Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption          Downsizer Forum Index -> The Apiary DawnMK Just checked the Hives Just managed to get a quick check on the hives as the sun was out, 1 national busy plenty of brood and they are capping off in the super 2 national busy plenty of brood not much in the super at all only a couple of frames being worked on 3 topbar very busy plenty of brood, honey and they only have 5 bars to go then its full 4 topbar very busy plenty of brood honey and they only have 6 bars to go then full 5 national not very busy not much brood 6 top bar very busy but they have built there comb in completly the wrong direction across the bars what do I do with the top bars when they are full please not happy with number 5 national, they seem to be playing and not getting on with there job dont know what to do with them. Tavascarow Re: Just checked the Hives 5 national not very busy not much brood what do I do with the top bars when they are full please not happy with number 5 national, they seem to be playing and not getting on with there job dont know what to do with them. Re. top bars, start harvesting. One of the advantages of crush & strain is you don't need a big centrifugal extractor to harvest (& the subsequent clean up). so you can harvest in stages even taking a bar or two of single source honey just after each flow. You could reinforce national 5 with some frames of brood from a stronger hive or even swap it's position with a stronger hive. I would double check there are no disease issues first though. A lack lustre colony, when all around are thriving, could be the onset of something nasty. Although it's probably just an inferior or failing queen.

DawnMK

I hope if the weather plays ball on Tuesday my day off I can have a good look at what is going on and see if I can see the queen, and move a couple of frames of brood in there perhaps they just need a bit of a kick start and might have a go at squeezing out some honey from a few top bars I am impressed with the top bars they seem happier better behaved bees

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