One of the comments was a great reminder to me that the bees know what they are doing more than I do. I'm considering having it tattooed on my thigh so I see it every day.
From Tubbercurry:
Are we potentially doing more harm by dusting with sugar than not opening the hive? Something to consider: when a beekeeper opens a hive it is invasive to the super-organism that is the beehive. Many beekeepers open their hives way too often and all this opening helps to contribute to the demise of their beehive's health. If you're just curious, watch the hive entrance and see what you can find out about the bees by that rather than opening the hive. If the bees are bringing in pollen they're feeding brood and chances are the queen is laying eggs. Even if she's ill or old, the bees know how to replace her. Way too many beekeepers even organic ones over-manage their hives.
Addendum 3/31/12: This is a great explanatory article: Beekeepers to EPA: We're running out of time
"Over-management" seems to be the norm in farming nowadays, I still can't believe how much work some people do with their hives, every time I open my hives I realize I am invading them, so it is kept to a minimum probably only two or three times a year for a brood level invasion, more maybe for honey removal (a few combs at a time instead of whole boxs).
ReplyDeleteI am so excited about our hives that sometimes Chuck has to talk me down a little, in spite of my good intentions.
DeleteI have opened the back enough to feed them and opened the flap by the windows to see if they need food or the back board moved. Ther have still been enough cold nights that don't want to give the new colonies too much to tend to.
The tulip poplars in my area started blooming 2 days ago. I think I'll take the syrup out Monday morning and let them do their own thing for a while. I'll keep watching the weather and comb production to see what to do with the back board.