how often?

Sundance

· #2 · Apr 17, 2006

LOL.........

If you are new....... go for it and learn. It does disturb them but what you learn and view is worth it.

Look carefully for queen cells. Practice picking up drones a bunch. Clean burr comb. Have fun.

I am still a newbie but have scaled back opening the tops. I watch and listen more now. See what the are hauling in, etc.

I try to get in and pull boxes at least once every 2 weeks to keep the brood nest open and boxes and frames from getting too stuck.

If it is a new package try to let them be for a couple of weeks for sure.

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Dan Williamson

· #3 · Apr 17, 2006

There are a broad range of opinions on the topic but I think it depends on whether your are a new beekeeper or not.

The other question is what do you mean by opening up the beehive. Are you talking about opening the top and taking out a frame or two or doing a complete top-to-bottom inspection?

For the beginner, I think it is imperative to learn so I don't think that Once a week is too much especially if starting from a package or nuc. That way you get to see week-by-week the progress a colony can make. If you have two or more hives you can get a week-by-week comparison of the other colonies.

Benefits opening the hive on a weekly basis for the beginner:

1. In smaller hives it is easier to spot the queen. You can practice finding the queen in these smaller hives.

2. You can easily practice spotting eggs and seeing the various stages of brood.

3. You can watch as they begin to draw wax and watch their weekly progress.

4. You can compare queens and buildup (w/ multiple hives)

Maybe others can give more reasons those are the main ones that come to mind.

Personally, I think a beginning beekeeper should focus on learing the first year and honey should be of lower priority. I think that the focus on learning will pay bigger dividends in the long run. Just my Humble Opinion!

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Michael Bush

· #4 · Apr 17, 2006

>How often is too often to open a beehive?

I'm with the above comments. If we are talking about maximum honey yeilds it's one thing. If we are talking about learning beekeeping, it's a different thing altogether. I think you should open it reasonably often in order to learn. But if you open it every day you will stress them out too much. Try to keep it to once a week. Before you open listen to it and try to imagine what to expect. Then open the top and see what you can figure out without pulling a frame. Then pull some frames and see what they are doing. After a while you'll get so you know what's going on by listening and watching.

If honey production is the issue I'd open them probably not more than once a month unless I have a real reason.

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iddee

· #5 · Apr 17, 2006

I say open the books,...then open the hive when you have a reason to. Not just to look when you have nothing to look for. During swarm season, a minimum every 10 days if you want to prevent a queen from emerging. In the winter, never below 40 degrees. Again, whenever you have a reason. I have one hive I have opened twice this year, I have one I have opened twice this weekend.

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FordGuy

· #6 · Apr 18, 2006

if you have to ask that question, then you should be opening up a beehive instead of in front of a computer. haha.

let me make a distinction between using smoke/versus no smoke. when I do not use smoke, the bees ignore me and go about their business. I don't think this sets them back at all, or very little.

smoke is a different story, all stop what they were doing and respond to the smoke. this may set them back an afternnon or a day.

[ April 18, 2006, 12:03 PM: Message edited by: FordGuy ]

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peggjam

· #7 · Apr 18, 2006

"let me make a distinction between using smoke/versus no smoke. when I do not use smoke, the bees ignore me and go about their business. I don't think this sets them back at all, or very little."

This maybe fine for seasoned beekeeps to do, or not do, but when you are talking about beginners who have not worked a hive enough to know how, then the use of smoke is almost manditory. With a few seasons under one's belt, then they have the knowledge of when smoke is required or not required. I would not recommand suggesting to a newbe to forego the use of smoke to work their hive.

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FordGuy

· #8 · Apr 18, 2006

pegg's right. sorry for the confusion.

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Michael Bush

· #9 · Apr 18, 2006

Let me make a distinction between too much smoke and just right. If you use the right amount of smoke it will not disrupt them but will calm them. If you are upsetting the bees when you smoke, you are using too much.

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thebee

Discussion Starter · #10 · Apr 19, 2006

So it's ok if I use a bit of smoke? Just enough too relax them,so I can pull out a frame or 2 to see what they are doing.But not more often then once a week?

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peggjam

· #11 · Apr 19, 2006

"So it's ok if I use a bit of smoke? Just enough too relax them,so I can pull out a frame or 2 to see what they are doing.But not more often then once a week?"

Yes it's ok to use smoke, in fact you should never open a hive without it if you intend to poke around in there, unless you know what you are doing. I usually recommand you keep a small nuc around to play with. That way you can poke around anytime you want, and it's a great learning tool, as there arn't as many bees to deal with like the with the full strenght colonies. Once a week may be too much with a full colony, maybe every two weeks would be better.

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peggjam

· #12 · Apr 19, 2006

You can also set up an observation hive, which is even better for watching them without intruding on them.

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Michael Bush

· #13 · Apr 19, 2006

>If you are upsetting the bees when you smoke, you are using too much.

I should have pointed out the other side. If you're upseting the bees AFTER you smoke you're using too little.

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