[ad_1]
Are beehive data actually necessary? Sure, I believe so. Whereas even skilled beekeepers can study from hive notes, it’s much more necessary for rookies. Good beekeeping data promote a greater understanding of the dynamics of the hive and assist you understand in case your colony is on monitor for the yr.
Positive, having a notice guide isn’t for everybody. However, it’s possible you’ll discover that it’s nicely value your time to preserve a beekeeper’s log or data of colony situations. They’re so many elements to recollect in hive administration. When you’ve got greater than 1 colony, it’s nearly not possible to recollect all the main points.
Strategies of Protecting Hive Data
When you understand how useful good hive data are – you want a system. Listed below are the commonest methods to maintain monitor of your colony.
- bricks – no kidding
- hive monitoring software program
- paper pocket book
- beekeeper’s log or journal
Bricks for Hive Standing
Bricks? Sure, bricks. Have you ever ever been to somebody’s bee yard and seen bricks on high of the hive? Some lay flat, whereas others are standing on finish? Yea?
Possibly they’re there to carry on the hive high throughout windy climate. However for many of us, they serve one other operate. They inform us at a look – one thing concerning the final recognized situation of that hive.
Some beekeepers have elaborate strategies of utilizing bricks to point hive standing. One brick laying down flat-all is sweet.
One brick laying on its aspect, this colony has an issue that wants monitoring. A brick standing on finish, this colony is queen-less and requires fast consideration. No less than that’s the system that I used and nonetheless do typically.
Each beekeeper has a unique brick system. Should you actually wish to make a beekeeper indignant, transfer across the rocks (or bricks).
That is the limitation of the brick system. If somebody or one thing strikes your bricks, your knowledge is misplaced.
Hive Monitoring Software program
Know-how has arrived on the planet of beekeeping. Many beekeepers get pleasure from utilizing on-line hive administration software program or apps on their telephones.
This technique permits them to have concise data useful regardless of the place they’re. Some of the nicely know ones is Hive Tracks.
It is a nice technique of maintaining data if you happen to can sustain with it. I’ve nice enjoyable placing within the data throughout the Winter when I’m not working bees. Nevertheless as soon as bee season begins, I by no means appeared to have time to enter the inspection data.
Paper Data
After attempting each beekeeping system on the market, I’ve come again to a pocket book or journal. I’ve notebooks courting again over a few years.
And every one tells a narrative of my beekeeping journey for that yr. I prefer to take a digital voice recorder with me to the bee yard. This enables me to document digital notes that I’ll then transcribe into my journal or paper pocket book.
I’ve booklets with data of hive inspections courting again over 15 years. Sometimes, I take them out and thumb by the pages.
At first written accounts of every first hive inspection after set up helped me study what to search for.
Additionally, tips on how to notice beekeeping strategies that labored! In addition to, plans that failed miserably. All of us attempt to reduce the variety of repeated beekeeping errors in our lives.
Your Beekeeping Journal
You should buy beekeeping document books which are prepared to make use of. They are often useful in case you are a bit not sure of what situations are most necessary to trace.
Utilizing my previous notebooks as a information, I’ve created a beekeeping journal. Contains: *a beekeeper’s calendar *hive inspection sheets *month-to-month notes and extra. You may obtain the cheap model or order a printed on from Amazon.
When you might imagine it is possible for you to to maintain monitor of the date if you final inspected your hive- LOL, I can say that you just in all probability won’t!
It is very important have an inspection plan earlier than opening the hive. That is troublesome to do in case you are not 100% sure of colony situations from the final go to.
Anytime you see one thing that considerations you, make a remark to recheck quickly. A fast look at your notes will put together you for right this moment’s inspection.
Advantages of Good Hive Data
Whereas we are able to study lots from observing the colony entrance, we nonetheless have to look contained in the hive periodically.
Nevertheless, any time that we open a beehive, it causes stress to the colony. Honey bees are usually not very fond of getting the roof of their house eliminated.
Plan Inspections
As your expertise grows, a great hive inspection log will allow you to decide when to open the hive. Your chart is a particular notation of if you final inspected the hive and the situations inside.
Does the colony have a great queen? Do you see honey and pollen? Any indicators of bee pests? We should look inside to entry these situations.
For instance: your hive notes from every week in the past says that you just noticed a laying queen. And, right this moment you see a good brood sample with some recent larvae.
It won’t be as necessary to maintain the hive open longer to do a visible examine of each body to discover the queen – you noticed her just lately and see proof now.
Entry to former hive inspection notes provides us an thought of what to anticipate. Did this bee colony have a potential drawback over the last inspection?
I take advantage of notes from my Beekeeping Journal each time earlier than going to the bee yard. Beekeepers with many hives (or quick reminiscences) usually discover it troublesome to recollect which hive wants what. “ i.e. Was the yellow hive queenless or was it the inexperienced one ?.”
Helps New Beekeepers Study
Beehive data are particularly useful for a newbie beekeeper. There are such a lot of issues to recollect.
It is rather obscure all of the beekeeping terminology and the inspection “what ifs”. Your notes may also help you study as you learn by them again within the consolation of your own home.
In my early years of beekeeping, it actually helped me study and retain information about my bees. Repetition is sweet for retaining data. As I get older it appears that evidently they’re serving to me much more.. LOL
By wanting again at your data from earlier new colonies, you’ll higher perceive hive growth.
How lengthy did it take your final colonies to fill out a hive field? What time of yr did you first discover capped brood, and many others.
Beekeeping Log E book Templates
Your hive inspections sheets could be as easy or as sophisticated as you want. Over time, a beekeeper learns which elements of hive administration are most necessary.
Nevertheless, there are some primary hive situations that each beekeeper must know.
- Does the colony have a visual queen bee?
- Is the queen laying a great brood sample?
- Is the colony bringing in pollen and nectar?
- Any indicators of wax moth injury?
- What about indicators of frequent honey bee ailments?
- Has the colony been examined for mites? When did you deal with your bees for mites? With What?
Ultimate Ideas
Irrespective of which technique you select to make use of, having a great bee hive document maintaining system is necessary. After all, you should use any pocket book in your beehive document maintaining however it certain is sweet to have it in a concise format. Crucial factor is to jot down down these notes. Bricks to Apps to Journals – all can present a monitoring system that can assist you be a greater beekeeper.
[ad_2]