On Sat, 24 May 1997, Charles Hatton wrote:
 
> Is it O.K. to weekly, biweekly, or monthly to remove each frame from the brood chambers to examine them?
 
Charlie and Charles, Greetings from the Volunteer state, my 2 cents worth-
 
My suggestion would be to inspect frequently only when you really need to.
Frequent inspections each day or week will help you learn as you start
out, but each time you inspect, you also disrupt the normal "comings and
goings" of the hive. It will take the colony a time to recover from your
visit.   Some times of year frquent inspections may be needed, for example
in Spring with an established colony to prevent swarming, remove queen
cells each seven to ten days.
 
We must consider what the purpose of the inspection is.  In my opinion a
full inspection involves removing all frames, finding the queen and
quantifying status of eggs, uncappped brood, capped brood, nectar, honey,
pollen...  This kind of inspection is disruptive and is best done when the
colony is actively foraging/ not clustered, not during a nectar derth
(robbing..) and with care to replace frames in order and the same
orientation as when you started.  Ah yes, I need more best days,
nevermind.  Colonies can be inspected in marginal conditions without
breaking the cluster when it's below 55F to see if the colony is alive,
declining or increasing, etc.
 
I like to quickly check a queen cage to see if she has been released each
day after installation, but it is necessary only to move a frame or two or
recover it from the hive bottom without moving frames.
 
 Is it O.K. to rearrange the order of the frames on a regular basis in the brood chambers?>
 
 
I suggest not rearranging frames on a regular basis for no good reason.
Imagine if someone came into you house and turned furniture upside down
and backwards ?? You would take a while to find everything.
 
I rearrange sometimes to get foundation drawn in the edge of the brood
nest or to provide space in a colony that is getting too big for it's
britches and may swarm soon.   When a colony nears large size I do not run
out and divide it.   With a little care you can keep it large and make
a good crop of honey. This "early dividing" seems like a disease with some
beekeepers who are more proud of the numbers of colonies than their
quality.  It depends on purpose. If your purpose is to divide than it's
ok, but an alternative would be to add a frame or two of foundation. THis
gives them space and something to do instead of swarm.
 
Live long and pollinate, John
 
John A. Skinner           218 Ellington Hall
Extension Apiculturist    University of Tennessee
[log in to unmask]          Knoxville, TN  37901   (423)974-7138
 
 
> Charley & Charles
> [log in to unmask]
>