That Time Of The Year

Well it's that time of the year again, when we feed and medicate our bees. On September 13 we put in two Apivar strips in each colony, between the supers to help fight against Varroa mites. As well we put on the third super so they can start getting it drawn out to fill up with food for the winter. Today I gave them each 3 liters of syrup (1 part water - 2 parts sugar). This will help them this winter, as well I added Fuagmilina-B, an antibiotic used overwintering colonies for nosema apis infections, which can kill a colony. I did an early mite count, we had 5 on the left and 3 on the right in a 23 hour time frame, and from what I have read this is low and good. I'll do it again next week as that will be the half way point for the exposure to the Apivar strips.

They look tall, it's just the top (4th) super is housing
the syrup pail. 

Feeding Time With Meds

We started feeding the colony sugar syrup, a 2 -1 sugar to water ratio, when I "cook" it up I use 5 cups of water and dissolve 10 cups of sugar at a medium heat, and this makes about 2.5 liters of sugar syrup. As well the first two feedings we added Fuagilian-B, an antibiotic used overwintering colonies for Nosema apis infection, which can kill a colony, they will get one more application in the spring. Now we just keep feeding them because there isn't much out there for them. They will get as much as they can take and then we'll cover them up for the winter, after we take out the Apivar strips on the 25th.

A little high, the top super covers the sugar pail.

Checking for mites.

Outer cover comes off.

Inner cover, and I'm covered just in case.

Feeder pail and a thermal liner to keep heat in.

Oct 10th, not much activity.

This was the afternoon of the 7th, changing feeder pails.
A little activity.

This is the 10th, not much movement, they are keeping
warm and conserving energy.

Medicine

The other day we did a quick check on the hive and added Apivar strips, a medicine to help combat Verroa Mites, a killer pest. These strips will be there for 42 days, which is two full growing cycles of worker bees, this will help keep them under control. They are hard to see but we have taken many pictures lately and after looking at them close up we haven't seen any. After the strips come out we'll be feeding them for winter and getting ready to cover them up. I also removed the shallow super I put on earlier to see if they would start drawing it out but they didn't. I'll try next spring to see if we can get some early honey.

Lots of them, looks healthy. You can see the two strips.

A cloudy day, they are still in the hive.

Busy drawing comb, covering brood and making honey.

You can see the honey in the cells.

Just walking about.

They are easy to handle, like a cat.