the most important things

[squarepeg]

i have been thinking about what the most important things are for giving managed bees a fighting chance.

in order of importance, and subject to debate, i believe they are:

1. trouble shooting (maintain queenrightness, prevent starvation, deal with diseases and pests in the earliest practical stage, avoid preventable collapses, avoid spread of contamination)

2. location, habitat, ecosystem, environment, or whatever term you prefer, that determines the quantity and quality of the bee's forage. (bees are what they eat, an no genetics or beekeeper skill can make up for lack of proper nutrition)

3. great queen (assuming #1 is in play, the vigor of the colony is basically 'defined' by her)

4. balanced intervention (basically providing sound shelter, hive placement, and manipulating cavity size in harmony with the yearly cycle)



i'm not stuck on any of this. any thoughts?

[ccar2000]

The art is so subjective but I agree with the thought process. I believe the specific location of the hive is important as well. Too much summer sun or winter wind direction can also cause stress and failure. We as beekeepers can only do so much in the way of husbandry then the bees have to do their thing. These things are a good start. Thank you for sharing.

[squarepeg]

i like that, thanks ccar. i'll add that to the op.

[squarepeg]

... i wasn't sure where 'dumb luck' fits in there.

[toad]

squarepeg,
I said that on another topic one time and I heard alot of guys say luck has nothing to do with it. It all comes down to skills of the beek. I thing I'd rather have dumb luck or just luck on my side as well as skills.

[squarepeg]

toad, it sure can't hurt.

[BeeGhost]

Like you, I think habitat plays the biggest roll. Bees seem to survive in almost any situation by the things their hives have been found in, old cars, walls, under trailers and such. If the bees have water, food and shelter, I think they can survive almost anything!!

[Mike Gillmore]

Good thoughtful list squarepeg. The only adjustment I would make personally, would be to prioritize #4 and move it to the top of the list. If the first three items were not quite up to snuff the colony might struggle, but could still "survive". However if the health of the colony declines, it doesn't matter if I have the best location or the best queen in the state. If the health of the colony deteriorates those other things won't matter too much.

[Ravenseye]

I think prioritizing #4 higher is a good idea too and I second the hope that a little "dumb luck" gets sprinkled around now and then. I think a good, open and careful attitude about bees and the world around us in general is good to have and maybe plays a part in all 4 of those important things. I try to remember that by managing my bees I'm managing a small piece of the environment around me. It's not just "my bees, my yard, my flowers, my......" it's ours. Makes me think different when I'm focusing on that great queen.

[squarepeg]

old #4 is now new #1

[Acebird]

it doesn't matter if I have the best location or the best queen in the state. If the health of the colony deteriorates those other things won't matter too much.

Couldn't one say that if you had the worst location and the worst queen the best management would not make a difference?

I feel location is everything. That is why the bees take it seriously when they swarm. Without human intervention bees would survive in the best locations and perish in the worst.

[squarepeg]

perhaps the four things are like legs on a chair.

you really need all four for balance,

and you loose more stability each time you remove one.

[Adrian Quiney WI]

I really like the phrase "manipulating cavity size". I haven't heard it put that way before and it resonates with me.

[AstroBee]

One thing that is implied in both #1 and #4 is: Timing

This is a key aspect of beekeeping, and one that many new beekeepers struggle with. Once you get a handle of the timing of various management issues for your locality things become much easier and you become more successful.

[ccar2000]

I believe success is subjective to a recipe of each of these things.
I am sticking with this interpretation.

perhaps the four things are like legs on a chair.
you really need all four for balance,
and you loose more stability each time you remove one.

Except that the ground is not level everywhere you set your chair down.

"if it was easy everyone would do it" - Jerry Hayes Classroom

[toad]

beeghost,
Funny you say were they will live. Some time ago, my father-in-law and I did a cut-out of an old D8. Grease, oil, and diesel everywere! Still a strong hive.

[Rader Sidetrack]

perhaps the four things are like legs on a chair.
you really need all four for balance,
and you loose more stability each time you remove one.

Or not. ccar2000 is correct. There is a reason that surveyor's and photograper's tripods have three legs, and are about as stable as one can get.

[squarepeg]

this is beekeeping rader, let's not get too technical please........

[BeeGhost]

Spiders have eight legs, square peg you need to come up with four more things!!! Just funnin!

[BeeGhost]

beeghost,
Funny you say were they will live. Some time ago, my father-in-law and I did a cut-out of an old D8. Grease, oil, and diesel everywere! Still a strong hive.

Exactly! Where ever they decide to take up residence, they will! I've seen them in irrigation boxes, under mobile homes, forming wood, house walls, cinder block walls, wood duck nest boxes, above ground hot tubs and also out in the wide open 40' up in a pine tree!