Did I Poison My Bees?! Paying the Price for a Poor Autumn/Fall Nutrition.
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 ต.ค. 2023
- Welcome back to my beekeeping journey! In this video, join me for the third round of spring feeding at my apiary. Spring is a crucial time for our hives, and it's always exciting to see how they're progressing.
As I inspect the hives, I find most of them thriving, with bees bustling and honeycomb growing. However, I stumble upon one heartbreaking sight - a lifeless hive. The question that immediately comes to mind is, "Did I accidentally poison this hive with my ant poison station?"
Join me as I investigate this unfortunate situation, looking for clues and reflecting on the potential impact of pest control measures on our beloved bees. This is a real, unfiltered look into the challenges beekeepers can face.
Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to stay updated on our beekeeping journey and join the discussion in the comments below. Your insights and support mean the world to me and our beekeeping community. 🐝🌼 #Beekeeping #Apiary #SpringFeeding #BeekeeperLife
thanks for your honesty in the ups and downs of beekeeping, especially after such a poor winter. As my dad used to say - you have livestock, you have deadstock. We saw you acknowledge your failings, the changes you were implementing and the fight with the ants. We have been able to learn alongside.
Thank you.
Lovely photography, especially showing the eggs in the comb. Thanks.
If your bees had been poisoned by the borax, then I'd expect there to be some residual resources in the hive, at least a bit of pollen, along with heaps of dead bees. There was nothing but a few capped brood in the hive, so I think you were right with the idea that they absconded.
If you're unhappy with ants, then maybe get some legs for your weaker hives, and put some moats with oil in them around those legs. No need for borax. Problem solved.
Thankyou.
Keep up good work. It will get better. Thank you from the Midwest of the US.
Thanks. 🤞
A mix of 1.5 kg of water to 1kg of white sugar will keep them stimulated to raise brood .
I would keep the syrup on them until it looks as if they have plenty of stores .and a good nectar flow is coming in .
You want to make life easy for small hives so all they need to worry about is caring for the brood ..
If you have a big hive take the brood fr the smaller hives and give the small hive hatching brood fr the large hive .
I’m using 1:1.3 currently. If only I had brood too offer them
Spring starvation is always a risk especially as last season left the bees with little reserve . I fed heavily last autumn which meant my girls came through winter strong . I’m pleased I did now as I’m about to pull honey from the sisters to the queens I sent you . There wasn’t the winter forage here that I’d seen previously either and looks like your only just seeing forage now . Always a learning curve and real life of jobs and other responsibility gets in the way of what we can do for our bees sometimes
I really should have fed heavily last autumn. I thought the fondant would see them through but I guess not.
@@aussiebeekeeping if I remember you were snowed under at work too. Once varroa hits us management will be a much more important factor . Reading the bees needs is a skill acquired over a lot of years it seems. 😀
@robyngoold6924 100%
It appears that honey bees in general might be in for some difficult years with weather shifts.
I agree. Mike Barry is experiencing the same issues
They've been dealing with the weather for 120 million years. Heat, ice ages, all no problem. The main problem is man, selectively breeding them for honey production. I'm lucky enough not to make my living from bees, so I can work with locally adapted swarms. I reckon those are the best bees, from a survivalist point of view.
@tasmedic I think you’re onto something.
Poisons are just not a good option - avoid them if you can at all costs. I have had a similar experience from killing ants in the attic with Ant-rid, turning it into a death area with loads of spider bodies all over the place. Could have used boiling water from a kettle. That worked with a wasp nest in the ground.
I agree about the poisons. It was a desperate situation with those ants. Not sure where the nests were either.
Some great images of brood frames, weather will be better soon so hopefully your hives pick up. First harvest in 2 years here in St Andrew’s
Thanks. Hopefully.
Sorry you've had a tough spring transition. Beekeeping always throws a curveball when you think you've got things sorted. Keep at it, they'll reward you for your persistence.
Thanks mate. Something’s gotta change soon.
@@aussiebeekeeping Yeah, I hope your hunt for a new field for their apiary bears fruit. It's really hard to have an apiary that's too far to visit at the drop of a hat.
Thanks. Sure is.
😢
Thank mate.
We never feed bee's leave them plenty of food through winter. Was always told feeding bee's is like welfare, they get lazy..
I agree with the lazy part. I left these bees with all their honey last winter.
I don't think that is true, they don't even use it if they can get it outside of the hive.
Good work keep it on until they are close to your main honey flow and stop when you put on honey supers
Baby those girls and they will do their best for you
Fingers crossed
3:01 to about 3:05 is that a queen I hear??
It sounds like it. But I think it’s just an attack bee trying to get into my gloves. 😄
I was waiting for the credits to roll at the end there. Very professionally done
Thank you. I didn’t think of that. Bugger. :)
Move that hive into a nuc
Yes boss