Handling Honey Bees

Things to remember when handling Honey Bees

It is good to work quickly and with purpose so that you disturb the Honey Bees as little as possible.

Also work quietly. Bees are also disturbed by noise as well as movement.

Be clear in your mind what you need to do. Think through the process before you carry it out.

It's an obvious one but make sure you are wearing the correct protective gear.

Have all necessary appointment to hand and the area clear of clutter and unnecessary items.

Make sure you have informed someone that we are going to be handling bees. Make sure they have your mobile phone number and keep your phone handy.

Check there are no other people nearby who you are unaware of. Make sure you are not surprised by someone!

When checking the hive you should stand behind it so that foraging bees can come and go freely.

When it comes to the first inspection some people like to smoke the entrance.

Try and avoid putting the supers, sections of the hive, directly on the floor.

When the hive is open some people like to use a cloth over so as to keep the sections dark. Bees will settle down though once they have become used to the light.

When you remove the hive roof set it down in a convenient spot, within easy reach of your working area.

Always hold the frame been inspected over the colony just in case the queen accidentally drops.

Make sure you put the flame is back one after the other as you inspect them.

Ask yourself some of these questions when looking into the colony. Is the Queen present? Does the queen have sufficient space? Does the colony have sufficient room for having storage? Do you think it has enough stalls to last until the next inspection? Are there any signs of disease? Is the colony developed as expected?

And the final tip is to learn from others. Try and get an opportunity to see someone else managing their honey bee colony. Ask them questions. Watch what they do and have fun and take care!