Winter prep question

[Millet]

For me the only time to put a shallow of stores under the brood box is if those stores are unripe/uncapped and the box goes under after harvest in August. That way the bees have time to move the stores to the brood box where they need them. A shallow on the bottom is fine if the bees are on brood and a half and that’s the way the colony is configured.
A brooded super is good for honey as long as there’s no brood in it when you extract it.

Had several boxes like that this year.. too many to nadir .. a fan heater and a stack of boxes on a raised floor sorted that problem.

 

[deemann1]

Any unsealed and high water content frames of stores I had this year was extracted and given back to the bees

 

[Frizzaldo]

Any unsealed and high water content frames of stores I had this year was extracted and given back to the bees

unless you extracted each hive separately and cleaned the equipment between each extraction that's a potential way to spread disease between your hives

 

[For want of a better word]

unless you extracted each hive separately and cleaned the equipment between each extraction that's a potential way to spread disease between your hives

Sage words indeed.
Even mixing up frames and boxes between apiaries could potentially spread an infection of disease... particularly if you have disease in the area... one reason not to use communal extraction facilities.

AFB & EFB ....Bit like STDs not talked about and you have no idea who has it......
( Speaking from my experiences as a pox doctors clerk in an NHS special clinic, back in the swinging sixties... you know the little green door round the back of the hospital!)
Chons da

 

[deemann1]

unless you extracted each hive separately and cleaned the equipment between each extraction that's a potential way to spread disease between your hives

Noted

 

[deemann1]

Sage words indeed.
Even mixing up frames and boxes between apiaries could potentially spread an infection of disease... particularly if you have disease in the area... one reason not to use communal extraction facilities.

AFB & EFB ....Bit like STDs not talked about and you have no idea who has it......
( Speaking from my experiences as a pox doctors clerk in an NHS special clinic, back in the swinging sixties... you know the little green door round the back of the hospital!)
Chons da

So do use not mix honey supers with other hives?
Or keep them all numbered per apiary

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

unless you extracted each hive separately and cleaned the equipment between each extraction that's a potential way to spread disease between your hives

I take it you wash your beesuit between each hive you inspect as well? - and pass your vehicle through a wheel wash if you have to travel between apiaries.

 

[Ian123]

Seriously once you get over 2 hives with that kind of hygiene practice you will loose the will to live. In this country levels of afb and efb are very low. General good practice and awareness are all that’s required

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

If you were doing your job properly as a beekeeper you would ensure your colonies are foulbrood free - or deal with it when found.
Wash tools and smoker between apiaries yes Or keep a washing soda bucket with a hive tool in at each apiary, wash your hive tool between each hive, OK, but otherwise.................
And I wonder how many wash the bellows on their smoker AT ALL let alone between each hive or apiary.

 

[Gilberdyke John]

unless you extracted each hive separately and cleaned the equipment between each extraction that's a potential way to spread disease between your hives

Potential yes but anything in one hive in an Apiary is almost certainly shared with the rest either by drifting or drones flitting between the different boxes. Hygeine is good but obsession takes it over the top.
You assess risk and act accordingly.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Potential yes but anything in one hive in an Apiary is almost certainly shared with the rest either by drifting or drones flitting between the different boxes. Hygeine is good but obsession takes it over the top.
You assess risk and act accordingly.

 

[Swarm]

For me the only time to put a shallow of stores under the brood box is if those stores are unripe/uncapped and the box goes under after harvest in August. That way the bees have time to move the stores to the brood box where they need them. A shallow on the bottom is fine if the bees are on brood and a half and that’s the way the colony is configured.
A brooded super is good for honey as long as there’s no brood in it when you extract it.

Not a manoeuvre to be carried out in October with a full box of capped stores.

 

[Swarm]

unless you extracted each hive separately and cleaned the equipment between each extraction that's a potential way to spread disease between your hives

Between apiaries, maybe but even then you should have some idea on the health status of your colonies. Between hives? What do beekeepers do when they suspect a queenless situation?

 

[Hivemaker.]

What do beekeepers do when they suspect a queenless situation?

Lol...I know what a large percentage of them do, order a new queen...when asked how they know the bees are Q- the reply is usually, because there are no eggs or brood...the reply, have you put in a test comb....a what they ask... what is a test comb?

 

[Curly green fingers]

Lol...I know what a large percentage of them do, order a new queen...when asked how they know the bees are Q- the reply is usually, because there are no eggs or brood...the reply, have you put in a test comb....a what they ask... what is a test comb?

Sounds like the beekeepers your talking about are very impatient and a wee bit lasy
Can I just ask who the shock swarm brigade are.

 

[Hivemaker.]

Can I just ask who the shock swarm brigade are.

Morons.

 

[TooBee...]

Lol... there are no eggs or brood...the reply, have you put in a test comb....a what they ask... what is a test comb?

Ok, I'll bite, I can guess, but what is a test comb?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Can I just ask who the shock swarm brigade are.

Morons.

 

[beeno]

Potential yes but anything in one hive in an Apiary is almost certainly shared with the rest either by drifting or drones flitting between the different boxes.

Even the NBU inspectors do not worry about hive hygiene between the colonies in one apiary for that reason. However, needless to say on finding EFB, or acute other diseases the situation would change. However, to clean hive tools or change disposable gloves between colonies is not a bad idea in itself.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Ok, I'll bite, I can guess, but what is a test comb?

What do bees do if they have no queen?
They try to make a new one.
That’s the clue