It's time for regular inspections !!!!!

[Jed D]

Reading my inspection notes today, I last inspected one of our colonies on 7/4 , so thought I'd better have a quick peek..
Notes for 7 /4/ 15 read " Marked Queen , 4 frames brood , preparing 5th frames for laying. Stores good. Removed super from underneath...

Had a peek today 16/4....... 9 frames of brood , 6 queen cups ( along the bottom of middle frame ) ALL M/T. 4 areas of drone brood , all capped....

While none of the cups were loaded , it shows how quickly they can expand and the pontential to abscond , if you don't keep your eye on the ball...

Just for " Constructive criticism purposes " my response to the situation , was as follows !!!
Take the two outer frames of brood and place them in another brood box , surround them with drawn comb & stores + some foundation, to fill up the additional b/box.
In the original brood box , move brood towards the back of the box , fill the new space with drawn comb.
Place new b/box on top , followed by C/board and on top of this a super with some crystalised honey , sprayed with a fine mist of water..
Within half a mile of this colony , the OSR is just starting to flower...

Considering the above.... What would you of done ?

 

[MikeT]

We had better have a good look at mine on Saturday. Bring your queen marking kit. I have never found the queen in one of my hives, but there has always been eggs and young brood, so I was not worried.

Oil seed rape will be in full flower next week in most fields but next to my out apiary it is about a week later.

 

[Jed D]

We're using the Forum, like a message system..
But , your new colony. ( sitting in my back garden ).
Will make you some OSR honey !!! ( with some drawn comb ) !!
I've already marked the Queen ' but we can do your others..

In truth , I don't usually bother to mark Queens. It's only this year I'm going to try " demaree " on some of our hives...

 

[psafloyd]

Haven't done a first inspection, yet, for a number of reasons. Hope to have done all in next two days.

 

[Nige.Coll]

My friend opened some nucs other day and found 6 queen cells unfortunately they were sealed.
So swarm season is beginning, the osr is fully yellow around here.

 

[oliver90owner]

Inspections - yes.

Regular? What does that mean? Every three weeks (no drone brood and plenty of stores, storing and laying space, along with a laying queen)? Or are you already advocating weekly - which I don't buy into yet, necessarily.

Up to the beekeeper to use his/her brain, methinks, rather than waste unnecessary time and effort. Thinking is easier (for me, at least) than potentially wasted manual effort.

 

[Finman]

Inspections - yes.

Regular? What does that mean? .

To me it is every week swarming inspection. Then you have couple of days flexibility, if weathers are impossible to open hives.
There is no reason to inspect hive sooner than 7 days.

 

[Nige.Coll]

Same as always if you don't have a reason to inspect then you have to ask why are you doing it.
Nice day and being bored isn't a reason.

 

[Finman]

Same as always if you don't have a reason to inspect .

In these days swarming control is a reason to everyone.

 

[B+.]

Inspections - yes.

Regular? What does that mean? Every three weeks (no drone brood and plenty of stores, storing and laying space, along with a laying queen)? Or are you already advocating weekly - which I don't buy into yet, necessarily.

Up to the beekeeper to use his/her brain, methinks, rather than waste unnecessary time and effort. Thinking is easier (for me, at least) than potentially wasted manual effort.

I agree. As with all things, use common sense. I have seen a huge variation of conditions posted on here within the last couple of days.....from Hivemaker on Exmoor with his grafting to make queen cells to a man in Scotland with snow on the ground.
http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=23405&page=4

 

[Jed D]

Regular inspections to me means, every 7 to 9 days...
As Finnman has pointed out, the weather plays a part in inspection times/ days..
So I will I aim at every 7 days , giving me some leeway...

I'm sure next time I do the rounds, I'll be adding supers.

 

[Dishmop]

To me it is every week swarming inspection. Then you have couple of days flexibility, if weathers are impossible to open hives.
There is no reason to inspect hive sooner than 7 days.

must be like painting the Forth Bridge for you...

 

[Finman]

must be like painting the Forth Bridge for you...

Not like painting