Top bee space or bottom bee space?

[boywonder]

... I ran both tim(b)er and poly side by side for some time and found very little difference in them ...

Me too, and I disagree; I think there is a perceptible difference - mainly colonies being only in loose cluster over winter, and brooding more ... and consequently entering this side of winter larger. This is, of course a double-edged sword, as such colonies are then more prone to spectacular collapse, in the event of a prolonged cold-snap / spring-dearth.

Also, by the time you hit say May/June, the colonies in timber would have caught up.

So they are different, but I also judge there to be no real benefit to poly. I still run both, but prefer/lean towards wood.

Just my opinion/experience.

As I say in my post above, TBS vs. BBS is inconsequential.

 

[Ely]

I admit, I'm a bit lazy with cleaning equipment. I haven't had disease though. How often do you people scrub/scorch everything?

 

[Penninetrader]

I admit, I'm a bit lazy with cleaning equipment. I haven't had disease though. How often do you people scrub/scorch everything?

You have no need to worry, your girls are obviously not lazy and keep house.

 

[Swarm]

I admit, I'm a bit lazy with cleaning equipment. I haven't had disease though. How often do you people scrub/scorch everything?

If you've not had disease there is no real need.

 

[Honey badger]

I’ve run Abelo hives for 10 years and never scraped any.

So what at the end of the year does a cleaning regime look like for you on your supers/ kit?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

How often do you people scrub/scorch everything?

hardly ever

 

[Honey badger]

If you've not had disease there is no real need.

Oh ok !
I thought at the end of each year no matter what that all of the boxes removed would have to a scrape clean and then sterilized/ blow torched, so is that not the case?

 

[Ely]

hardly ever

Phew. For a minute there I thought I'd have to put some effort in

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Oh ok !
I thought at the end of each year no matter what that all of the boxes removed would have to a scrape clean and then sterilized/ blow torched, so is that not the case?

read Manley's 'Beekeeping in Britain' there is a great paragraph there lampooning the average tweed clad BBKA acolyte armed with scraper, scrubber, bleach and what not ready to dive in to the 'mandatory' 'spring clean' which basically just stems from the urge to be seen to 'do something' even though there is nothing to do.

 

[Honey badger]

read Manley's 'Beekeeping in Britain' there is a great paragraph there lampooning the average tweed clad BBKA acolyte armed with scraper, scrubber, bleach and what not ready to dive in to the 'mandatory' 'spring clean' which basically just stems from the urge to be seen to 'do something' even though there is nothing to do.

Haha that’s so funny a great to hear because I’ve no time to spare with my kids etc to be doing other things just for the sake of it.
Thank you

 

[Moobee]

Oh ok !
I thought at the end of each year no matter what that all of the boxes removed would have to a scrape clean and then sterilized/ blow torched, so is that not the case?

I only scrape off any excess propolis that stops boxes fitting together properly or prevents frames going in and any excess wax off the queen excluder or crownboards. Just a bit of light tidying up. Bees need propolis, so no need for scorching and unnecessary scraping.

 

[ericbeaumont]

at the end of each year no matter what

As Moobee said above, scrape only that which interferes with efficient use of the kit: box rims, comb on walls, QXs. I've just finished scraping more than 200 boxes and roofs, and between the two of us we never want to scrape anything ever again.

 

[Honey badger]

As Moobee said above, scrape only that which interferes with efficient use of the kit: box rims, comb on walls, QXs. I've just finished scraping more than 200 boxes and roofs, and between the two of us we never want to scrape anything ever again.

200!!! Omg.
A good pod cast to listen to while doing that followed by a week deserved beer.

Thank you for all of your advice so far Eric. I really appreciate it. I’m finding the whole process a little daunting tbh but the advice I’ve received from you above will give me loads of info to study over the coming weeks refer back to in the future,