First inspection with a bigger hive - advice welcome

[BernardBlack]

Ok, this probably sounds a bit naive, but here goes...

Bought a new, established hive. 2 brood boxes, 1 super (no Q Exc in place). First inspection due at weekend.

Thing is, I've only ever managed hives which had 1 brood box (containing stores). Never managed a hive any bigger. This first check is a bit daunting for me. Kept me awake most of the night thinking about how I'm going to manage it (don't laugh! )

Anyway, just wondered if anyone has any tips, dos or donts. Anything just regarding handling, where to set things, or anything that might just be different than with a smaller hive.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I don't run two brood boxes but did play around with brood and a half for a season.
Take the top box aside and put it somewhere safe where the bees won't all escape. An empty super is good. Put the crown board on top.
Look through the bottom box first. I found that if I looked through the top box first then put it aside the bees downstairs were a bit peed off by the time I got down there.

 

[Heather]

When you put an upper brood box aside to check the lower, place it on an upturned roof or similar. That queen may just be precariously on a frame... don't want her dropping into the grass. Give that box a secure base.

 

[BernardBlack]

When you put an upper brood box aside to check the lower, place it on an upturned roof or similar. That queen may just be precariously on a frame... don't want her dropping into the grass. Give that box a secure base.

That's got me thinking actually. The hive is arranged:

Roof
BROOD BOX
SUPER
BROOD BOX
Floor

So, what are the chances the Queen could be in the top Brood box? I thought she doesn't venture that far up?

 

[Anduril]

As Erichalfbee and Heather. The top brood box may be full of honey or it may have been extracted and then put back on, in which case the queen may be in the top brood box. The set up looks as though it has been done to draw the brood frames, while there is a good flow and first used for honey. How heavy was it when you bought it? One thing you could do if you now have 2 hives, use the roof from the other hive for the super, or as there is no excluder, place it on top of the other brood box if you have done as Erichalfbee you will have the crown board on top of that brood box.

 

[Chriszog]

I run double broods and always examine the top box first, then remove when finished, examine bottom box then when completed put top box back on.

 

[enrico]

You know what? At this time of the year I would leave them. i would make sure they have stores by seeing if there was plenty of weight to the box's. By next spring the bottom brood box will be empty, you will be able to remove that then. The chances are the queen will be up in the top brood box so you may be able to take the super off too. Why are you inspecting? What do you expect to find that needs anything doing to it and how are you going to deal with it at this time of the season! This will be a controversial answer but that is what I would do.
E

 

[Chriszog]

New hive, I would examine to make sure Queen survived the journey and Foulbrood examination if not done prior to purchase.

 

[Anduril]

New hive, I would examine to make sure Queen survived the journey and Foulbrood examination if not done prior to purchase.

I remember a beekeeper buying a hive with bees, over 30 years ago, the owner wouldn't allow him to look into the hive. When he got it home it was queenless and diseased.

 

[BernardBlack]

As Erichalfbee and Heather. The top brood box may be full of honey or it may have been extracted and then put back on, in which case the queen may be in the top brood box. The set up looks as though it has been done to draw the brood frames, while there is a good flow and first used for honey. How heavy was it when you bought it? One thing you could do if you now have 2 hives, use the roof from the other hive for the super, or as there is no excluder, place it on top of the other brood box if you have done as Erichalfbee you will have the crown board on top of that brood box.

Not sure of exact weight. Took two to lift it. It wasnt a huge weight, just awkward.

Ah yes... In a few weeks she'll stop laying anyway, so I can remove one of the brood boxes. And replace it when needed in spring. Have I got that right?

 

[Levitt53]

I'm only in my second year but I'll stick my two pennies in. I think I would leave it a week from it's arrival then check the top box for brood and stores. If I was happy that there was brood in there I would leave the bottom box alone. Feed if necessary, also put the inspection board in to check for varroa and treat if necessary. Otherwise I would sort it out in the spring when it's much small and you can probably take some if those boxes away and look at the comb.

 

[Anduril]

Some go down to one box, others stay with two. Also depends on how prolific they are. Look through all of it to get a better assessment.

 

[beeno]

Not sure of exact weight. Took two to lift it. It wasnt a huge weight, just awkward.

Ah yes... In a few weeks she'll stop laying anyway, so I can remove one of the brood boxes. And replace it when needed in spring. Have I got that right?

Hi Bernard Black,
Yes, beekeeping can be daunting and size matters! I used to dread first inspection in spring - took three years to get over the Angst.
1. Please take care with the Queen as she can be anywhere since there is no queen excluder in place. If you have a spare nuc put her in there on the frame you found her on whilst you examine the rest, then you know she is safe. Is she marked?
2. Bottom brood box, so the theory goes, is examined first to get less bees in the air. However, I think like you that HM might be up there.
3. I have overwintered once only on double brood because the bottom brood box was full of pollen and I did not have room in freezer or fancy freezing it anyway. Prefer to overwinter on one brood box only for warmth and found the empty combs in bottom brood box a bit mouldy come spring. You do have to be happy about the stores situation in the brood box though.
Best of luck for the weekend inspection.

 

[user 6228]

A bigger colony is noiser much noiser... remember it doesnt always mean they are angry, just more of them... (sounds obvious, but keep reminding your self of this as you confront the tens of thousands of buzzing things )

 

[drex]

I run all double brood. Having recently taken supers off, I had to add a third BB to one colony as it was overflowing bees. I will remove it later and disperse any stores throughout the other colonies.
When I inspect double brood, I leave the crown board in place, and remove top brood box, placing it on an upturned crown board ( with rim). I put crown board over bottom box. Keeping boxes covered minimises the fliers. During the active season, I inspect top box first, and queen is usually up there, laying in warmest part of hive. From the behaviour of the bees it is usually possible to determine which box the queen is in, after only a few minutes. If needed, when top box has been inspected, I will cover it and look through bottom box. Often though, there is little to be gained by going through bottom box.

 

[Teemore]

Bernard - my apiaries are probably closer to you than anyone else on the forum - same County.... Be aware that I am seeing a complete brood break in some of my colonies at present as there is precious little for them to be foraging on. They are starting to find some pollen and that is getting the queens laying again. I mention this as there might not be much in the way of eggs and larvae in this colony but that should not be a cause for concern for the moment. Similarly, be very cautious about disease. County Armagh had a lot of American foul brood in 2016 (particularly around the Birches area) but the problem seems to have been contained. Time will tell.
Derek's comments about the size of the colony are very valid and you should keep them in mind when you do inspect this colony.
I have some double brood colonies and some on brood and a half. My habit is to place the roof upside down on the ground and then to lift off the upper brood box, placing it on the upturned roof for the reasons outlined in previous posts. On occasion, I will have spare crown boards to hand on which I will set the boxes and which I can use to close off supers etc that have been lifted off the hive. I check the bottom brood box first and then set the upper on back on and check it. If you want, you can even check it whilst it is sitting on the roof. Your choice.
If the bees are not brooding across all three boxes, (brood box, super and brood box) my inclination would be to reduce them to super and brood box. It isnt always necessary to look through all the boxes comprising the brood area. The majority of my inspections involve looking at 2 to 4 frames. Something I see might prompt me to look further.

 

[Millet]

That's got me thinking actually. The hive is arranged:

Roof
BROOD BOX
SUPER
BROOD BOX
Floor

So, what are the chances the Queen could be in the top Brood box? I thought she doesn't venture that far up?

The chance of the Queen being in the top brood box is fairly high, on my last inspection all three of my Queen where in the top box, i wont add anything about inspecting the way i do it because everyone else has it covered for you, i will say though just relax put good protective clothing on to give you a bit more confidence and take your time and do everything as smoothly as you can preferably on a nice day so a lot of the bees are out foraging, good luck.

 

[BernardBlack]

Beeno, yes Queen is marked.

Some good tips here. Much appreciated. I'm just picturing the whole procedure in my head - what to bring with me, where to set things and order of checking etc. It's starting to feel less daunting.

 

[Levitt53]

I've got in the habit of singing when I inspect my bees. It slows me down a bit and makes me breathe. I guess it drowns out the bees a bit also.

 

[Millet]

I've got in the habit of singing when I inspect my bees. It slows me down a bit and makes me breathe. I guess it drowns out the bees a bit also.

If i started singing someone would shoot me before the bees killed me, lol .