Just a thought...................

[pargyle]

But if you are taking supers off, how are you supposed to know they have enough stores?

Just have a quick look at the frames either end of the hive .. if they are full of honey the odds are that the brood area will have an arc of honey as well and as the queen starts to slow down laying they will back fill the centre of the frames - mine will have a lot of ivy to go at.

I tend to start weighing about now - I bought an industrial scale on ebay - so that I can chart as they build up the stores for winter and then I monitor the hive weight as it goes through winter. I'm not that good at hefting yet either.

 

[Cazza]

Hi guys,
Anyone think they are on a natural beekeeping forum? Some people are doing the check list for going into winter which as we all know by now is weather not calendar dependant.
If I may quote Clive de Bruyn: "If you take care to allow only strong, disease-free colonies with young tested queens from a reliable source to go into winter, it will do much to ensure that your beekeeping in the next season will get off to a good start." Bearing this in mind, I think people should be commended for finding out that their colonies are making QCs, so that they can requeen if it does not work out. At this moment in time I am going into winter with three spare queens.
Clive's checklist for going into winter:
Young queen
Plenty of young bees
Restricted entrance, mouse-guard
Feeding finished by end of September
Hive sound, roofs waterproof, secure
Health check carried out (my addition treatment carried out if needed)
I would also add hive configuration for winter as this seems to cause problems from time to time.
Some humans may be ready for beekeeping winter hibernation by now, but the bees clearly are still very active.

This is all fine. I know I have young queens and plenty of bees. The point is, I know without having to open and inspect.
Cazza

 

[beeno]

As usual you've totally missed the point and haven't a clue of regional differences (nor much about proper beekeeping IMHO). Won't be starting to feed until end of this month. All the rest is just claptrap. after the highest risk of swarming is over beekeepers should lay off weekly inspections and read the bees not poke around inside. If you are obsessed with young queens this should have been sorted before now especially as in your own words there are few new queens around now.

Jenkins, Jenkins, Jenkins,
I think you have totally missed the point. I do not see any reference to regions in this annual tirade. Are we to assume that you are only talking to the Welsh. With all due respect resorting to personal insults ... I have not started to feed either, but that is because the bees are bringing it in. In my neighbourhood we still have extraordinary warm nights at present which makes me think swarm risk not over IMHO even if it is improper. My obsession is not young queens..., but I agree it should be sorted out in August preferably to avoid opening up in April to find all those drone layers.

 

[beeno]

This is all fine. I know I have young queens and plenty of bees. The point is, I know without having to open and inspect.
Cazza

Now you are tempting fate.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Maybe we should change your posts to 'musings from LaLa land' in the whiole quote from deBruyn not once did he mention regular inspections in autumn. Think about what you've read not just spout it on the forum as gospel followed by nonsense to mislead the beginner.

 

[madasafish]

I just went round all my hives this afternoon and carried out a 5 minute inspection # as follows:

Hefted each hive. If heavy, no issues.
If bees flying in/out- no issues.

Job done.

I know I have one weak nuc I am feeding and have found another which needs feeding.

Hardly rocket science.

And for those, who don't trust their judgement hefting, start now. The more you do, the quicker you learn. If you cannot lift the side of a hive without straining - it's OK.. If it's easy, then you may have a problem.


My next inspections will be March 2015 at earliest - weather dependent of course. But I will heft on and off each month..

# in total , not per hive...

 

[Erichalfbee]

And while we are talking of mouse guards, now is a really dumb time to be thinking of putting them on. Every hole would have to be defended against wasps.

 

[Jimmys Mum]

And for those, who don't trust their judgement hefting, start now. The more you do, the quicker you learn.

it's surprising how quickly you can get the hang of this if you do it regularly through the season. This is my third winter and I think I am just about ready to trust in my hefting now! .....famous last words!

 

[Chris Luck]

I just went round all my hives this afternoon and carried out a 5 minute inspection # as follows:

Hefted each hive. If heavy, no issues.
If bees flying in/out- no issues.

Job done.

I know I have one weak nuc I am feeding and have found another which needs feeding.

Hardly rocket science.

And for those, who don't trust their judgement hefting, start now. The more you do, the quicker you learn. If you cannot lift the side of a hive without straining - it's OK.. If it's easy, then you may have a problem.


My next inspections will be March 2015 at earliest - weather dependent of course. But I will heft on and off each month..

# in total , not per hive...

Well said. Keep it simple.

Chris

 

[kazmcc]

It's been a while since I had my own bees but you are right, I need to start learning now. From now on, if I'm near a hive, it's getting lifted

 

[pargyle]

It's been a while since I had my own bees but you are right, I need to start learning now. From now on, if I'm near a hive, it's getting lifted

Perhaps you would like to re-phrase this particular confession of what you intend to do in view of recent hive thefts !!

 

[kazmcc]

Perhaps you would like to re-phrase this particular confession of what you intend to do in view of recent hive thefts !!

Funnily enough, I took a bee home last week from Dusty's hives, it must have hid in my pocket on my bee trousers and he accused moi of trying to steal his bees one by one! I'm going to get a name for myself at this rate lol

 

[pargyle]

Funnily enough, I took a bee home last week from Dusty's hives, it must have hid in my pocket on my bee trousers and he accused moi of trying to steal his bees one by one! I'm going to get a name for myself at this rate lol

Well ... I suppose you had to start somewhere ... one bee, one frame, one hive lifted ... where will it stop ?

 

[kazmcc]

Well ... I suppose you had to start somewhere ... one bee, one frame, one hive lifted ... where will it stop ?

You are on to me! Dammit. Foiled again

 

[pargyle]

You are on to me! Dammit. Foiled again

I'll alert Manchester police to watch out for suspicious activity in the vicinity of the Cathedral roof then ? Could kill two bees with one stone - there's a bit of lead up there as well !

 

[kazmcc]

I'll alert Manchester police to watch out for suspicious activity in the vicinity of the Cathedral roof then ? Could kill two bees with one stone - there's a bit of lead up there as well !

 

[Dusty Rhodes]

Suits me - as long a Kaz and son Arran are sentenced to community service, inspecting my hives!

Got it made!

Dusty

 

[pargyle]

Suits me - as long a Kaz and son Arran are sentenced to community service, inspecting my hives!

Got it made!

Dusty

That's what I like about you Dusty ... always see the positive side !

 

[REDWOOD]

Suits me - as long a Kaz and son Arran are sentenced to community service, inspecting my hives!

Got it made!

Dusty

Just a thought, how do you get the full supers off the roof ?

 

[Dusty Rhodes]

I don't know!

I'm taking them off the hives tomorrow - a measly six supers I fear.

As you know, access is via a narrow circular stone staircase, and a doorway narrower than a super. Last year we had half as many supers. We did it by putting frames in plastic bags, getting our long-term unemployed volunteers to stand every 10 steps, and handing the frames down one by one.

I'd hoped for about 12 supers - then challenge the local university engineering course to design a way of getting them down without harming the building. But it doesn't seem worth it for 6 supers.

We might have to resort to slave labour again.

Dusty