> > Instead of knocking on the hive, which my father advised me not to
 
Frankly, if it's all that important to know, just take the lid off and
some outside frames and look, or crack the hive between the brood
chambers and look.
 
It was minus 6 degrees C the other day and I could see live bees in the
auger holes of some hives and at the entrance in the inner cover on others.
 
Looking right into a hive by taking it apart is not good for it, but it
won't harm a good hive much if only done once -- and carefully.
 
 
W. Allen Dick,Beekeeper                       VE6CFK
Rural Route One, Swalwell,  Alberta  Canada  T0M 1Y0
Phone/Fax: 403 546 2588      Email: [log in to unmask]