June gap -starvation risk

apiarymanager Feeding Bees and Starvation

Just to remind all beekeepers, that the June gap has arrived (although the Bramble is starting to flower)  and large growing colonies and nucs etc. with little or no available forage, can quickly suffer from a shortage of stores.

So be sure to check that your bees have enough food, especially if you have taken off any spring honey. Note that if you add extra frames of sealed stores you should keep them in the brood boxes, so as to avoid getting them mixed up in the honey supers. Also, if you have to feed directly, use a light syrup (i.e. 1:1 sugar/water ratio) with any honey supers taken off during the feeding process.

Spring Notes!🐝

apiarymanager Forage, PBKA, Stories of Interest, Training

What a wonderful spring for the bees. The flowers just keep on coming, fruit trees, dandelion, white clover and of course the may blossom and sycamore means the bees have filled the hives supers to bursting. The dilemma is, how much to harvest, all, some or none? Take none and inspections take longer you need more kit etc etc, take all then feed for the June gap or just take about half. The June gap is upon us very soon but should we worry?. The Elder flowers are bursting out right now and the brambles are full of buds, perhaps there will be no lean period and the flow will continue. Happy beekeeping to you all.

Peter Kirkup

PBKA Asian Hornet Coordinator

Editors Note: At the time of publishing we are getting reports that the Bramble is flowering early this year, so hopefully no June gap or starvation issues, weather permitting of course!🐝