Inspection Technique Questions

[CircleBee]

I am a newbie and have two questions about inspection technique. First, what do you all do with the upper boxes when inspecting those below? And second, how do you keep from crushing bees every time you put a frame back in place?  When inspecting my hive's bottom box, I place the top box uncovered and at an offset angle (so as not to crush bees that may be along the bottom rim) on the overturned hive lid that is on the ground (I have a hive stand ~ 1 foot off the ground).  I ask this because I am racking my brain for a reason as to why my queen would be found 3 days after this inspection dead on the ground ~ 3 feet from my hive, covered in a pile of 20-30 live bees that appeared to be trying to attend to her.  I now wonder if she wasn't in the upper box at the time of my inspection, became frightened of the light or decided to move to the lower box, exited at one of the corners and was unable to get back into the hive. When I put the top box back on, I saw no bees on the ground, but who knows. Another concern, once I get my hive queen right again, is I am frequently crushing bees between the frames when placing them back in the hive. I try to move slow, push a little so they know to get out of the way, and move it back so they can, but find that even when I do this, there is always one who makes the wrong move at the wrong time and I feel that awful crunch. And worse yet, at some point that crunch may be my new queen...

[scoobee]

I am a newbie too so I don't have a lot of experience. But, I too had the same question as far as not crushing bees when putting frames back. After my last inspection moving slow and taking my time I counted 9 casualties. I asked my bee person and she said its normal to maybe kill a few. I have also seen other questions regarding taking the top box off to inspect the bottom and sounds to me you were doing it right. Take it off and place it on the top cover, then when putting it back put it on the edge and slide it back on so as not to crush any more bees than you have to. The ladies just seem to think we're playing with them and come up to get in the way. I feel awful when I kill a bee, but I think that if I do I'll have to take a spoonful of honey to consult myself, good luck and God Bless.

                               Scoobee

[BGhoney]

Make sure your putting your last frame in on the outside of your hive, frames 9-10 or  1-2,  there should be fewer bees out there, that way your not sliding frames right down into brood area, also you can smoke the top some, and set your next box on at an angle, then piviot it around to close, some bees get pushed into the hive some out, a few get pivioted in half.

[Dr. B in Wisconsin]

I have seen the same problem, they stick there heads up or start crawling up the sides of the boxes just as you twist the boxes back into place. What I have been doing is giving them a good puff of smoke just before placing the box back on, that scares them back down a little and helps some.

[harvey]

During inspection,  Place either another box with a bottom on it or the top telescoping cover on the ground upside down.  Place the top box on top of that using the cover for a bottom.  Always remove the outside frame of the box you are inspecting first.  Then slide the next frame over before lifting.  Keep sliding the frames away from each other before you lift them.  This will prevent or at least minimize the opportunity to roll your bees and your queen.  When you put it back together slide the frames back tight together. Then slowly lower your last frame back in.  The outside frames are normally less attended and are normally honey so the chance of rolling your queen is again minimized.   When putting one box back on top of another set it on crooked and then slowly twist it back into alignement.  The bees will tend to dance out of the way. 

[doak]

When placing the boxes back I always give a couple quick puffs of smoke and place the box back on as near as it is supposed to be as I can get it. Will be off center  3/8 to half inch. Few bees get squished.
When removing frames start like said, on the out side. Place the first frame out on end leaning against the hive. Replace in reverse order.
Use the cover inverted on the ground to sit the top box on when removed.
( I have 3/8 inch strips on the inside of most of my covers for Bee space)  I don't use an inner cover.
Then I can sit the box on the cover with out off setting it. Works for me.

I like flat covers over telescoping covers. Then if I need ventilation just put 1/4 inch blocks under the back two corners. This also, "works for me"
Always inspect the top box to see if it has any brood in it before removing it from the hive stack. Then you know if there is a chance the queen is in it. Then you can be more careful about her.
Hope this helps too.  :)doak