Could your bees be starving in the sunshine?
The Country Smallholder|August 2023
Claire Waring looks at what to do if the forage runs out in late summer
Claire Waring
Could your bees be starving in the sunshine?

One of the things a beekeeper has to remember is that they have taken responsibility for livestock. Generally, the mention of ’livestock’ brings up a picture of cows, sheep and pigs. However, a colony of bees is just as much livestock. You are usually keeping them to provide you with honey and maybe beeswax.

This means you are looking after the welfare of your colonies for 12 months of the year. Yes, even in winter when the bees are clustering in the hive. Then you need to check regularly that they are not running out of food and that the hive is still intact and has not been blown over in a storm or let rain in through a leaky roof.

TELLING HOW THE BEES ARE SHORT OF FOOD

You especially need to make sure your colony has sufficient food at specific times of year. The obvious one is when you have taken off the honey and need to replace the bees’ winter stores with sugar syrup or candy. Of course, you can always leave them a super of honey which is by far the best winter food but that depends on your approach and how much honey the bees have collected and how much you want to take.

If the weather is bad during the year, bees can run short of food. Although it is generally good (we hope), in summer, forage can be in short supply, especially in a heat wave when nectar can dry up. How this affects your colonies depends to some extent on where you are. Bees in urban settings will have access to garden flowers and should be able to obtain sufficient nectar income to keep them ticking over. They should, of course, have some stores already around the brood nest although prolific bees such as the Italian Apis mellifera ligustica are proficient at turning stores into brood.

Bu hikaye The Country Smallholder dergisinin August 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

Bu hikaye The Country Smallholder dergisinin August 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

THE COUNTRY SMALLHOLDER DERGISINDEN DAHA FAZLA HIKAYETümünü görüntüle
How to Buy a Smallholding in France- Long-time smallholder Lorraine Turnbull looks at the practicalities of moving to rural France
The Country Smallholder

How to Buy a Smallholding in France- Long-time smallholder Lorraine Turnbull looks at the practicalities of moving to rural France

Aspiring smallholders are continually thwarted by the prices of smallholdings and property with land located within the UK. Even the humblest croft in Scotland comes with a substantial price tag and conditions which would make even an adventurous wannabee consider carefully. But all is not lost. For those willing to take the adventure of a lifetime, there is always Europe, and one of the most popular places is France.

time-read
6 dak  |
September 2024
Meet the Bournemouth goats and their supporters
The Country Smallholder

Meet the Bournemouth goats and their supporters

These capricious animals are hard workers preserving the natural habitat

time-read
3 dak  |
September 2024
Still warm enough to sit outside with a Pizza
The Country Smallholder

Still warm enough to sit outside with a Pizza

Henrietta Balcon uses fresh figs to create an unusual dish at Harvest time

time-read
2 dak  |
September 2024
Goodbye to the birds of spring and summer
The Country Smallholder

Goodbye to the birds of spring and summer

If you look and listen you might be able to see them preparing to leave says The RSPB

time-read
2 dak  |
September 2024
Get ready for the colder weather in the warmth of late summer
The Country Smallholder

Get ready for the colder weather in the warmth of late summer

Claire Waring advises on doing the best to make sure your colonies survive until next spring

time-read
6 dak  |
September 2024
Preparing the Veg Patch for Winter
The Country Smallholder

Preparing the Veg Patch for Winter

Lee Senior says, a well-run plot can excitingly continue to produce good quality, tasty, fresh food for much of winter

time-read
3 dak  |
September 2024
Time to prepare to plant your orchard
The Country Smallholder

Time to prepare to plant your orchard

Wade Muggleton, smallholder and author of The Orchard Book, shares his practical experience so you can create your own fruit collection

time-read
5 dak  |
September 2024
Choosing feed for the autumn
The Country Smallholder

Choosing feed for the autumn

As autumn approaches, Joanna Palmer, nutritionist at the Smallholder Range, offers advice on choosing the right feed to support your adult birds through their annual moult and ensure your young birds grow and finish well at this time of the year.

time-read
6 dak  |
September 2024
Vet advice from an experienced poultry vet
The Country Smallholder

Vet advice from an experienced poultry vet

Reflecting on how much the humble hen has helped people world wide plus advice on stopping the scourge of red mite

time-read
5 dak  |
September 2024
Give your hens some support
The Country Smallholder

Give your hens some support

Paul Donovan looks at the right and wrong ways of handling birds

time-read
9 dak  |
September 2024