I OAVed my hives this year before they had any capped brood, I'm not sure when to do it again. They are package bees in one deep. How many times a year do you guys do it and when? Thanks
Never.
Jim
Do they have mites that need treating?
With brooding colonies many seem to have settled on 3 x 5 day treatments with OAV if it is needed. I know someone who determined this empirically, but would like to see evidence that this is optimal at all stages of the season.
However, without counting your mite levels properly there's no way to know whether treatment is actually needed ...
It would be based on mite counts. Most say at 5%...
Quote from: A37 on April 28, 2017, 11:51:08 PM
I OAVed my hives this year before they had any capped brood, I'm not sure when to do it again. They are package bees in one deep. How many times a year do you guys do it and when? Thanks
Update location in your profile.... beekeeping can be local...
I was trying to get by without doing mite counts. I didn't know if there's a schedule I can follow with the OAV that would keep them under control. I'm also worried by the time I realize I have a mite problem, it's going to be to late.
Quote from: sawdstmakr on April 29, 2017, 12:46:03 AM
Never.
Jim
I agree. I don't treat either.
Quote from: fatshark on April 29, 2017, 04:22:53 AM
Do they have mites that need treating?
However, without counting your mite levels properly there's no way to know whether treatment is actually needed ...
I agree with that if you choose to treat.
Quote from: A37 on April 29, 2017, 08:28:15 PM
I was trying to get by without doing mite counts. I didn't know if there's a schedule I can follow with the OAV that would keep them under control.
I worry that trying to treat your bees on a schedule would do more harm than good and be unnecessary.
I haven't treated since I got bees 5 years ago. I am not aware of any losses that I have had that was caused by mites.