visit hives

[seaninis]

good morning i live in the highlands and have left my bees alone over the winter just making sure that the hive is ok from a distance. when should i actually inspect the hive for activity the weather is getting better and the days are 'much' warmer (i know it all relative). Just wondering when to inspect them. Any advice welcome pls. Sean

 

[BrianO]

Hi Sean

Answer is not yet, you will set them back and slow their build up going thru them now.

Well Into Next month on a T shirt warm day.

No need to go near them yet, nothing to gain penty to lose.

 

[snelgrove]

if the bees are flying on good days and taking in pollen then you can presume al is well, until as previously said, you get a warm day in April to have a look inside

 

[Poly Hive]

I would suggest you should heft the hive to check the weight of stores left. This is a dangerous time for starvation.

PH

 

[Swarm]

Agree with PH, check they have enough stores is all you need to be worrying about for a while yet.

 

[Heather]

This crazy winter, bees in the South have been flying most days, burning up energy and food, but little coming in. My bees were left with a super of food under the brood, and now i have removed the empty super to consolidate heat.. and some on 2nd fondant. Please don't presume all will be well.
Heft, and even a peep in to ensure they are still near the stores. One frame of empty cells can divide your colony from its food. Seen a colony dead with stores over the other side of the hive... and the keeper had hefted and was reassured as to the weight.

 

[charlievictorbravo]

That woman from Solihull did a full inspection yesterday - frames out, waved about, eggs exposed to the air.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe7tnoPzhHg

CVB

 

[Erichalfbee]

That woman from Solihull did a full inspection yesyerday - frames out, waved about, eggs exposed to the air.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe7tnoPzhHg

CVB

I gather Celia told her it was OK and they might be preparing to swarm.
I just hope no other beginners emulate her daft ideas.
Perhaps she needs to be encouraged to post here....

 

[snelgrove]

I gather Celia told her it was OK and they might be preparing to swarm.
I just hope no other beginners emulate her daft ideas.
Perhaps she needs to be encouraged to post here....

watched the first few mins cos my Internet connect is crap, sure I saw bees pooing which shows they are stressed by the inspection. To early for a full inspections risk of queen balling and chilling open brood.

 

[birdsandbees]

I would suggest you should heft the hive to check the weight of stores left. This is a dangerous time for starvation.

PH

Yup, no wonder folk lose hives and Nucs when they are constantly told to just leave them alone, I guess you could say survival of the fittest and that bees that have started too early or didn't store enough don't deserve to survive but having a Nuc that was a late starter in the Autumn I thought would be okay nearly starve, as other more sensible people have already said heft the hive or if in doubt give them some fondant anyway, if they need it they will take it.