Keeping track of time

[madscientist]

I've read a few posts in my short time on this board explaining the merits of this or that type of glove with many claiming that bare hands or purple nitrile prevents squishing bees. Others posts have discussed slowly lowering the cover to give the bees time to move out of the way.
I admit, this being my first year, for the first three or four inspections I was very careful not to squish anyone.
However, whilst my hive herd is currently small (just 5), I one day hope to be running enough to be able to put a measurable amount of honey-money in my pocket.  When I get to that point, I can't see spending an extra 5 minutes per hive waiting for everyone to get out of the way.
So, my question for the big-timers is, how much time do you commit to every hive?  How many bees do you think you squish per inspection or super-install or removal?  I'm trying to get a feel for where the breakeven point is between maximizing beekeeper efficiency and minimizing impact to the hive.

[octagon]

I've read a few posts in my short time on this board explaining the merits of this or that type of glove with many claiming that bare hands or purple nitrile prevents squishing bees. Others posts have discussed slowly lowering the cover to give the bees time to move out of the way.
I admit, this being my first year, for the first three or four inspections I was very careful not to squish anyone.
However, whilst my hive herd is currently small (just 5), I one day hope to be running enough to be able to put a measurable amount of honey-money in my pocket.  When I get to that point, I can't see spending an extra 5 minutes per hive waiting for everyone to get out of the way.
So, my question for the big-timers is, how much time do you commit to every hive?  How many bees do you think you squish per inspection or super-install or removal?  I'm trying to get a feel for where the breakeven point is between maximizing beekeeper efficiency and minimizing impact to the hive.

   not a big-timer myself but do know a couple around here with over fifty hives and they seem to be just as careful now as they did when they had 2 hives. maybe they just like to take care of the thing that takes care of them. i'll ask next weekend.

[Brian D. Bray]

Develop your inspection techniques now while you're a small time beekeeper.  Make it a habit, the habit stays regardless of how big you get. 
Some things to incorporate into your beekeeping inspection routine--use on every hive every time:
1. Smoke the entrance--2-3 puffs.
2. Pop the top and smoke as above.
3. When moving supers always rotate (twist) the box 10-20 degrees off line to bread burr comb.
4. Move the 2 outer frames to the wall and remove the 3rd frame as the 1st one to inspect.  Leave it out of the hive and replace it after inspection is over.  This doesn't roll the bees and gets you into the heart of the hive as the 2 outer frames are always storage frames and the next frame in can go either way.
5. When you do something, follow it up by doing it in reverse on backing out of the hive, including twisting the box back square--place it back on the hive at an angle and rotate to aligh it--smoke the corners to clear bees.
6. Add supers or other things deemed necessary--take note of what needs to be done to hive next time.
7. Close it up and walk away.