wp31ce2898.png

Northamptonshire Beekeepers' Association (NBKA) Registered Charity No. 295593

 

Northants Bee Keepers Association
Northants Bee Keepers Association

©NBKA 2007

wp6af4e743.png
wp6af4e743.png
wp6af4e743.png
wp6af4e743.png
wp6af4e743.png
wp6af4e743.png
wp6af4e743.png
wp6af4e743.png
wp6af4e743.png
wp6af4e743.png
wp6af4e743.png
wp6af4e743.png
wp6af4e743.png
wp6af4e743.png
wp6af4e743.png
wp6af4e743.png
wp6af4e743.png
wp6af4e743.png
wp6af4e743.png
wp6af4e743.png
wp6af4e743.png
wp6af4e743.png
wp6af4e743.png
wp6af4e743.png
wp6af4e743.png

A member organisation representing beekeepers in the
County of Northamptonshire

Northants Bee Keepers Association
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION
wp6af4e743.png
wp6af4e743.png

MONTHLY TASKS - OCTOBER

Mark your equipment using UV ink and your postcode.

Bees can find nectar and pollen on Ivy (Hedera Helix); the honey produced is high in glucose and granulates in the comb.

A hive entrance of 8 mm deep and 10 cm wide will allow the bees to leave and return freely, remove bodies and debris, and keep out mice.

If you have a wire mesh floor place a 1mm thick piece of plastic the size of your floor 50 mm under the hive to catch varroa falling through the mesh. Leave the plastic in for three days only each month. Wax moth will be less of a problem. If you find varroa on the plastic (4 mites per day) and desire to treat with oxalic acid, an oxalic acid solution of 3% in a 50/50 sugar /water solvent can be trickled between combs at the rate of 4-6 ml per occupied comb.

For wire mesh floors keep the cover board tight to the brood box and do not break the propolis seal before March unless treating with oxalic acid. Feeding at Christmas is not necessary if each hive had 18 kg of stores at the end of September.

Place a block of 50 mm thick polystyrene the size of the cover board on top of the cover board under the roof to prevent heat loss.

Keep the roof from being blown off with two house bricks or a paver, or wire the hive to the stand.

Remove the queen excluders.

If you keep your bees in a single brood box, a super underneath will help with ventilation. Drawn comb in the super will give extra storage space for food so place this in position before you feed.

Inspect the brood frames in store for wax moth. Wax moth eggs and grubs will be killed if the frames are left overnight in the freezer.

If not already done, remove chemical varroa treatments such as Bayvarol or Apistan .

Clean queen excluders in cold weather using a wire brush to remove brace comb and propolis.

Read books on queen rearing and plan to practise this for the huge advantage given when you have a spare queen in May.

wp5533b116.gif
wpb35ea39a.png

January

wp5533b116.gif
wpa0516265.png

February

wp5533b116.gif
wpa0516265.png

March

wp5533b116.gif
wpa34b9586.png

April

wp5533b116.gif
wpa34b9586.png

May

wp5533b116.gif
wpa0516265.png

June

wp5533b116.gif
wpa0516265.png

July

wp5533b116.gif
wpa34b9586.png

August

wp5533b116.gif
wpb35ea39a.png

September

wp5533b116.gif
wpb35ea39a.png

October

wp5533b116.gif
wp3ebdf128.png

November

wp5533b116.gif
wpa471e2bf.png

December

wp5533b116.gif
wp4876a940.png

January

wp5533b116.gif
wpd5c014f7.png

February

wp5533b116.gif
wpd5c014f7.png

March

wp5533b116.gif
wpaec9f372.png

April

wp5533b116.gif
wpaec9f372.png

May

wp5533b116.gif
wpd5c014f7.png

June

wp5533b116.gif
wpd5c014f7.png

July

wp5533b116.gif
wpaec9f372.png

August

wp5533b116.gif
wp4876a940.png

September

wp5533b116.gif
wp4876a940.png

October

wp5533b116.gif
wp776e4c74.png

November

wp5533b116.gif
wp214ac46e.png

December