I thought I'd pass this along for the newer Beeks to learn from.
We did our last harvest for the 2019 season on Sunday. Historically, I've always put the empty wet frames, extractor, etc, out for the bees to clean up - because nothing cleans up honey equipment better than bees - right? Well, not so fast ...
Things are different this year for my bees, in that they are healthier. So the reactions they have are now much different than what I'm "used to" in the past.
For the last 3 days I have observed a lot of bees fighting and killing each other in, and around, the equipment this time. It's not enough for me to be worried. It's maybe 400 or 500 dead bees all total. But it's sad. I think if I had only 1 hive in the area, it wouldn't bee a problem. But I've got more. I watched them stinging each other, biting wings and legs, dragging bees around, chasing each other, etc.
Lesson learned - I'll put the empties on a strong hive(s) for a few days next time.
Also - when we extracted 2 months ago, I put the equipment out and they didn't touch it for 3 days - I gave up that time, and cleaned everything up myself. There was a pretty good flow then, and not much now. Big difference.
Thought I'd share a "lesson learned".
Cool, how many hives to you now own? How many did you start with 3 years ago.
As HP said, the problem of a good bee keeper is limiting the size of the apiary. This is a constant issue, to prevent swarming, yet limit number of splits only to match winter loss.
This year, by March, I lost every treatment, TF, free hives. I leave TF for pros like Bush. I now treat all. I was trying to go entirely TF. I just can?t make it work. So if you are trying TF, go for it, I wish you the best.
Van - I treat. Have too. Lost all hives 2 yrs ago as TF. ... but I "want to be TF" ... so I have a plan (loosely based on Randy Olivers approach). I'm monitoring each hive, performing alcohol washes, treating OAV as needed, and planning to promote any genetics that maintain low, or no, mites/diseases, - with the goal of getting back to TF. Can't say for sure that I'll get to TF - but if that train comes by, I'll be "waiting at the station with bags packed, ready to jump on".
I have 6 hives right now - I want 20. I'm trying to get to 20 via splits & swarms.
Hope that helps answer your question.
Thanks Cool, 6 hives is so much fun, so enjoyable. My limit is 20 also, but my limit is due to my aging.
Sounds like you have a good plan i. e. treat but aim for treatment free as a goal. A good plan indeed. I never met a person who liked to treat bees.
i. e. Short for THAT IS. Must be Latin based, commonly used in medical.