how often is too often

[Cuckmere couple]

inspecting colonies....

every 7 days this time of year but we started out a little over enthusiastically and had to resist opening every couple of days to see how they're getting on

restrict ourselves to 4-5 days now

is there a rule of thumb?

 

[enrico]

Yep, seven days.
E

 

[Roola]

once every 7 days in early season as swarms most likely, i normally drop down to once a fortnight come July once swarming is less likely or just have a quick look by tilting the upper brood box and also checking whether they need another super. Continually going through the colony is disruptive and can take them a few days work to tidy up after youve been through which takes bees away from doing jobs like raising brood or foraging.

Having your first hive is amazing and is so tempting to keep looking... I'm a firm believer in that you can tell a lot of what is going on with your bees just by observing them at the entrance! It is also very rewarding and relaxing.

 

[Cuckmere couple]

excellent both...thanks...so don't be tempted to open twice a day!

 

[madasafish]

When you get more hives, 7 days is a pia when they have lots of heavy supers... Add that to age, and I tend to inspect selectively with experience and hive condition.

 

[jas41]

I read somewhere that it can take a day for the bees to get everything sorted again after an inspection so twice daily inspections would set them back significantly. Maybe invest in a clear crown board like you get with some poly hives so you can have a look without cracking open the hive each time?

 

[Erichalfbee]

Hive by hive really.
Intact colonies in the swarming season are checked weekly.
By the time they are split I just check Queen is present and laying them just check supers leaving the brood nest alone. Sometimes I check my notes and think, “crikey I haven’t looked in there for three weeks”
Similarly, requeening colonies are looked at three weeks after queen emerged.

 

[Cuckmere couple]

thanks all...for the record, i havent actually checked twice daily

but will desist

 

[enrico]

thanks all...for the record, i havent actually checked twice daily

but will desist

Yeah yeah yeah!!!!!

 

[Swarm]

As Erichalfbee, I've a few that have not been 'inspected' for three or four weeks. Restricted by work, it's a weekend venture and tend to do quick checks early season for disease, BIAS, stores, space. More thorough during swarm season and after that, basically adding supers.

 

[Poly Hive]

Best hands off advice I read was to think that you paid a goodly sum of money for a special plant. Would you really uproot it every other day to check on the progress?

PH

 

[Beefriendly]

Best hands off advice I read was to think that you paid a goodly sum of money for a special plant. Would you really uproot it every other day to check on the progress?

PH

Yes, particularly if your expensive plant was potentially going to abscond to pastures new. But perhaps not every other day.
I try to aim for a 6 day inspection regime...not always possible. My experience is with 7 days is that they can swarm within that time.

 

[The Poot in Somerset]

As Erichalfbee, I've a few that have not been 'inspected' for three or four weeks. Restricted by work, it's a weekend venture and tend to do quick checks early season for disease, BIAS, stores, space. More thorough during swarm season and after that, basically adding supers.

Same here - work restricts me to weekends. Often weekend weather prevents inspections, so I tend to observe as often as possible and inspect when I can. Perhaps they appreciate being left alone a bit?

 

[masterBK]

Bees collect most of their honey on nice fine days. Beekeepers tend to inspect on nice fine days disrupting the colony and reducing the foraging on that day. The more often you inspect the less honey they get. Possibly thats the reason some very agressive colonies collect alot of honey as their owners spent less time inspecting them.

 

[pargyle]

As Erichalfbee, I've a few that have not been 'inspected' for three or four weeks. Restricted by work, it's a weekend venture and tend to do quick checks early season for disease, BIAS, stores, space. More thorough during swarm season and after that, basically adding supers.

About the same as I do .. you get to know the nature of individual colonies .. you get a feel for what's happening and whether you can leave them for a bit longer. The less inspections I do the more the bees seem to thrive ...

 

[Millet]

Bees collect most of their honey on nice fine days. Beekeepers tend to inspect on nice fine days disrupting the colony and reducing the foraging on that day. The more often you inspect the less honey they get. Possibly thats the reason some very agressive colonies collect alot of honey as their owners spent less time inspecting them.

I sniggered at that but it is probably true..

 

[Beefriendly]

I sniggered at that but it is probably true..

No it's not. I've had aggressive local bees, you've had aggressive local bees...ever get any serious amounts of honey from them? Answer=NO.
I have aggressive Buckfast F2's and they do produce honey. I have gentle "pure" Buckfast and gentle F1's and boy do they produce honey...
It's genetics, forage, weather and management. Nowt to do with aggression.

 

[Swarm]

Same here - work restricts me to weekends. Often weekend weather prevents inspections, so I tend to observe as often as possible and inspect when I can. Perhaps they appreciate being left alone a bit?

My last visits have been around 7pm in the rain, some jobs can't wait.
I won't be looking in brood boxes now until the supers are off.

 

[Teebeeaitch]

Or you could run a Warre hive. April, add one or two boxes. Let them swarm if they want. September take one box of honey if they can spare it and leave alone for winter. Circle starts again in April. That’s two checks (not inspections) a year. It really is that simple and don’t believe anyone that tells you it cant be done.

 

[Beefriendly]

Let them swarm if they want.

Sorry, but I consider that really bad beekeeping. Spreading varroa mites around and to say nothing of the inconvenience a swarm can cause to local residents.