With the poor weather over recent weeks, and with a return to unsettled weather forecast after these few days of improvement, please check that your colonies have sufficient food. We have seen reports of colony starvation and have heard of several colonies where the queen has been taken off lay due to inadequate supplies. Winter survival is compromised by a prolonged brood gap at this time of year, an aging population of bees and no pollen to stimulate lay. If you have not inspected recently due to the poor weather, please do so as soon as possible. Here are a few tips and suggestions to help.

• Check stores – heft if you can’t lift the lid due to poor weather or get a golf umbrella and a friend to help. having a helper can be good especially if you are inexperienced as the bees can be a bit “hangry” in these situations.
• Avoid creating a robbing frenzy by feeding during the day – apply feed during the evening when there is less flying activity.
• If a syrup feed is not possible get some spare honey super frames (scored) into the brood box temporarily ASAP.
• Order some pollen patties to help stimulate lay – there is very little pollen coming in in some areas at exactly the time that the winter bees should be developing.
• Consider using this un-natural brood break to carry out an Oxalic treatment.

For more information about feeding bees please consult the WBKA booklet ‘Feeding Bees’ which can be downloaded from the WBKA website https://wbka.com/wbka-publications/.