to take notes, or not

[Cuckmere couple]

i take notes

i still get confused and there is definitely an art to what you record to be of use on subsequent inspections

however, a good number at our local association do not

i think they just deal with what they find in each hive

interested in peoples thoughts

im also struggling with numbering the hive or the queen, or both etc, to be able to know which line a q came from

 

[B+.]

i take notes

i still get confused and there is definitely an art to what you record to be of use on subsequent inspections

however, a good number at our local association do not

i think they just deal with what they find in each hive

interested in peoples thoughts

im also struggling with numbering the hive or the queen, or both etc, to be able to know which line a q came from

I do both, Each hive/nuc is numbered but so is the queen (I've spoken before about how I mark virgin queens as soon as they emerge in the incubator).
Record keeping is an absolute MUST DO in any breeding programme but it's not that difficult once you get used to doing it as you go.

 

[tonyofarr]

I always write notes about each hive after they are inspected in a pocket notebook eg q present, any swarm preps, enough stores, sign of disease etc. I would never remember the details of every colony. When the books are full I write the dates covered on the front of the book so I can go back the info if I need to.

I use a simple system for queens and colonies using the alphabet, a different letter for each year, but I must admit I am thinking of following B+'s system of identifying queens.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I always take notes, very basic (and it usually peters off once the bulk of the eason is over) but it helps to look back a few weeks if, all of a sudden something strange or unexpected crops up:
If a queen is on the way out I can look back to see whether there was any indication of her laying slowing down
If they are requeening or swarmed I have an idea of when the new queen emerged/when I should look for eggs again)
Looking at the scrap notebook I was carrying this morning, I have the following entries:

13// 8,GQS,(F)
1//BIAS3 QNS (1/2F)
20//BIAS1 QMB
7// 8 QS (S)

So when I fill in my record cards later I can also look back and see what happened a few weeks ago:
Queen 13// 8 frames BIAS, Green Queen seen (first time I've seen her this year, if she wasn't marked It would have been a supersedure) frame of food added.
Queen 1// 3 frames BIAS (this was a supersedure from around 21 April so confirmation of her mated and laying properly) Queen Not seen, half a frame food added.
Queen 20// 1 frame BIAS (one supersedure cell found 07 May no open brood, queen gone) Queen Marked Blue
And the last one, a more or less normal entry
7// 8 frames BIAS, Queen seen, super added

Each brood box has a removable number tally - Each queen is given a number which passes on to a supersedure daughter, if the queen moves boxes, the number moves with her

 

[Tim.S]

I use Mike Palmers system - duct tape on the hive somewhere and my own shorthand to know q line, good or bad etc. I try to keep it simple, just the basics. If I was breeding rather than rearing queens the records would have to be a lot more detailed but this does for now. ( It does pay to clean the metal roof before putting tape on as it don't stick too well otherwise! )

 

[Hedgerow Honey]

We use google sheets, basically same info as Jenkins, but synched between all devices.
covers, hives, equipment in stock/in use, bulk honey stock, jars etc. Crop per hive/Apiary average. Income/outgoings for the accountant.
We can even follow how efficient we are working, traveling & inspection times etc.

 

[The Poot in Somerset]

I keep notes and use them to try to think ahead for what the bees are likely to do next. I nearly always get it wrong but referring back allows me to work out how I got it wrong and learn from it.
JBM succinct and to the point. Mine long winded and rambling....

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

This is the sheet I give to my beginners

 

[Rooster007]

I started taking notes properly this year and all was going well but as always the bees caught me out on one hive.
I've been writing on a printed chart (single A4 sheet) just inside the lid and left it near the hole in the crown board last week which was uncovered.

Checked yesterday and they'd eaten through all their records for the year.

They obviously didn't agree to GDPR or accept tracking cookies.

Another lesson learned.

 

[Gunzo]

i take notes

i still get confused and there is definitely an art to what you record to be of use on subsequent inspections

however, a good number at our local association do not

i think they just deal with what they find in each hive

interested in peoples thoughts

im also struggling with numbering the hive or the queen, or both etc, to be able to know which line a q came from

I get beekeeping diaries from amazon. Really handy and good to look back on.

They cover up to six hives per page so plenty of room to tick the boxes and take some notes on each

 

[BugsInABox]

I started taking notes properly this year and all was going well but as always the bees caught me out on one hive.
I've been writing on a printed chart (single A4 sheet) just inside the lid and left it near the hole in the crown board last week which was uncovered.

Checked yesterday and they'd eaten through all their records for the year.

They obviously didn't agree to GDPR or accept tracking cookies.

Another lesson learned.

You could say there’s a bug in that system.

 

[Hachi]

I get beekeeping diaries from amazon. Really handy and good to look back on.

They cover up to six hives per page so plenty of room to tick the boxes and take some notes on each

Got a link please Gunzo?

 

[For want of a better word]

Downloadable record card from BIPCo is available, modify for your needs

http://bipco.co.uk/news.html

Chons da


Site is old as merged with National Organisation

 

[Angry_Mob]

downloadable record card from bipco is available, modify for your needs

http://bipco.co.uk/news.html

chons da

n

View attachment hive record sheet.pdf

Just modified both yours and Jenkins to sort of suit my own wants. Think I'm going to get a ring binder file and carry them with me and jot the info down during inspections.

 

[madasafish]

I carry my notes in a clipboard and file prior years in a ring binder.

I cannot recall all the details of what hives did .

But I write one liners only unless multiple manipulations...

 

[Levitt53]

I've transferred my notes on to my computer this year and am finding that so much easier to work with. When I'm inspecting the bees I just make notes on a piece of paper in a clip board of how much BIAS there was last time and anything else relevant plus a note of what I want to do based on my notes. I can't see how you can get away with no note taking at all. Having it on my computer means I can thinking about an issue, check dates etc when I am not beekeeping. That often helps me settle my mind about what I am going to do next time.

 

[MikeWade]

Ive switched this year from using paper notes to using the Bee Watch app. There are a few improvements I think could be made to the app but generally I like it. You get QR codes for each colony then you just scan the qr code with the app and log inspection on your phone. You can also capture pics. You can then review on web site at will

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I've been writing on a printed chart (single A4 sheet) just inside the lid and left it near the hole in the crown board last week which was uncovered.

That will teach you to leave gaping holes in the crownboard

 

[Parsonage Bees]

I tried writing on the tin roof. Photo is a nuc roof from a collected swarm. But not all permanent markers are permanent. And you run out of space.

I'm using a notebook now. Make notes before moving onto next hive (?) as I loose track, even with just 4 at the moment. !!

Have a list of abbreviations. Q = queen, QC = queen cell, St = stores, Sp = space, T = temper, BIAS, CB = chalkbrood, and then qualifiers for each.
Q- or Q? = no queen
Qx = queen not seen
Q[tick] = queen seen
St+ = good stores
St++ = v good stores
Sp- = low on space
T[tick] = good
T? = don't like this much
T!! = angry as hell

Bad stuff or things that need doing gets a circle round it.

The rest gets written long hand.

 

[whoosling]

I've started using the voice recorder on my phone and then write up notes on the pc later, otherwise i'd never remember anything, also make a note of the weather