Join me for my first full inspection

[Murox]

Thx
Think if I give them some 1/1 SW they will be stimulated into drawing out some more comb?

Have a think about it - you are using 14X12 deep national brood box---how many frames are fully drawn?---how many frames with brood?---how many seams of bees?----how many are store?
On top of that you have a super partly drawn? and filled with sugar syrup?
When do the bees slow down production and when do they begin winter preps?
Have you removed that second super yet ?

 

[Curly green finger's]

I use an old muslin cloth left over from when the children were babies. They are very light in colour and weight so the bees don’t seem to mind. I tried an old drying up cloth and they hated that!

I've used teatowels before - I think the lighter the material the better but woven well.
Muslin cloth, or part of a cotton bed sheet.
I would opt for the cotton sheet, as it would keep them in the dark more.
I've used a hive cloth, when pairing frames up to find the Queen instead of a crown board albeit for a very short time.

 

[Speybee]

There's nought more satisfying than making your own equipment for peanuts.

Night all I'm on holiday tomorrow..
If you can call it that, working on the house at the farm putting a roof and starting to build the chimney back up again.

I prefer to eat my peanuts

 

[fiat500bee]

I think it's only fair to let you see my erratic inspection @HughMann; not my first but as you'll see, definitely a very novice beekeeper.

 

[MerryBee]

I've used teatowels before - I think the lighter the material the better but woven well.
Muslin cloth, or part of a cotton bed sheet.
I would opt for the cotton sheet,

Use an old polycotton pillow case.
Its light weight and just the right size without any cutting or sewing. If its a bit windy where you keep your hives , just cut a hole in each corner and poke the bamboo canes through. Works a treat.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Only ever use inspection cloths for one of these

 

[Speybee]

Only ever use inspection cloths for one of these View attachment 21926

I would have closed up the hive ASAP.
You are brave

 

[Erichalfbee]

I would have closed up the hive ASAP.
You are brave

We had to find the queen.

 

[Swarm]

Unless in a situation like above, isn't it simpler to just lay the first frame removed on top if the bees are taking to the air?
I had a horrible bunch of ginger upstarts some years ago, affectionately known as the Banana Splits due to the smell as soon as the crown board was cracked. Lifting the frames brought a new squadron of angry bees with each one. Blow on them to move them and examine brood? LOL I suppose it did really as every bee on the frame would be up in your face. First frame on top worked well enough.

 

[fiat500bee]

First frame on top worked well enough.

K.I.S.S.............

 

[Erichalfbee]

K.I.S.S.............

Actually
Where’s polyhive?

 

[HughMann]

I think it's only fair to let you see my erratic inspection @HughMann; not my first but as you'll see, definitely a very novice beekeeper.

They seemed far more relaxed than my bees.
Maybe it was the music you play them on that CD - BeeGeees?

 

[Antipodes]

I find the ones that get silly and fly around a bit are ok. The bad ones don't tell you they are coming and just sting straight up.

 

[fiat500bee]

They seemed far more relaxed than my bees.
Maybe it was the music you play them on that CD - BeeGeees?

Plagiarising myself from a week ago; it was in fact The Gee Bees and the song I was playing was "Stay in a hive".