Hive inspection

[kenglert]

Hey everyone  I'm a relatively new in the bee game and have an elementary type question for you all.  What do you all do when you inspect your hive.  How do you start.  What's your progression and how do you finish.  I've performed many inspections between last year and next and I downoaded a poster's (don't remember his handle) inspection checklist, but I was just curious how everyone else does it.
Thanks and sorry if this is a silly question.
Kurt

[tillie]

http://beekeeperlinda.blogspot.com/2010/01/how-to-do-basic-hive-inspection.html

http://beekeeperlinda.blogspot.com/2008/04/whats-involved-in-hive-inspection.html

[jajtiii]

I pop the top and work down. I typically pull the first two frames of the super and rest them against the side of the hive (the opposite side from where I am inspecting from - otherwise, I end up with a couple crawling up my leg!) I make sure neither frame has the queen on it. I like to remove two so that I have room to do my basic tasks.

The basic tasks are simply to count the drawn frames (if a new super with foundation), count the capped honey (if a drawn super) or count the frames of capped brood (if a brood chamber). These are numbers that I make a note of, to compare with my other hives and with my next round of inspections.

On each frame, I do a spot check for the queen, but am really fine if I find larva or eggs. I also check for queen cells.

During early Spring, I am looking for Drone brood. In my experience, when that REALLY ramps up, a hive is going into swarm prep mode. That's just my experience.

I use my hive tool to clean up propolis (easier with two frames removed).

Exception 1 : Sometimes, if I am comfortable with a hive's progress (based on prior inspections and activity outside), I might simply go directly to the brood nest super and confirm that I have larva and good brood pattern on a couple of frames.

Exception 2 : During the flow, I might only pull frames from the honey super they are working on, to gauge when another super needs to go on.

That's it, in a nutshell.

[Mshel]

Jajtiii- I saw that you are a Beekeeper in Richmond ( I use to live there). I looked at your website today and the information you have posted is really helpful for those of us who may not understand all the bee terminology used here.
Keep up the good work! :)

[kenglert]

That's great info.  Thank you all.  Linda, I bookmarked your site.  Terrific info.  Keep up the good work.  It is certainly appreciated.
Kurt