Oh dear!  How do we tackle this?

"cass cohenour"  wrote:

> Who's to say the brood which was placed with the swarm does not contain
any
> diseases?

Yes, it might - so I would not do it, although others regard it as good
practice.

> When I have honey setting on my shelf for my personal use, it is
> because it came from the a healthy hive, because I keep my hives as
healthy
> as I can.

So you test for viruses?

> Does the honey become contaminated after it is sealed and set on
> a shelf?

Seems unlikely if the jar is properly sealed!

> If so the same honey left on your bees can also become contaminated
> after beeing...

Er, perhaps one too many 'e's?

> I know that using honey, combs, or brood from another colony may be a risk
to spread
> disease to another

So why take the risk?

> especially if you are a beehaver and not a beekeeper. A
> beekeeper will know when his bees are diseased and will take measures to
> erradicate the problem.

Not all diseases are obvious at all times-  for example, EFB and many
viruses cxan be presnt without any outwardly visible symptoms at certain
times -  but they are still present.

> If you are a beehaver, who's to say the swarm is
> not already diseased before capture?

No-one.  But the same applies if you are a beekeeper.   (Incidentally, is
not 'beehaver' the most dreadful word?  Who on earth coined it?  Nearly as
bad as 'U'!)

> Are you going to refund the money to everyone who purchased your disease
infested
>  honey which they purchased before you realized you had a problem?

Bee diseases do not affect humans - so presumably not.

> Would I go and purchase honey from a beehaver to coat my
> equipment with? NO!

This misses the point.  By coating your equipment in honey you are inviting
every bee in the area to the party - and some of those may bring disease.
Please do not tell us that you know every colony in the area and that there
is no disease!

> I happen to have only two people who "have" bees within flying
> distance of mine. The closest one is eight miles away.

Feral colonies?  Beekeepers that you do not know about?

> Chances are is that I will detect a problem in thier hives and alleviate
it before it becomes a > problem for mine.

Chance?

> How great it would bee if we lived in a world where we did not
> have to worry about diseases in our hives. But unfortunatly we do have to
> worry.

Well, at least we agree about something!

> That is why we buy medicines for our hives, as preventatives against
> and treatments for disease.

Prophylactic treatment?  Now we disagree again.

> I don't use gloves during inspections, and I sterilize my hive tool with
my smoker
> between hives to help pervent the spread of any disease.

Smokers do not sterilise hive tools, unless you have discovered a new smoker
fuel!!!  And how do you sterilise your hands?  Blow torch?

> Using terrapro patties throughout the year, except during the honey flow,
I have never experienced any AFB...

So you misuse antibiotics then?  Have you considered that you might have AFB
but are simply masking it?

> I

???

Peter Edwards
[log in to unmask]
www.stratford-upon-avon.freeserve.co.uk/

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