Having a look

[biglad]

Hi all im very new to bee keeping. How often can i check my hive without upsetting my bees. Cheers Neil

 

[VEG]

once a week but even then you really need to have a reason for looking not just because you want to

 

[susbees]

Bees get upset with the way they are handled...always take the dummy board out first and pull the first frame back before lifting so you don't roll the bees. Gently does it - crashing about and dropping things is bad news.

They dislike high winds, high humidity/thunder, heavy rain. Once a week during the swarm season is a maximum, less often before and after.

Never go into a hive for "a look" or without a plan for why and what you are looking for.

Looking from the outside can tell you nearly as much.

 

[Queens59]

Many books say if clipped 9 days, unclipped 7 - but ONLY if you have a reason, queenright, swarm cells, stores, etc...It is sooo tempting just to 'have a peek' but sometimes the bees will blame the Queen and ball her if you inspect too often. To stop myself when I first got mine I played 'What is happening in the Hive' without looking...surprising what you can find out just by watching the entrance...

 

[REDWOOD]

All through swarm season check every week 7 days, that will be most of the spring and summer

 

[the beehive lodge]

welcome to the forum Biglad
are you in a local bbka or a bee buddy near you the best is to get as much help from other keeper the bees need to be looked at once every 7 to 10 day this time of the year some time when reading thread it can sound confusing
like rolling the bees if you take out frames without making space bees roll up as the frame is pulled out its best to remove at least 1 to 2 frame alway put them back as they come out and the same way keep a written note how you think the bees are doing ie temprament eggs, larve, sealed brood,food

 

[oliver90owner]

Let's think this through a bit.

You are clearly new to beekeeping?

You have a 5-frame nuc which has just been re-homed into a full hive, so now comprising seven frames (and a dummy/divider)?

The nuc will (should) have arrived with adequate stores for a week or more. So first check would be after a week, for stores and that all else seems well in there (queen is still laying).

You will see if another frame or perhaps two, or even none, are needed for expansion. You will see if stores are increasing or decreasing - possibly coupled with some basic observations outside the hive (mainly as in weather conditions and how busy the bees are foraging) so you may not need to delve too deeply in the hive. If the weather/forage is poor you may have observed them collecting water, if not enough nectar is coming in. All little things but important for the whole picture.

You will then decide whether feed is required or not at the present time and estimate when the next inspection should be due (based on feed/stores availability and state of comb drawing). That period could, of course, change if the outside obserations alter radically within the time-frame decided.

They should not be swarming at this stage, so should not necessarily need 7 day inspections for queen cells at this point of their development.

Keeping ahead of the situations which may otherwise arise, is all you need to do.

To your question - I would say as infrequently as you find possible.

Of course you need to look in regularly, but only for the necessities. You will practise handling your bees soon enough. The important thing at this stage is to get the bee numbers expanding as quickly as possible, and frequent interference is not good for that.

Every time you delve into the colony there is risk to the queen, so try to learn from the outside, with reference to the innards only when necessary - and only then just to confirm or modify your outside observations.

Making adjustments like adding an extra frame of foundation is so easy and should not really disturb the bees that much.

RAB

 

[biglad]

Many thanks for your replys. It's a very big help to someone new to beekeeping.very gratefull Neil .

 

[susbees]

welcome to the forum Biglad
are you in a local bbka or a bee buddy near you

Victor Meldrew's around Wigan...been here since 2008 and knows a thing or three about bees...

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Victor Meldrew's around Wigan...been here since 2008 and knows a thing or three about bees...

Is that AD or BC ?

 

[the beehive lodge]

now now