A Bee Story – Beekeeping Session Four
Photo Credit: Public Domain
Sunday was session four for my beekeeping training. The weather was cool and dreary which is not the best time to do hive inspections. Why is that? Because the forager bees tend to stay inside the hive when it is cold so, more bees to deal with when you open up the hive.
It was amazing. We were separated into groups of about 20 people each. The beekeeper did a safety check of my bee-suit and gloves before I walked up the hill to the hive field. I was in the blue group this time so I looked for the blue flag and joined the rest of the group at our section of hives. The purpose of this session was to practice performing health inspections on the hive.
We started out learning how to light a smoker. Pieces of burlap were used as fuel. Using the smoker temporarily calms the bees. Caution is imperative because if you aren’t careful you can start fire which would be very bad. Be aware of where you put the smoker after using, it is smoldering and can easily be knocked over.
I learned the proper way to use the hive tool to take off the lid of the hive. There were bees clumped on the inside of the lid. I firmly shook off the bees and leaned the lid against the corner of the hive making sure to not block the entrance. I then used the tool to slowly pry up the end-most frame. There weren’t many bees on the frame there was no comb. Once again, I shook off the bees and leaned the frame against the lid.
You're supposed to remove 2 frames to make room to slide the remaining frames. You work your way toward the middle of the hive until you see what you are looking for as a health check. You have to confirmed that the queen is laying eggs, that there are brood cells and honey cells. You do not look at every frame. The quicker you are in and out the less stressful it is for the bees.
Third frame in and I was able to see brood cells, eggs and honey, so all was well. I carefully put the frames back into the hive taking care to not crush any bees and put back on the lid.
One of the highlights of this session was when the beekeeper drew our attention to a frame he was holding and pointed out one on the cells at the exact moment a brand-new bee finished breaking through the cap and climbed out. The beekeeper exclaimed “I’m a daddy!” Very cool!
One thing that I figured out was that the veil of my bee-suit is annoying. When I leaned over to look into the hive it flopped forward and knocked my baseball cap into my face – over and over. I need to have a hat of some kind under the veil to protect against the sun. I guess the one I was wearing wasn’t tight enough. Note to self – get a better fitting hat.
At the next meeting, it will be June, it will be hot. The topic will be a continuation of hive health more specifically disease and mites. I can’t wait for next month.
That is an amazing experience, you're having. Did you buy any new honey, this time?
Not this time.
I've always wondered what it would be like wearing one of those suits and having a swarm of bees flying around me. You're really becoming very knowledgeable in this area. Are you planning on getting some hives of your own?
someday, hopefully!
@altportal friend how are you? I was waiting for this kind of beekeeping you know I love them.
This is how bees calm down a bit with smoke many times we improvise a smoker at home when a beehive usually appears, I have also seen how many times honey combs burn that is very bad, I like that you learned more in your classes
how are you friend? I like to continue learning from the bees I did not know very well if with the cold they used to stay inside the hive or they went out to collect and I see that they are inside their hive so they are all there and surely as you say it is more difficult to deal with them, these bees must be many more than normal when they are on their journey when the weather is hot
Great experience, I have never had the opportunity to do this activity but I really like to learn how to handle bees if someday I get to do some beekeeping course is so many things that you must learn, I hope you can find a comfortable hat because it is not long for the June for you to have the next class
Beehive keeping is fascinating! I'm watching a documentary on Netflix called Hive Alive and it's amazing all the things that the bees do to make the honey. How often do you have to do a health check? Looking forward to the next post on diseases and mites!
I watched that too. Every week or so.
Informative post , thank you . Nice photo shoot . Keep good work .
Your post is always different i follow your blog everytime , your post is so helpful . I always inspire of your post on my steem work . Thank you for sharing @altportal
Beekeeping is so dangerous and some time fatal. I can t believe the courage and braveey that these guys develop for catching such huge no s of bees. Miraculous.
Impressive to see the behavior of the inseptos, in this case of the bees and do not believe that they are aware, so organized that are displayed, and the assertive that are to create your diaper with a perfect goemetrica. Each one in its work, and at the end of the transformation of the pollen in honey. As it would be for them to learn that? A question I ask myself again and again
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