Bee honest…did you inspect this weekend?

[Do224]

Please can someone explain what the harm would have been? The weather was much better than many summer days when I have done an inspection for swarm cells. The bees were very active. For those of us with few hives (so losing one is significant) and less experience of judging stores by weight, having a look to check the amount and location of stores might be better than feeding 'just in case' and then potentially reducing space for brood. Are people worried there aren't enough bees to get the brood nest temperature back up after opening?

I think the main concern is that you could accidentally kill the queen at a time when you can’t get a new one.

But you have a valid counter argument for opening up to take a look if you’re still getting the hang of hefting. After all, how often do we accidentally kill a queen during inspections…

 

[Sutty]

I think the main concern is that you could accidentally kill the queen at a time when you can’t get a new one.

But you have a valid counter argument for opening up to take a look if you’re still getting the hang of hefting. After all, how often do we accidentally kill a queen during inspections…

It's pretty rare to kill a queen if you handle frames gently, though i have had one drop/fly off a frame and be lost - I saw her disappear through a gap at the side of a sidebar, turned the frame around and she was gone. I hoped she had dropped into the hive but EQCs a few days later.
Another "risk" is breaking all the propolis seals just before another cold snap, thereby making it harder for them, however when doing a winter vape I've seen that they are not always that well sealed anyway.

 

[Penninetrader]

It

Please can someone explain what the harm would have been? The weather was much better than many summer days when I have done an inspection for swarm cells. The bees were very active. For those of us with few hives (so losing one is significant) and less experience of judging stores by weight, having a look to check the amount and location of stores might be better than feeding 'just in case' and then potentially reducing space for brood. Are people worried there aren't enough bees to get the brood nest temperature back up after opening?

It goes back to the judgement based on your own circumstance and you make a good case for your reasoning,again we each do our best.