Are you still inspecting? November?

[drdrday]

I've been really surprised over the last few weeks by how many keepers are still inspecting their hives.
I haven't inspected any of my hives since the very end of August. I haven't even opened any of the hives since then, except for very very briefly taking out the Apivar strips last week. I certainly didn't hang around to inspect any frames.

I know that timings vary across the country (let alone the rest of the world!), but I'm in the south of the UK where weather is generally warmer for longer.
For me the day job tends to sway my timings, so that the last of the honey has to be off and extracted before the new school year starts. Without this my timings might be a couple of weeks later, but as soon as the honey is off, any varroa treatments go in, and the hives are left sealed with all that lovely propolis to look after themselves.
I don't see any benefit in inspecting beyond the end of the summer. I'm far more likely to cause an issue, such as losing a queen, than having any chance at that point in the season to be able to fix any problems.

My only concern at this point in the year is that the hives have a good enough weight, and I don't need to go 'in' to find that out. Am I being misguided??

 

[pargyle]

Too late to be doing inspections ... what can you achieve apart from disturbing the hive winter preps which are now well underway and in some areas complete ! I also know people who are still poking around in their hives - misguided curiosity I assume ?

 

[JamezF]

I haven't opened my hives since around the same time. Irritatingly, in one case, as I meant to nadir a super with some frames of honey that had crystallised in the comb, but forgot. I vaped the colonies through a hole in the floor, so they didn't even have to be opened up for that.

James

 

[Curly green finger's]

I last did a few inspections three weeks ago might be two, temp was 18c I had reasons, imo if there is a good reason and the weather permits then what is the problem.
Inspections were briefly done no messing about.

 

[Eyeman]

Will be going in to remove the Apivar strips next week. I’ve always done the full 10 week treatment so they went in at the beginning of September when the supers came off. Will be doing the OAV at the same time as the hole is in the deep side of my reversible crown board.

 

[Erichalfbee]

No...not been in since end of August
If there is a good reason then you should.
I have one colony that's light which now has fondant on top. I suspect they are light because they are dwindling with a failed queen poorly mated but It's only a guess. I'm leaving them to it

 

[The Poot]

I also stopped inspecting towards the end of August and removed the final super on 9th September.
All colonies were queen right and ivy pollen by then, was noticeable going in, so the bees have been left to themselves.
Beekeeping duties have been feeding, vaping and wasp control only, since then, nothing intrusive.

 

[SWEET]

Plenty of folk stop inspections in April ha ha - depends on what you're doing, but for standard hobby beekeeping prob when the supers came off start of August.

 

[enrico]

If there is a reason to inspect at any time of the year then do do. If not then don't. There is a difference between inspecting for a reason and inspecting just in case something is wrong. The latter is not necessary

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Apart from the DASH audit That was sprung on me late September I've opened very few hives since the end of July.
There seems to be an obsession on the dark side with clattering away in the hives, at least weekly until the first frosts!

 

[Garry R]

If there is a reason to inspect at any time of the year then do do. If not then don't. There is a difference between inspecting for a reason and inspecting just in case something is wrong. The latter is not necessary

I think that I VERY occasionally have a peek under the crownboard to check fondant stocks and cluster size if I think it is much smaller than I was expecting. On colony size there really is not a lot you can do in mid-winter. Hold tight and wait until spring. Fondant - if the pack is empty give them more and I don't mean a silly half pound in a tub fed through a hole in the crown board. Take off the crown board. Place a 2inch eke on the brood box and put a couple of 1kg packs of fondant flattened on the frames the cluster is covering. That way you guarantee they will get it. Crownboard back on, a slab of insulation on top of it and they will be fine. Then a very occasional peek thereafter. You will have done your best by them.

 

[Murox]

Well this year and it can vary if I have any heather to deal with, I took off the last honey at the end of August, made a final inspection for queen-rightness and put in Apivar for 10 weeks. When I removed it I assessed stores and fed accordingly via an adapted tall sided crown board with a hole in it, and with insulation above. I shan't be cracking any boxes probably until late March or April next year (weather dependant). Hefting and feeding as needed.