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Lifting out a frame
One of the great advantages of the Beehaus is that you have space
to move the frames apart without having to first take one out. This is
something that you will appreciate if you have ever tried extracting the
first frame in a traditional hive, where the frames are packed in with no
room to move sideways.
Quite often the bees join frames to each other with small pieces of comb,
called brace comb. Using the hive tool you can separate the frame you
want to lift out to inspect. If the bees have used propolis to stick the ends
of the frame where it’s resting on the Beehaus you can use the flat end
of the hive tool to release it, never lever upwards with the hooked end as
this can break the frame and squash bees against the side.
Slide the frame so that it’s at an angle to give yourself more room to lift it
up. Take your time, move in slow motion and consider the weight of the
frame as you lift it. It’s interesting to note the different weight of frames
containing empty cells, those with plenty of honey and pollen stores and
those covered with brood.
Lift with a straight slow continuous motion to avoid crushing bees on the
sides or rolling them over the bees on the frame next door, as this also
annoys them (although not as much as being crushed).
The flat end of the tool can be used
to lever frames away from
their neighbours.
Don’t use the hooked end of the tool
to lift a frame up you might squash
bees in the hive.
Slide the frame at an angle away from
the neighbouring frame.
Try to keep the frame vertical to avoid
rolling bees against each other.
You can rest the corner of the frame on another frame and then it’s easy to turn
it around. You can also rest your liquid smoker on the other side of the Beehaus.
However, you should never rest a traditional smoker (which is very hot)
on the Beehaus.
To make it easier, you can lift out the first couple of frames if they are
just honey and pollen and place them in front of the Beehaus so that you
have more space to work. Once a frame has been lifted clear, you can
rest it on the next frame to be inspected. It can then be turned to inspect
the other side or you can lift it to eye level and turn it using the method
described next.
The main five points to note are:
1. Is the queen present and laying?
2. Has the colony got enough room in the hive?
3. Does the colony have sufficient stores of pollen and honey?
4. Is the colony healthy?
5. Are there any queen cells or other signs of swarming?
When you have inspected the frames, it’s quick to mark on the diagram of
the Beehaus where the queen was found, the frames with the different
stages of brood and the amount of stores available. As the weeks go by
it’s really interesting to see how the colony has developed.
In addition, if you noticed anything unusual during the inspection you can
then refer to the record book when looking up information in this guide,
in beekeeping books or from fellow beekeepers.
It’s called inspecting the colony because you are doing more than just
looking. With close observation the bees and the frames reveal the state
of the colony. But with all the bees running about it’s quite easy to forget
what it is you’re supposed to be looking for! To help, the Beehaus comes
with a handy record book which you should use each time you go through
your bees.
What am I looking for?
The record book looks like this.
notice some standing on their hind legs swivelling around following your
movements. These are the guards but a little whiff of smoke will send
them back down again leaving you free to carry on.