First Inspection - This Weekend - I have a couple of questions

[mgmoore7]

I have two "new to me" hives that I need to do my first inspection.  Both haves have one deep and one medium.  One colony is about 6 months old and the other is about 2 years old.  One has a new queen and the other, I am not sure how old the queen is.

Here are the goals that I have.
-Inventory how many frames are built out and with what
-Check the brood pattern
-Find the queen
-Power sugar them
-Get a general idea of what I am starting with. 

In my area Sept 15th will start the next flow but there is still plenty of flowers and trees blooming here.  I want to be prepared to add some supers in Sept or earlier if needed. 

Questions:
1. What is the right way to remove the super to inspect the bottom deep?  Do I inspect the super 1st and then just pick it up and put it to the side with the bees in it and proceed to the deep?  Other?

2. How much powdered sugar should I use and should I do the deep separately than the super?

3. How often do you powder sugar them.  The previous owner said he did every time that he inspected them but I do not know what his inspection schedule was.

4. Any other suggestions, things to look for or do?

Thanks

[Beaches Bee-Haven Apiary]

"1. What is the right way to remove the super to inspect the bottom deep?  Do I inspect the super 1st and then just pick it up and put it to the side with the bees in it and proceed to the deep?  Other?"

  It depends on what your looking for. If I want to just look in the deep I'll take the med. off so that the bees don't all go down into the deep and make it difficult to work. But, if you want to inspect the whole colony, do the med. first, and then move it off to the side. I set mine on two cinder blocks, this keeps it off the ground and keeps the pine straw and leaves from sticking to the bottom of the frames and making a big mess.

"3. How often do you powder sugar them.  The previous owner said he did every time that he inspected them but I do not know what his inspection schedule was."

  I'm planning on starting the powder sugar method next year on all of my five hives (hopefully up to ten by next summer if the splits go well :)) I was thinking of doing it every time I inspected the hive. I usually inspect every three weeks or so, depends on the season.

"4. Any other suggestions, things to look for or do?"

  Read a lot of books and formulate your own ideas. The best sources out there are fellow beekeepers, especially the old timers who've been doing it for over 20 years. Join your local association(s) and regularly attend the meetings.

  Best of luck, and welcome to the wonderful world of beekeeping! :-D

-Nathanael 8-)

[KONASDAD]

First inspectionfinding a queen is dificult. Look for eggs and good brd patterns. As for how to inspect. Smoke'm  in front entance and into any top entrances and wait a minutebox. Take off telescoping top and lay upside down. This where you'l place other boxes as inspection progresses. I take the box i'm inspecting and remove frame closest to either end of box and palce on ground leaning against hive. Losen some frames and emove slowly one ata time. When finished put box back togetehr and place cattycorner on top of telescoping top on ground. Proceed to next box and repeat. Be careful of rolling queen and dont bfret over a few crushed workers. Go slowly and dont panic. Bes sense your uncomfortableness levels and act accordingly. You should be able able to seefrom the top whetehr its being entirely used for honey, or it is part of brrod area. If its only honey, You can proceed directly to the deep and skip the super if you want.  
One cup of sugar to each deep about ten days apart. I do sugar shakes three times amonth if needed.Particularly starting arounf mid-july.

Have fun

[pdmattox]

A lot of scenarios come to mind.  What i did is to let the inspector show me when he came and did a intial inspection.  They don't mind and in florida it is part of thier job. Nothing like doing something to learn then trying to read it and put it in use.  just my two cents.

[mgmoore7]

A lot of scenarios come to mind.  What i did is to let the inspector show me when he came and did a intial inspection.  They don't mind and in florida it is part of thier job. Nothing like doing something to learn then trying to read it and put it in use.  just my two cents.

I agree and I have spoken to my inspector and he is very nice and helpful but he will not be available until August sometime to inspect and register.  I don't want to get behind. 

I will be joining the local bee club next Thursday.  I have read Beekeeping for Dummies and feel much more comfortable but as you know it does not cover everything under the sun.  For example it only covered inspecting a single deep.  It did not say anything about the process to inspect multiple boxes.  But of course that is why these forums are so great.  There's more experience here than all.....

Thanks.

[Kathyp]

if had a new hive i would be especially interested in the brood pattern, disease, and mite load.  you say you don't know how old one queen is, so her laying pattern is something you'll want to look at.  always look for disease.  if PS was all that was used for mite control, you'll need to see if it was effective and if you need to consider other treatments.

i finally have developed a routine that works for me.  i check the top super first.  i pull out one or two of the outer frames that have fewer bees and set them aside.  then i have room to pull, check, and replace frames without smashing to many bees.  sometimes that's as far as i go if all looks well.  if i am going to the bottom, i remove top super and set it aside (on something) then repeat what i did in the top box, in the bottom.

few things to remember.  frames full of bees and 'stuff' are heavy.  boxes are stuck together and stick to everything.  if you loosen the boxes with your hive tool and give them a 1/4 turn, they come off without bringing the bottom frames with them.  the last was Brians most excellent advice and saved my hide and back.  :-)

take pictures so we can see what you see if you have questions.

enjoy!