A Bee Inspector Calls

[welshgirl]

Hi

The bees and I have managed to get through our first winter together - hooray. But I've just had a request from a bee inspector to have a look at my bees next week. I haven't carried out the first inspection of the year because it's been too cold and the weather forecast for the proposed day is 8C. Isn't this too cold to be carrying out inspections, even for someone as experienced/quick as an inspector?

I don't want to be obstructive but also don't want to risk my bees.

Any thoughts?

 

[Swarm]

Tell them your concern and that you won't be lifting any frames if the forecast is correct.

 

[B+.]

Any thoughts?

I've always found the bee inspectors very helpful and friendly. Don't worry.

 

[masterBK]

The colony probably won't be open for more than 2 minutes. Bee larvae can take more chilling than most people realise.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Hi

The bees and I have managed to get through our first winter together - hooray. But I've just had a request from a bee inspector to have a look at my bees next week. I haven't carried out the first inspection of the year because it's been too cold and the weather forecast for the proposed day is 8C. Isn't this too cold to be carrying out inspections, even for someone as experienced/quick as an inspector?

I don't want to be obstructive but also don't want to risk my bees.

Any thoughts?

Shouldn't be a problem - who's your SBI ?

 

[For want of a better word]

SBI's only call IMOLHO if there has been an outbreak of a notifiable bee disease in your locality... best let them inspect,, generally have loads and loads more experience than the average 2 hive owner.

IMOLE

Nos da

 

[BeeJayBee]

I don't want to be obstructive but also don't want to risk my bees.

Any thoughts?

If you're really worried about the weather then say so and maybe they can reschedule, but don't worry too much if they can't because they won't do anything that will hurt your bees.

The SBIs try to make sure they inspect all the apiaries in all parts of their patch every couple of years, which is why they sometimes ask to carry out what appear to be random inspections.

You'll learn a lot from their visit too, because you'll see an expert at work and will get the chance to ask a lot of questions - maybe have some questions ready?

 

[madasafish]

I had an inspection in my first year. Very useful and nice guy.

My subsequent dealings with bee inspectors last year showed them to be very helpful although the circumstances were hardly ideal (AFB) Jo Schup - now an RBI - was particularly helpful.

 

[birdsandbees]

And now we see the results of all the scaremongering folk on this forum, all those that have been banging on about not opening hives unless it's warm T shirt and shorts weather and is expected to be like it for several days, plus comments about 'real' beekeepers don't open their hives until at least May etc.
How many new beekeepers have lost bees because they were warned not to open their hives so the bees starved?
for me as long as it's over ten degrees, carried out at the warmest part of the day and a quick inspection then there's no issue, I personally prefer temps in the mid teens but when you need to you need to.
If the inspector only needs a quick look it'll be fine.

 

[welshgirl]

Thanks all - I feel much better. I still haven't shaken off newbie angst about everything and anything bee related.

 

[Brian Bush]

Make the most of this opportunity. The bee inspector will be most helpful and it is a good way to learn. I have always found it beneficial to have them inspect hives. They cannot tell you what to do but they often offer snippets of advice and words of wisdom that you can take on board or ignore if you wish.
'It is a bad day when you do not learn something new!!'

 

[For want of a better word]

Make the most of this opportunity. The bee inspector will be most helpful and it is a good way to learn. I have always found it beneficial to have them inspect hives. They cannot tell you what to do but they often offer snippets of advice and words of wisdom that you can take on board or ignore if you wish.
'It is a bad day when you do not learn something new!!'

Mytten da

 

[Erichalfbee]

They are pretty good at finding queens you need to mark too

 

[seaknight]

Hi, what part of Wales are you in?

Hi

The bees and I have managed to get through our first winter together - hooray. But I've just had a request from a bee inspector to have a look at my bees next week. I haven't carried out the first inspection of the year because it's been too cold and the weather forecast for the proposed day is 8C. Isn't this too cold to be carrying out inspections, even for someone as experienced/quick as an inspector?

I don't want to be obstructive but also don't want to risk my bees.

Any thoughts?

 

[Swarm]

And now we see the results of all the scaremongering folk on this forum, all those that have been banging on about not opening hives unless it's warm T shirt and shorts weather and is expected to be like it for several days, plus comments about 'real' beekeepers don't open their hives until at least May etc.
How many new beekeepers have lost bees because they were warned not to open their hives so the bees starved?
for me as long as it's over ten degrees, carried out at the warmest part of the day and a quick inspection then there's no issue, I personally prefer temps in the mid teens but when you need to you need to.
If the inspector only needs a quick look it'll be fine.

What are you on about?
There's been no scare mongering, just good advice. Sunny here today but flippin freezing although temps are supposedly 11 degrees. If you want to lift frames in those conditions, carry on.
How heavy are your hives? You work out if they need feeding by hefting not by going through the frames.
The inspector is more likely to be doing a round of new season beekeepers but will nevertheless go through each brood frame, shaking the bees. Not in temps like these, sorry.

 

[birdsandbees]

What are you on about?
There's been no scare mongering, just good advice.

I refer to posts over the last month or so by members of the forum telling folk to stay out of their hives, that it's way too cold and in one instance an experienced keeper telling a newbee that sitting on their hands doing nothing is what makes a good Beekeeper. If I can be bothered I'll find the posts but all this leads to less experienced keepers feeling too worried to check their bees which could have meant starved out colonies that would have otherwise been okay, it may also lead to swarms being lost among other issues. The OP said she hasn't inspected and was worried about an inspection taking place, fair to assume it may have been influenced by the past posts.

Here's an example, ironically posted by the same person that on this thread says it's all good and go ahead?

But .. unlike some others who are happy to pontificate and preach with little or no real beekeepering experience... You are well on the way to becoming a BEEKEEPER!

Well done... keep sitting on those hands... they will be full enough come May!!

 

[Michael Palmer]

I see Brds&Bs point. It really is okay to open a colony of bees when it's chilly. No need to wait for sunny, calm, 16˚ weather. In fact, if I didn't work my bees in off weather, I'd never get anything done. Just today we worked two apiaries in chilly weather...the first apiary was done at 3˚to 6˚ and breezy. You just have to work quickly and don't drop bees off the combs.

 

[BeeJayBee]

I refer to posts over the last month or so by members of the forum telling folk to stay out of their hives, that it's way too cold ...

I may have been one of those people, I can't remember, but I haven't been into my hives yet and nor have any of those in my BKA that I've asked - because it HAS been too cold at the times when we've been free to take a look and see what's going on.

all this leads to less experienced keepers feeling too worried to check their bees which could have meant starved out colonies that would have otherwise been okay ...

Not so!

All our (local/BKA) beekeepers have been advised to check their colonies by at least hefting their hives and to feed if necessary. The NBU has sent out the same warning.

You might be fortunate with your weather and local climate but here, today, it's reached a massive high of 7C in a sheltered spot. The sharp westerly wind has added a rather wonderful windchill taking temperatures lower. Tonight it's frosty, with a layer of ice on the birdbaths.

I see Brds&Bs point. It really is okay to open a colony of bees when it's chilly. No need to wait for sunny, calm, 16˚ weather. In fact, if I didn't work my bees in off weather, I'd never get anything done. Just today we worked two apiaries in chilly weather...the first apiary was done at 3˚to 6˚ and breezy. You just have to work quickly and don't drop bees off the combs.

I see the point too but, to be fair, on this forum - and this thread is in the beginner's section - we aren't always talking to experienced beekeepers.

There aren't many UK beekeepers who will, in their lifetime, be able to get the experience of handling anywhere near as many colonies as you do in a single season. Most will only ever have seen their own two or three colonies, because not all associations have teaching apiaries to practice on - and how many inspections will that be over a period of, say, five years?

Those who started with bees last year (2015) may not have got their colonies until mid or late summer - it was a cold, miserable, year. They will maybe have done only half a dozen unaccompanied inspections before 'putting their colonies to bed' for the long, wet, winter. They aren't always going to be very quick, and aren't always going to be able to confidently pull out frames without dropping any bees.

We were all new beekeepers once, and all scared we were going to do something awful that might kill our bees. I think it's sometimes important to think back to those days and remember how lonely it can be in the apiary without anybody looking over our shoulder or lending a helping hand. This is one good reason by a visit from an SBI should be welcomed, because they will help and support as much as they can, and give a bit of one-to-one teaching, even if it's only for half an hour or so.

 

[Gilberdyke John]

And now we see the results of all the scaremongering folk on this forum, all those that have been banging on about not opening hives unless it's warm T shirt and shorts weather and is expected to be like it for several days, plus comments about 'real' beekeepers don't open their hives until at least May etc.
How many new beekeepers have lost bees because they were warned not to open their hives so the bees starved?
for me as long as it's over ten degrees, carried out at the warmest part of the day and a quick inspection then there's no issue, I personally prefer temps in the mid teens but when you need to you need to.
If the inspector only needs a quick look it'll be fine.

There are various points of view about opening hives, more particularly in separating frames of bees in the early months of the year when temperatures are low. In the main these are very valid. Hefting the hive should tell you a lot about stores and colony strength but can't detect isolation starvation risk situations. Having clear crownboards is a very useful tool in the beekeepers box and can save a lot of angst.
Someone with one or two colonies will fret more than someone with lots, especially in the early years and if not adept at smooth but rapid handling is probably better staying out of the hive until the temperatures rise. However there are sometimes overriding factors to consider. It's been said before but worth repeating - there aren't any one size fits all answers in beekeeping.

 

[madasafish]

My own hives were VERY tetchy this spring with cold windy weather.
I did not welcome the idea of multiple stings and did not inspect and only hefted and fed. I also wore nitriles instead of bare hands.. only 20 stings to date!

Inspecting tetchy bees is no fun - especially for a beginner.