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Date: | Tue, 9 Dec 2008 04:45:11 EST |
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In a message dated 09/12/2008 00:51:05 GMT Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
My question is what would be the effect of keeping hives in two or three
stories, encouraging swarming, and harvesting only small amounts of honey if
it is really "in the way".
This is an experiment that many of us can do over the next few years to
build up a sufficiently large collection of anecdotes that they might, if themes
emerge, become regarded as evidence. The important point about Seeley's bees
is that the colonies are widely separated from each other. Maybe we could
each establish a single hive in a friend or relative's garden, or in an isolated
area where there are no other hives nearby. Mesh floors would probably be
a good idea.
Start each hive from a swarm with foundation starter strips only. Give them
a total volume to occupy of maybe a couple of bushels. When you go to visit
your friends (which might be more often than before) take a look at the hive
from the outside; check the debris falling through the mesh floor. Examine
the mites through a magnifying glass to see if more or less are damaged than
in other hives. Read Storch's 'At the Hive Entrance' to gain a non-invasive
insight into what is happening within. Maybe heft the hive at intervals
roughly to assess the weight. Open the hive only if you have a particular valid
reason to do so. Don't feed them. Take a harvest in Spring when you know that
what you take is truly surplus to their needs. Station a bait hive nearby in
case they do decide to swarm. Do an annual thorough health check for
foulbrood etc when you take your harvest, but replace the frames in the order in
which you found them.
Report at intervals (possibly via the Santa Group).
Chris
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