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heathervale
Nurse Bee
Joined: 19 Jun 2015
Posts: 33
Location: Ireland
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 Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2018 11:22 am Post subject: Mouldy brood |
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At the end of last season we moved most of the honey combs to one side of the brood as advised in BB book.
Yesterday was sunny though cold so we peeked at 3 honey combs next to follower board furthest from cluster. All were still full of honey but also had sporadic MOULDY brood.
So we don't know if they are not eating that honey because of the mould/ or whether to clean off the mouldy brood and then put back the honey combs.
We will feed them fondant above the cluster just in case.
Do you think we should take any further action?
We are in west of Ireland and it has been a very wet and cold winter so far....
Thanks, |
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Adam Rose
Silver Bee
Joined: 09 Oct 2011
Posts: 589
Location: Manchester, UK
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| Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2018 8:17 am Post subject: |
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I wouldn’t worry about mold. The Bees will tidy it up themselves if they are bothered about it.
In your quick inspection, did the colony look healthy ?
When do you start to get a significant nectar flow ? |
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Barbara
Site Admin
Joined: 27 Jul 2011
Posts: 1857
Location: England/Co.Durham/Ebchester
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| Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2018 9:04 am Post subject: |
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That's strange! I posted an extensive reply to this post several days ago and for some reason it's not showing!
Basically, I agree with Adam that mould is not generally a problem for the bees but it is best if you only move combs that do not have brood in them or better still, drill some holes in the end of your hive and convert it to an end entrance, leaving a bar or two and a follower board between the brood nest and the end of the hive so that you have room to inspect that end. Far easier than rearranging the honey stores in my opinion.
The bees will really start digging into those stores as now as they start to raise brood for the new season. This is the time of year when most stores are consumed as brood rearing uses much more than adult subsistence living. |
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BuffBum
Guard Bee
Joined: 10 Nov 2015
Posts: 90
Location: Quarry Bank, West Midlands, UK
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heathervale
Nurse Bee
Joined: 19 Jun 2015
Posts: 33
Location: Ireland
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| Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2018 3:14 pm Post subject: Mouldy brood |
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Thanks for your replies. Will look at drilling end holes.
The colony seemed quite active. Willow and hazel catkins are first out in March, not much else till May.
Sorry for any confusion Barbara as I posted in 2 places as a msg said the Beginners forum was no longer active.... |
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