Help with inspection

Bee Whisper82 · June 26, 2009, 02:24:36 AM

Hi,
I need some advice on how to inspect hives with so many bees. This is my first year and I have three hives. I was alright when the swarms I caught was small but now they are packed full. I feel over whelmed, need some help

Brian D. Bray · June 26, 2009, 03:37:11 AM

Quote from: Bee Whisper82 on June 26, 2009, 02:24:36 AM
Hi,
I need some advice on how to inspect hives with so many bees. This is my first year and I have three hives. I was alright when the swarms I caught was small but now they are packed full. I feel over whelmed, need some help

smoke the hives at the entrance and when you take the top off to drive the bees down from the top bars so you can grasp them. Using your hive tool pry the frames apart and remove one, inspect it and set it aside so there is more room in the hive to manipulate the remaining frames. Examine each frame carefully. Use the hive tool to pry the frames appart and out of the box. Proceed in a slow onfident manner. Haste will agitate the bees. Smoke anytime the bees start crowding the tops of the frames, that's your work area. Replace all the frames in the same order found unless there is a very good reason for doing otherwise.

Repeat after me: slow and calm, slow and calm......

Bee Whisper82 · June 26, 2009, 03:53:55 AM

Question? How long can I have the hive open at one given time cause I feel that when I open it I have a tendicy to look and hurry and close it up. What do I do if my hive is a little tight around the frames? Will I roll my bees if I take the first frame out. The hive is a homemade box.

adgjoan · June 26, 2009, 06:51:18 AM

Take the frame closest to the outside of the box first. Then you have room to slide the next frame over working your way through all the frames.

Joan

indypartridge · June 26, 2009, 07:49:55 AM

Quote from: Bee Whisper82 on June 26, 2009, 03:53:55 AM
Question? How long can I have the hive open at one given time cause I feel that when I open it I have a tendicy to look and hurry and close it up.

As long as you need. As Brian said, "slow and calm". Even moving slowly, you can do an very thorough inspection in 15-to-20 minutes. I've been at bee-yard workshops where hives have been opened for more than a half-hour with 20 people crowding around.

Keep in mind that the temperament of a hive may be different from one time to the next. One time they may be fine with a long inspection, another they may become agitated after just a few minutes. Adjust accordingly.

Kathyp · June 26, 2009, 12:03:58 PM

define "packed full". if you have bees crammed all the way to the outside frames, you might need more room. don't worry about using homemade hive tools. i have used all kinds of things in a pinch. do you have a smoker?

Joelel · June 26, 2009, 12:44:44 PM

Quote from: Bee Whisper82 on June 26, 2009, 02:24:36 AM
Hi,
I need some advice on how to inspect hives with so many bees. This is my first year and I have three hives. I was alright when the swarms I caught was small but now they are packed full. I feel over whelmed, need some help

Lightly blow on the tops of the frames to drive them down into the frames off the top,than you can get a hold on the frames.

G3farms · June 26, 2009, 01:10:39 PM

Quote from: Joelel on June 26, 2009, 12:44:44 PM

Lightly blow on the tops of the frames to drive them down into the frames off the top,than you can get a hold on the frames.

I hope you are meaning with the smoker and not your breath. If you blow on them with your breath be ready for a face full of bees. It does not take a lot of smoke and I find if you work the bellows slow and gentle you will get better results from the little girls. Hard blowing from the smoker will blow ash, hot embers and even fire into the hive.

G3

Joelel · June 26, 2009, 01:20:22 PM

Quote from: G3farms on June 26, 2009, 01:10:39 PM
Quote from: Joelel on June 26, 2009, 12:44:44 PM

Lightly blow on the tops of the frames to drive them down into the frames off the top,than you can get a hold on the frames.

I hope you are meaning with the smoker and not your breath. If you blow on them with your breath be ready for a face full of bees. It does not take a lot of smoke and I find if you work the bellows slow and gentle you will get better results from the little girls. Hard blowing from the smoker will blow ash, hot embers and even fire into the hive.

G3

Yes with my breath,I usually don't even use a smoker.

Bee Whisper82 · June 26, 2009, 02:59:53 PM

Quotedo you have a smoker?

Quotedefine "packed full".

I have a smoker. Packed full is meaning the hive is packed with all frames with bees. I have read that I need to have two hive bodes on my hive but don't have the extra bodes and frames w/ foundation. I do have extra supers w/ frames and foundation. Could I use a super this year for extra room. Advice please.

Kathyp · June 26, 2009, 03:06:06 PM

yes. better that than swarming. use what you have and fix it next year! many people use all mediums. it's not the size of the box that counts, but the space that you can provide in the hive.

Bee Whisper82 · June 26, 2009, 03:21:54 PM

now if I use the super how would I fix it next year? Aren't there going to be brood in it?

Kathyp · June 26, 2009, 03:34:54 PM

probably. that's ok. by the end of winter, your hive numbers will be down. you can put an excluder between the supers and brood box, making sure the queen is below, and let the brood hatch out...if there is any. then remove those supers and replace with your next box. the supers can be used for honey next year.

at the end of winter, we can help walk you though that part. for now, give them space.

Irwin · June 26, 2009, 03:49:00 PM

I agree with Kathyp 100% I hope your out there right now :-D

Bee Whisper82 · June 26, 2009, 03:50:00 PM

Thanks kathyp for your help I was worried about what would happen. I just love this forum. :yippiechick:

Bee Whisper82 · June 26, 2009, 03:51:46 PM

I can't do anything right now because I have to get ready for work. Can I do it tomorrow?

Kathyp · June 26, 2009, 04:07:54 PM

sure.

JP · June 26, 2009, 04:29:22 PM

This would be a wise investment: https://www.dadant.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=194

or make one. Mine stacks 4 frames and gets them out of the way for inspections.

In time all those bees won't be so intimidating. As mentioned, smoke the entrance, pop the top smoke again, then put the top aside, and go on with your inspection.

Keep the smoker at hand so you can direct the bees where you want them to be.

As mentioned, slow and methodical works best. Before lowering the top cover, smoke them off of the frames and down into the box, then place the top.

Enjoy your bees.

...JP

G3farms · June 26, 2009, 04:31:47 PM

If they are really that packed in give them the space as suggested, hopefully they will move up into the super and have enough stores to make it through the winter. Not sure about your area but around here it takes about 60 to 70 pounds of honey for them to over winter, just depends on how cold it gets.

G3