we can go in again and check out how they've done.
We'll be sure to check in with you all then.
In the meantime, have a Merry and Safe Christmas and a Happy New Year
and enjoy this video of a squirrel barking at Greg for interrupting his Sunday morning ablutions!
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