- Joined
- May 18, 2013
- Messages
- 3,274
- Reaction score
- 30
- Location
- Traditional Surrey
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 10-20 depending
At the risk of being pompous, please any beginners perusing this forum be aware of the dangers of robbing. It is an ever-present risk, but this time of year as flows decline and colonies are full of "angry old fliers" is prime.
This is not meant to be exhaustive, just a heads-up to research the issue as a key part of your bee-keeping, and for me pretty much the worst. Bees will prey on the weak and to see the dead Q you were trying to get mated from a small nuc is heart-breaking and fury-inducing.
There ARE "cures" for robbing involving draped wet sheets and other horrors but prevention is far far better. On that, some tips: feed only at dusk; do not spill feed on or near hives, nor let feeders overflow; keep comb in bee-proof boxes; use LOTS of coverboards; I just use correx sheets and throw them everywhere when in colonies as they don't tend to crush bees; shorter inspections; reduced entrances; REALLY careful "giving back" supers or extracted frames; reduce entrances.
That's not exhaustive as I said and others can add but please be aware.
This is not meant to be exhaustive, just a heads-up to research the issue as a key part of your bee-keeping, and for me pretty much the worst. Bees will prey on the weak and to see the dead Q you were trying to get mated from a small nuc is heart-breaking and fury-inducing.
There ARE "cures" for robbing involving draped wet sheets and other horrors but prevention is far far better. On that, some tips: feed only at dusk; do not spill feed on or near hives, nor let feeders overflow; keep comb in bee-proof boxes; use LOTS of coverboards; I just use correx sheets and throw them everywhere when in colonies as they don't tend to crush bees; shorter inspections; reduced entrances; REALLY careful "giving back" supers or extracted frames; reduce entrances.
That's not exhaustive as I said and others can add but please be aware.
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