Sunny days mean honey production is in full swing

THERE have been no answers yet with regard to the colony losses described in my last column.

However, the dry sunny conditions seem to be suiting the bees very well. Swarming is now underway. I have collected two swarms recently and these are being used to re-stock one of the apiaries. These two swarms are not from my apiary. Checking of the Fon-Mon colonies will be carried out forthwith. I have been away for several days and adding extra boxes (supers) to add more room will definitely be on the cards.

The Oilseed Rape that is in full bloom is only yards away from my apiary, all of the colonies are availing themselves of its bounty and I must monitor the storing of the nectar coming in. This nectar, once converted into honey within the hive, has a tendency to crystallise very quickly and it can prove difficult to extract.

Nectar collected from blossoms other than Rape stays liquid for long periods. Once this type of nectar is converted into honey, the bees will seal the cell containing it with a capping of wax. It is ready for use whenever the bees have a need of it and I can also avail myself of it. The removal of supers of honey does require fine judgement. Colony numbers have increased very rapidly, there at least some 50,000 occupants in each of the hives now and their food requirements must come first.

This spell of fine weather means that the ladies of the colony (it is the ladies who do all of the work) will be out foraging constantly. Not for a moment do they think: “Well, that will do us for now”.

Not a bit of it! With fine weather and nectar and pollen on offer every day the food stores within a colony can build up rapidly. Not having a limitless supply of boxes, I will have to take one or two boxes off at some time, once I have spun out the contents, each box will be returned to the hive so that the ladies have storage facilities on hand to match their ceaseless activities.

Will my bees swarm? It is a definite possibility! Will I be able to control it? I will certainly try but the bees will decide.

By Harold Williams

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