Ultimate up

I lately needed to vacate an apiary at brief realize, simply because the oil seed rape was once turning vivid yellow.

Inconvenient.

Quite than rush across the county on the lookout for websites no longer already eager about bees – assuming I may in finding the landowner within the first position – I relocated some hives to some other (already crowded) apiary and the remainder to my affiliation apiary.

Affiliation apiaries are steadily utilized by beekeepers who’re not able to web page hives on their very own land (i.e. lawn or backyard; beekeepers most definitely do not qualify as ‘landowners’, a minimum of no longer in the similar approach because the Duke of Atholl does), and may additionally have colonies belonging to the affiliation used for educating and demonstrations.

A part of the quid professional quo for relocating some hives to the affiliation apiary was once that they may well be used for educating if wanted. All of us had to be informed as soon as, and I stay thankful to the skilled mentors who taken care of me throughout my first tentative catastrophes steps in beekeeping.

On visiting the colonies for the primary time after recuperating from the lurgi it was once transparent that a few of my hives were opened.

Even with out delving within the field, it was once obtrusive … the lengthy ‘tail’ at the ratchet straps had been well coiled up and tidily tucked out of the way in which. That is a ways too organised for me 😄.

Upon opening the hives, there was once further proof … all of which made me consider the act of ‘last up’ a hive.

For those who learn accounts (or directions) on hive inspections they typically emphasise smoking the colony, lifting the crownboard, gently lifting the frames and so forth. In truth, they generally tend to concentrate on beginning the method and what to search for.

This put up is set striking the whole lot again in combination once more.

There is multiple approach to do it

Like maximum issues to do with beekeeping, there are lots of techniques of attaining a specific purpose. You’ll be able to use the Pagden, Taranov or nucleus how one can regulate swarming; the outcome – you do not lose a swarm – is similar, despite the fact that the implementation is other {{1}} .

This plethora of the way of attaining extensively the similar consequence is among the issues that makes beekeeping so enduringly attention-grabbing … and additionally it is some of the causes that rookies get puzzled. I have written about this earlier than in a put up entitled Tim Toady (which you’d handiest in finding should you knew one thing about 1980’s laptop programming) and recommended some answers to make existence more straightforward.

And, in the similar approach, what follows is how I reassemble my hives after inspection, despite the fact that there are certain to be selection approaches … some most likely higher, others for sure worse.

All have the similar ultimate purpose; a protected hive, with the whole lot again as an alternative, and with the minimum conceivable disruption to the colony.

The extra, the merrier

Sturdy hives make virtually all sides of beekeeping higher and, in lots of instances, a lot more straightforward.

Sturdy colonies overwinter higher, they acquire extra honey {{2}}, and they’re much much less more likely to be robbed by way of wasps or different honey bee colonies. With one or two notable exceptions, they’re extra immune to pathogens, and I can’t bring to mind a just right explanation why they are no longer fascinating.

Alternatively, throughout inspections, robust colonies create two issues … the massive selection of bees makes recognizing eggs, larvae or the queen harder, and there all the time appear to be bees in the way in which – and so in peril of being overwhelmed – every time you go back the frames, queen excluders, supers or crownboards.

Dealing with the primary downside comes with enjoy.

It comes to finding out to identify the issues which are vital, and ignoring those who aren’t, even if lined with a wriggling – and dancing – curtain of employees. The tell-tale lumps and bumps, an extra ‘bee intensity’ or so, that point out an obscured queen cellular, or the fleeting glimpse of the quite better, longer-legged queen, as she scuttles across the backside of the body and so forth.

However how do you reassemble the hive when there are such a large amount of bees in the way in which?

Carnage

I have witnessed – both first-hand or the result of – some shockingly deficient colony manipulations. Generally, despite the fact that no longer completely, those contain returning issues to the hive.

• when opening certainly one of our analysis colonies (an afternoon or so after certainly one of my workforce had accumulated samples), I found out all the higher rim of the brood field was once lined in squashed bees. Obviously the queen excluder were returned with none try to transparent bees out of the way in which. Mea culpa. Extra coaching was once equipped.
• throughout an affiliation night coaching consultation (no longer of an affiliation I belong to), some of the ‘skilled’ beekeepers actually dropped the frames again into the overflowing brood field, crushing bees underneath the lugs. To make issues worse, the beekeeper then used their closely gloved palms to power the frames in combination, crushing but extra bees. The smell of alarm pheromone – isopentyl acetate (that particular banana odor) – was once heavy within the calm night air.
• darkish stripes of overwhelmed bees underneath the polycarbonate duvet of poly nucs, led to by way of a mix of heavy-handedness, a lack of information and brace comb.

Colony inspections are disruptive and, even with the most efficient will on the planet, even essentially the most cautious inspection is more likely to reason some harm to particular person bees within the colony.

Since squashed or broken bees instantly draw in the eye of different employees, that is a method during which sicknesses akin to Nosema and a few gut-associated viruses are transmitted within the colony.

Alternatively, with a little bit little bit of care this harm can also be minimised, so lowering the tension to the colony (and to the beekeeper I’m hoping) and, concurrently, the chance of illness transmission.

Smoke

Many beekeepers – and I come with myself on this – most definitely use an excessive amount of smoke throughout inspections. Quite a lot of smoke undoubtedly mask the alarm pheromones and encourages the bees to gorge themselves on nectar, however much less smoke and a little bit endurance paintings a minimum of as smartly, and steadily higher.

When reassembling the hive – returning frames to the brood field, including again the queen excluder or the supers and so forth. – an excessive amount of smoke merely reasons them run (or fly) frantically about in a panic, getting in your approach as steadily as they get out of your approach.

A ways higher to offer the gentlest puff or two, directed exactly the place it is wanted, and watch for the bees to transport apart … which they typically do.

On a up to date seek advice from to the affiliation apiary the grass were reduce. In my enjoy, dried grass produces pretty cool smoke. I gentle some outdated wooden shavings within the backside of the smoker after which pack the grass in tightly, topping it up as wanted during the afternoon.

It is nice stuff and smoulders – with virtually no ‘bellows motion’ – for ages … precisely what you wish to have when examining a chain of hives, the use of a minimum quantity of smoke and no longer having to fret concerning the smoker going out.

It is not odd for the smoker to stay lit after sealing it in my smoker tin and riding to some other apiary – a couple of wholesome squeezes of the bellows, a little bit curl of smoke rises from the spout, and I am able to begin everywhere once more {{3}}.

Gloves

Any manipulations of the frames – together with returning them to the field – is made more straightforward by way of the use of the thinnest gloves conceivable.

Marigold washing up gloves are infinitely higher than the ones horrible thick leather-based welder’s gauntlets, and nitriles are higher nonetheless.

With nitriles you’ll be able to really feel particular person bees underneath your fingertips, and transfer them (or pause whilst they transfer) as suitable. They make beekeeping a a lot more tactile and stress-free enjoy.

Frames

Maximum readers most definitely use Hoffman ‘self-spacing’ frames within the brood field. Having in brief dabbled with spacers on body lugs years in the past, I quickly noticed the mistake of my techniques and feature used Hoffman frames ever since.

That being the case, a few of what follows can safely be unnoticed if you do not use Hoffman frames (during which case it is very important figure out trade techniques of safely returning frames to the brood field).

You wish to have to create space within the brood field to take away the frames. I take out the dummy board, gently separate the adjoining outer body and – having regarded over it for no matter I must be on the lookout for {{4}} – stand it safely between the lateral rails of the hive stand (1 and a pair of, underneath).

Operating from again to entrance during the field, I take a look at each and every body in flip. The primary (i.e. the second one body within the field) is going again adjoining to the facet wall (3, above), with each and every successive body being reduced gently subsequent to and touching the sidebars of the body earlier than it (4, above).

The touching faces of the Hoffman sidebars are quite small in space and handiest prolong a few inches from the highest of the body. It’s due to this fact simple to look whether or not there are bees in between them should you glance vertically down into the field.

Moreover, the curved shoulders of the Hoffman self-spacing sidebars can also be gently reduced in opposition to the ones of the adjoining body, in order that they’re touching all through the length the body is being reduced.

Quite than hanging the body right into a hole between adjoining frames, separated from each, I manipulate it in order that it’s touching the remaining body I inspected as it’s being reduced.

That is more straightforward to do than it’s to explain.

Necessarily, I purpose to softly decrease the body with out leaving area (between the present body and the remaining one I inspected) that bees may occupy … evaluate diagrams A and B above.

Finished gently and slowly, the bees transfer apart and there aren’t any gaps left for the bees to occupy earlier than you upload the general body, push the frames in combination and shut the hive up.

Returning the general body

Having checked out all of the frames I will be able to do certainly one of two issues.

1. I will be able to position the primary body I got rid of into the space on the reverse facet of the brood field I’ve created (6a, within the first schematice diagram above), or
2. use the hive instrument and/or my thumbs to slip the frames gently clear of me, leaving the space at my facet of the field (6b, above).

I will be able to bring to mind a few the explanation why it’s higher to go away the frames in the similar order (and orientation) as I began, however I do not believe it makes an enormous quantity of distinction to the colony.

Returning the dummy board

One of the most shortcomings of Hoffman frames is that the interface between the sidebars is a magnet for propolis. If there may be the smallest hole between the frames the bees have a tendency to seal it up tightly with propolis.

Over the years, with repeated inspections, it will upload an considerable thickness to the 11 frames within the field {{5}}, making it increasingly more tough to exchange the dummy board (or now and again even the remaining body).

To minimise this, I all the time tightly push the frames in combination, the use of the hive instrument as a lever in opposition to the tip wall of the brood field. This achieves two issues:

• it creates abundant area into which the dummy board suits, and
• minimises the following deposition of propolis

I knew my hives within the affiliation apiary were opened because the frames weren’t tightly squeezed in combination … and the gaps had been being full of propolis 😢.

By way of decreasing the frames into the hive in order that they’re touching the prior to now inspected body, there aren’t any gaps that bees can get trapped in with the exception of the ones between the outer body and the tip wall of the field … a tiny puff of smoke on each and every facet is typically then enough to permit you to push the frames in combination and upload the dummy board.

Lugs

Within the description above I have unnoticed the bees decorating the body runners and/or the ones which are liable to getting trapped underneath the body lugs.

That is the place nitrile gloves makes an actual distinction.

The extra dexterity manner you’ll be able to dangle the body lugs, decrease the body, and do it slowly sufficient that you’ll be able to really feel the bees shifting out of the way in which underneath your arms.

The hot button is to do it slowly sufficient to offer the bees time to transport.

A slight ‘waggle’ motion with the body a couple of millimetres above the runners can assist inspire bees to transport apart. You’ll be able to pass judgement on the distance together with your fingertips … however no longer in case you are dressed in leather-based gauntlets.

Occasionally whilst you decrease the body you’ll be able to listen a better pitched humming as a employee is trapped by way of the leg … merely elevate the body a millimetre or so, and he or she’ll scuttle off out of the way in which.

Cursing you 😉.

As earlier than, the entire above takes longer to explain than it takes to in reality do.

It could be price taking a look at a couple of YouTube movies to look some just right and unhealthy examples of body dealing with. Beekeepers who’re just right at it make it glance quite simple. Those that have deficient methodology are very obtrusive …

Too many frames, an excessive amount of propolis … and gaps

There are particular cases when you wish to have to insert a body between two flanking frames – as an example into the space proven in #4 within the diagram above.

Most often, this happens when one of the crucial comb is asymmetric and/or there are too many frames within the field, or an excessive amount of propolis gumming the whole lot up, however there are different eventualities when that is important as smartly.

With care, coupled with the considered utility of small quantities of smoke, it is conceivable to reach this with out leaving a path of loss of life and destruction.

Direct a small puff of smoke to the space between the sidebars on each side of the frames, watch for the bees to transport out of the way in which and very gently insert the general body. The gaps between the frames can also be as slender as a unmarried Hoffman body.

As you decrease the body, be certain it stays striking vertical out of your arms, and as soon as the Hoffman ‘shoulders’ are reached, slide it down one – or preferably each – of each sidebars of the neighbouring frames. Any bees in the way in which at the body you’re retaining are gently eased off onto the tops of the adjoining frames, any occupying the space you might be placing the body into are driven apart.

It is most definitely highest to try this when there may be handiest simply enough room to insert the body. On this case it is steadily important to use delicate power to the ends of the lugs to push the body down into position.

With a quite wider hole between the frames it now and again is helping to make use of a steady side-to-side rocking motion of the frames to inspire the bees apart.

You must, after all, make an observation to your data to get to the bottom of no matter is inflicting the field to be so packed on the subsequent inspection …

Queen excluders and crownboards

Those can also be handled in combination, as the issues encountered are virtually an identical.

The higher rim of the brood field (or most sensible tremendous) is roofed with bees. That is the place a mix of the appliance of a small quantity of smoke, the correct apparatus and just right timing are wanted.

Flush-fitting queen excluders – akin to unframed plastic ones or (horror of horrors) the ones punched zinc sheets – are harder to suit with out crushing bees.

Framed, stressed excluders are more straightforward to make use of. Sure, they are 5 occasions the price, however in my opinion they’re a profitable funding {{6}}.

Gently smoke the higher edges of the field, wait whilst the bees transfer apart then be offering up the queen excluder (or crownboard, break up board or no matter) at an attitude, overlapping the furthest fringe of the field. Preserving the queen excluder by way of the entrance corners (i.e. the ones nearest your frame), gently decrease it and concurrently follow an much more delicate side-to-side motion and slide it against you in order that it is sq. with the highest of the field.

The aim this is to make touch with the bees, however to take action sufficiently gently that they take the trace and feature the time to transport out of the say.

Once more, the extra dexterity equipped by way of skinny gloves makes this a lot more straightforward.

Supers

This calls for a extensively equivalent methodology however is made much more tough as complete supers are very heavy.

Returning one tremendous is tricky paintings. Gently returning two or 3 (if complete) is sort of inconceivable … a minimum of that is my enjoy. I would possibly have the ability to elevate them off in combination, however I can’t change them with out risking severe harm, both to the bees or my again.

It due to this fact is sensible to exchange the supers in my opinion, the use of as little smoke as practicable, hanging them at an attitude after which gently twisting them so they’re aligned (see additionally my feedback underneath about brace comb and body spacing).

Presently of the season, with many hives crowned with 3 or extra supers stuffed with oil seed rape honey, inspections are arduous paintings.

The chance of lifting a couple of hundred kilograms of supers, tetchy bees since the OSR goes over and/or the elements is deficient, and the absolute wish to check up on the colony (as a result of they’re going to virtually undoubtedly be making swarm arrangements about now) can produce combined feelings in even essentially the most devoted beekeeper.

Brace comb

The entire dialogue above – on returning frames, refitting queen excluders, including again the supers or changing the crownboard – make the belief that the area between the more than a few hive elements isn’t in part or totally occupied by way of brace comb or propolis.

Changing a inflexible, framed twine queen excluder is made so much tougher if there may be brace comb at the most sensible bars of the brood frames, or at the underside of the excluder … each and every of those spaces with wrong bee area is some other doable area during which bees may well be squidged.

It due to this fact is sensible, and saves time total, to make use of the pointy fringe of your hive instrument – at the side of a small puff or two of smoke as wanted – to slice away the brace comb earlier than last up the hive.

Except you’re superhuman and take away and change your supers unexpectedly, then you’re going to in finding that poorly aligned tremendous frames will create gaps that the bees fill with brace comb. The similar factor occurs should you mix ‘n match supers with other numbers of frames in them; they construct up from the highest bars into the vacant area within the tremendous above.

Once more, a few mins with a sharp-edged hive instrument – most likely aided by way of a steady float of smoke – leaves the body tops transparent and decreases the probabilities of crushing bees.

Polycarbonate crownboards on poly nucs

Those have a tendency to be moderately versatile and – a minimum of at the poly nucs I exploit (from Thorne’s and Maisemore’s) – ‘sag’ a little bit, spoiling what’s most definitely supposed to be most sensible bee area. Inevitably, the bees fill one of the crucial gaps with wax.

On a chilly day, it is trivial to scrape the polycarbonate blank with a painter’s window scraper … however on a chilly day you will not be examining the nuc. For those who do that on a heat day the wax has a tendency to smear a little bit.

I do two issues:

1. I label the higher facet of the polycarbonate so I all the time change it in the similar orientation. This implies just one facet of the polycarbonate will get wax-encrusted.
2. I have discovered that delicately laying the crownboard over the frames, despite the fact that a couple of bees are trapped, after which tapping in it with a hive instrument or my arms, encourages the bees to wriggle out of the gaps and down between the frames. Some would possibly get trapped in a wax cul-de-sac, however I in finding I will be able to typically prise up the facet or nook of the polycarbonate sheet to liberate them, with out permitting a variety of different bees to re-appear from the seams and get in the way in which.

If you do not do that the inherent flexibility within the polystyrene roof and underlying polycarbonate crownboard signifies that bees can be overwhelmed while you strap the nuc down (or upload a brick to forestall the roof blowing away).

Nitriles, be delicate, cool smoke, gradual and stable

That phase heading just about sums up the remaining 3,400 phrases.

I must have simply posted a three minute video appearing all the procedure, however then you definitely’d have despatched in a load of feedback critiscising my shaky digital camera paintings, one-handed body dealing with and welder’s gauntlets 😉.

Bee’s lives subject

{{1}}: Aficionados of swarm regulate can be mindful that those 3 strategies aren’t handiest applied another way, but in addition lead to other employee populations for the ensuing queenright and queenless colonies. The similar, however other.

{{2}}: Or, pedantically, they acquire extra nectar and so make extra honey.

{{3}}: But in addition one thing to concentrate on to steer clear of immolating your automobile at the long ago house.

{{4}}: That is about reassembling the hive, no longer examining the colony.

{{5}}: Those are Nationwide hives, however the similar scenario applies regardless of the hive dimensions or selection of frames.

{{6}}: And no longer handiest as a result of they’re more straightforward to make use of; they’re additionally a lot more straightforward to wash, much less simply broken, do not warp or bend and last more. What is to not like?