What Does the Novice Beekeeper Need to Know?

Number 3

HOW TO OPEN A HIVE FULL OF BEES "and keep the bees inside"

"And Why"

Wear a veil. All other protective clothing items are an option, depending on how brave or foolish you are.

Smoke the bees through the entrance. 2-3 puffs are adequate. See "How to light the Smoker" to determine how to get and keep the smoke coming.

Wait, just 3-5 minutes is long enough for the bees to engorge themselves with honey and be calm when you open the hive. There is the occasional hive that is "hot" and will require enough smoke to barbeque them. A real cloud of smoke and a longer wait time is required before opening.

Pop the outer telescoping cover. Set the lid to the aside, upside down. Pop the inner cover and remove it. Setting it on edge next to the hive. The inner cover may be tightly propolized to the upper box edge. Just slide you hive tool into the crack and pry up. The outer telescoping cover usually is not propolized. A migrator's cover probably will be propolized so just use your hive tool in the crack.

Smoke a little more. This will help drive the bees down between the top bars. Just 1-2 gentle puffs.

Break lose the frames before lifting. With the hive tool move the frame side ways, just a little. Then using the hooked end of your hive tool, gently hook the top bar near the end of the frame, about an inch from the edge of the box. Pry up gentle. Do the same on the other end. This breaks the propolis and wax that the bees have glued the frame in with. Now gently lift the frame out. I like using a "frame grabber" tool as I can get a better grip on the top bar.

As the BUZZ gets louder and more bees start flying around, lightly puff the bees a little more. You can hear them calm down.

Pull the frames straight up so you don't "Roll the Bees". You will see the bees being rolled against the adjoining frame and the bees on that frame. You can injure the bees and make them a little madder. REMEMBER: you are a bear stealing their honey!

First, remove frame #2 or #9 (#2 & #7 on 8 frame set up). #1 &10 are stuck tighter to the side of the box by little wax bridges.

This gives you more room to work and not squish the queen.

Set the frame in the upside down lid. One end of the frame on the edge of the lid and the other end in the middle of the lid. This gives you space so you don't squish bees and damage the comb. Now remove the frame against the box side (#1 or #10). Inspect it and place it back in the original position inside the box.

Gently pull the next frame and inspect it. Sometimes it is easiest to use the flat side of the hive tool and slip it between the adjoining top bar, prying both ends loose sideways before lifting the frame. Place it in the vacant frame space. Repeat, moving frames sideways with each frame. Leave the frames in the box, only one will be in the lid. This keeps the queen from jumping out into the grass as you work. Sometimes there will be wax bridges holding the frame in, even after you have pried it sideways. Just pull firmly and steadily (don't jerk). You can pull the top bar off the frame.

When inspecting the frame, hold it over the hive box just in case the queen makes a dive for open air. You hope she will dive back into the box and not out into the grass. It is cute to see her do this but not so cute trying to find her and put her back in the hive. When looking at the frame, practice holding it about 6" above the box. Don't be standing straight up and holding the frame 2' above the box in front of your face.

If you need to give your aching back a stretch, do it before you pick up the frame.

Depending on what you are inspecting for, once you are satisfied that the queen in healthy and laying eggs, and there is no disease, stop inspecting . You don't want to accidently squish the queen.

If you are inspecting a double deep hive body, replace all the frames in the box and then set that box into the upside down telescoping cover while you inspect the bottom box. If you can not (don't want to) lift the entire loaded hive body box, get an extra empty box, place the empty box in the upside down lid so you can transfer all the frames into it, one at a time, as you inspect them. Then do the second box of the main hive. The first frame you remove from the second box can be laid on the top bars of the first box without damaging the comb or the bees. When finished place the empty box back on the main hive and reload the frames one at a time.

When the inspection is complete, slide the frames sideways until the original vacant frame space is open again. Place the first frame back in its place.

After inspecting replace the frames in the same order as before removal. Front to back as well as in their order sideways.

Work smoothly, Slowly, and Gently! As you get more experience this process becomes easier and second nature. You will learn to take short cuts when appropriate.