reassembling a hive - avoiding crushing bees

[citrus]

so when doing a demarree as I reasemble the hive after an inspection

I have a metal queen excluder but always find that the bees are in the way and sadly loose a few as that goes on

then the two supers ..(the demarree sandwich) ... also crush a few

then the top brood box ... loose a few more

then the top super on top of that ... generally got the hang of it by then


So from the bottom to the top I generally worry that I loose bees ... try as I might ..(taking care to offer the boxes on to the stack).... now they are double brood so not the end of the world ...

Its mainly that bottom brood box and the qx where i get the most casualties and have tried brushing and smoking etc ... but is there a better way ?

 

[Murox]

A wooden framed queen excluder would be my choice.

 

[citrus]

A wooden framed queen excluder would be my choice.

i run paynes poly hives and the metal qx are a replacement for the plastic one .. but perhaps I should glue them to some wooden batten then ?

 

[Murox]

Its an option - be mindful of bee space . Another is to ask yourself why you use a queen excluder anyway.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

so when doing a demarree as I reasemble the hive after an inspection

I have a metal queen excluder but always find that the bees are in the way and sadly loose a few as that goes on

then the two supers ..(the demarree sandwich) ... also crush a few

then the top brood box ... loose a few more

then the top super on top of that ... generally got the hang of it by then


So from the bottom to the top I generally worry that I loose bees ... try as I might ..(taking care to offer the boxes on to the stack).... now they are double brood so not the end of the world ...

Its mainly that bottom brood box and the qx where i get the most casualties and have tried brushing and smoking etc ... but is there a better way ?

First thing I tell my beginners - 'if killing a few bees here and there bothers you - maybe think of taking up stamp collecting'
However careful you are, you are always going to lose a few, especailly when the stack gets higher.
A framed wire queen excluder would help, all I use

Another is to ask yourself why you use a queen excluder anyway.

pretty pointless doing a Demarree if you don't

 

[Murox]

Yes it would be - forgot to fully engage brain.

 

[Angry_Mob]

So from the bottom to the top I generally worry that I loose bees ... try as I might ..(taking care to offer the boxes on to the stack).... now they are double brood so not the end of the world ...

Its mainly that bottom brood box and the qx where i get the most casualties and have tried brushing and smoking etc ... but is there a better way ?

Do you set the boxes on square? I set mine on at a 45 degree angle and slowly rotate the box so the bees have time to move away.

 

[citrus]

Do you set the boxes on square? I set mine on at a 45 degree angle and slowly rotate the box so the bees have time to move away.

well if I put one side down .. and lower gently and brush as I go

putting at 45 degrees ... would you not still have 4 contact points where the bees are impacted ... appreciate when slowly rotating is better

 

[Welshboyarchrr]

You still ha four contact points, but each one is more like 3/4 inch instead of 18 inches long.(depending on hive type for the pedants out there)

 

[citrus]

You still ha four contact points, but each one is more like 3/4 inch instead of 18 inches long.(depending on hive type for the pedants out there)

well defo give it ago on the paynes polys this weekend

 

[enrico]

Always remove boxes and put them together the same way. Twist in one direction to break any seals and prevent frames from lower box being lifted with top box. Putting them back is the same. Don't put them square, they don't need to be 45 degrees, just a few degrees different will do and then twist again to get them square.
You will always kill some. Just make sure you know where the queen is!
E

 

[citrus]

Always remove boxes and put them together the same way. Twist in one direction to break any seals and prevent frames from lower box being lifted with top box. Putting them back is the same. Don't put them square, they don't need to be 45 degrees, just a few degrees different will do and then twist again to get them square.
You will always kill some. Just make sure you know where the queen is!
E

roger that .. stamp collecting can wait #jbm