Open feeding honey to bees!?

[Mint Bee]

longest routine job inspecting the hive is the occasional full frame disease inspection - maybe 3 / 4 minutes per box tops. If you need to put syrup out to distract local bees including your own then you are creating a contact point for transmissible disease, not to mention the syrup going in to supers. How many hives does Bee base state are in the vacinity ? Then add unregistered and feral colonies?

Not intelligent beekeeping

 

[Penninetrader]

longest routine job inspecting the hive is the occasional full frame disease inspection - maybe 3 / 4 minutes per box tops. If you need to put syrup out to distract local bees including your own then you are creating a contact point for transmissible disease, not to mention the syrup going in to supers. How many hives does Bee base state are in the vacinity ? Then add unregistered and feral colonies?

Not intelligent beekeeping

Did not say inspecting, it might be best to take the time to appreciate what is being said. The thought that you as an individual beekeeper can control the contacts your forager bees are making is beyond ridiculous. Do you believe your girls are above being involved in robbing in concert with other tribes. You must have tracking devices on them all. I will leave others to consider these views

 

[ericbeaumont]

breaking down a hive and having a good sort out

Safer during a flow, when you will be ignored.

 

[Penninetrader]

Safer during a flow, when you will be ignored.

Exactly, my tactic is a means of distraction. It works for me but I do not propose to tell others they should follow my example. We each should know our particular environment and act accordingly

 

[pargyle]

Exactly, my tactic is a means of distraction. It works for me but I do not propose to tell others they should follow my example. We each should know our particular environment and act accordingly

Wherever you are and whatever the circumstances (and I reocgnise your right to do what you wish - they are, mostly, your bees) open feeding of ANY sort - syrup in a bowl of pebbles, frames left out to clear, open feeding within an apiary, is one of the worst ideas anyone can have ... there can be no good reason for it under any circumstances. Certainly, in an area where there are other beekeepers colonies it is downright irresponsible - bees from feral colonies with varroa and let alone keepers with no idea of the level of mites in their colonies will all congregate along with bees from colonies that do not have heavy mite loads. Providing the means for such a party is antisocial !

I accept that you cannot control where your bees will forage - but - providing a focal point for every bee in the area ? You can control that ... and not do it.

 

[Penninetrader]

This isn

Wherever you are and whatever the circumstances (and I reocgnise your right to do what you wish - they are, mostly, your bees) open feeding of ANY sort - syrup in a bowl of pebbles, frames left out to clear, open feeding within an apiary, is one of the worst ideas anyone can have ... there can be no good reason for it under any circumstances. Certainly, in an area where there are other beekeepers colonies it is downright irresponsible - bees from feral colonies with varroa and let alone keepers with no idea of the level of mites in their colonies will all congregate along with bees from colonies that do not have heavy mite loads. Providing the means for such a party is antisocial !

I accept that you cannot control where your bees will forage - but - providing a focal point for every bee in the area ? You can control that ... and not do it

 

[Penninetrader]

I

This isn

I am not running a Cafe for bees. So should I let the robbers who include those I describe just have a free for all at mine and my girls expense, not happening. I have had a hive robbed out this year and even though I tried non of the robbers would provide their names and addresses, even though I caught them in the act. I suspect most on here will not have the first clue what takes.place in their absense, especially those with out apiaries. My observation is that the bees are the primary robbers and destroyers of other colonies and wasps secondary. They get caught in the cookie jar as they tend to work long past the bees home time. Oh yes, the bumbles had a feed as well. Other than vaping what other measures do you all take to reduce mite numbers and improve resistance.

 

[pargyle]

I

I am not running a Cafe for bees. So should I let the robbers who include those I describe just have a free for all at mine and my girls expense, not happening. I have had a hive robbed out this year and even though I tried non of the robbers would provide their names and addresses, even though I caught them in the act. I suspect most on here will not have the first clue what takes.place in their absense, especially those with out apiaries. My observation is that the bees are the primary robbers and destroyers of other colonies and wasps secondary. They get caught in the cookie jar as they tend to work long past the bees home time. Oh yes, the bumbles had a feed as well. Other than vaping what other measures do you all take to reduce mite numbers and improve resistance.

I don't think you are understanding the risks ... bees have an incredible sense of smell - estimated at 50 times that of a dog ! They can detect smells at just a few parts per TRILLION ! What you are doing is not just keeping bees away from getting to your apiary - you are ATTRACTING bees from miles around. If they then sense there is a colony in the vicinity that could be robbed ... well, you are giving them the opportunity and the location. Disease and parasites being passed on is the least of your worries ...