Can't help but to chime in...
You have all heard that there are bee keepers and bee have-rs? Pictures of those hives are definitely from a bee have-r!
I can't believe that anybody would go so far as to brag about it and claim that that mes was planed?
Different opinions are welcome. make sure you have all your info before diving into this pool.
I would be ashamed to open a hive and see mess like that! Newer mind somebody else seeing it!
Maybe you would I am not. Here is a hive in December in Florida. With some honey stores that I will leave in there. Not because it gets cold in Florida it doesn't But because the blooms tend to get light. Even when light they still do pretty well.
Don't show us the links from MB. If he talks about it, it does not make it a "mast copy!" First it should be pondered if it was meant, for what we saw above?
You have never seen some of my discussions about Michael and his means. Michael and I do things alike (not exactly), but for very different reasons. However his basis is very sound and works very well for me.
IMO, that is sure not what he talks about, when he mentions that bees build burr as a step to upper frames. Bee-ladders are totally diferent thing and should not be mixed with that mess.
Hive like you are showing, is honey bound and has of course nothing to do with checking for mites. MB don't check for mites between combs!? He claims that he probably has them, but they are not a problem and he don't think about them! He is on natural system and mites and other miladies are the least of his worry.
If you look at the comb you would see that some of it is honey and some of it is drone. Michael recommends checking burr comb for mites. I haven't watched him do it personally but I do it in mine. My mite count is none or very low.
He is also a self proclaimed "lazy man" and a lot of stuff he has is OK by him - but not necessarily a "must-have" for others!
Yeah but it sure seems to work for quite a few of us.
A hive in picture probably already swarmed. If not - it will! If that is your standard - they probably swarm more than once?!
They haven't and right now they probably will not. Not enough daylight to allow it. Several of the hives you saw got an extra box added to them. And some empty frames swapped in to allow for continued growth. Not real checkerboarding but it keeps them working.
If that hive is in a region where bees need to cluster - that one is a goner! Bees need open comb to cluster when cold hits. And don't nobody say they will eat it and make room? Yes, they will make room but for spring! Those won't make it in cold country cause they need cluster room now!
Again the point of this forum and my beeing here is to help people who don't have winters. This is where you fail. You need to understand not everyone keeps bees the same way. Your rant does a disservice to our members who don't live in a winter area. The title even states "Florida" I realize that keeping bees in a winter area is different you need to realize that keeping bees in the south and in tropical climates is very different. This is the probelm northern beekeepers come down and rant and rave about how bees should be kept in the south and it fails. I appreciate you input but you show a lack of diverse knowledge. That is a disservice to others. However wisdom comes with expperience. In time you will learn not everything is as you assume it is.
And you said that you leave all that, that the way it is?
I feel sorry for your bees!
I don't and my bees seem pretty darn happy.
When comb is torn like this? Bees congregate on it to clean the honey, save the brood and repair the destruction. A traumatic experience for the bees, to say the least!
Yes it is. But if you use permacomb and top entrances you better be prepared for it. Because it is a design feature not a flaw. If you don't believe me please contact John Seets who makes Permacomb.
Now, all that said. You than take the box and put it back? No matter how careful or gentle you maneuver might be? In that single process you squish hundreds, if not thousands of innocent bees.
A few puffs of smoke and flicks of the brush and the bees disappear. Do some bees get squished. Sure with any hive opening that will happen.
Talking about them frames being made for this purpose? So bees have someplace to build drone-comb?
Bull!
Again if you don't use permacomb please don't comment on things you know nothing about.
Get an empty frame for that purpose. (Drone-catcher) If money is an issue - cut the corners off the frames. (comb only) Bees themselves make holes in wax for that purpose, for ease of passage if nothing else...
No need to. My method works great.
Or, frames are not of proper size, or the boxes aren't?
The top mess is inches thick? Not planed! IMO you don't know that you need an inner cover or you don't have one cause MB don't have one?
Whatever the cause/reason? No excuses for mess like that!
The top entrance is at it's highest almost 2.25 inches which then angles down to nearly .5 inches. Since you are unfamilar with my top entrances you may want to take another step back and learn something. Top entrances in Florida and tropical climates with screened bottom boards make a world of difference in how your bees work. You bees are not in an oven so they are out gathering nectar and pollen not trying to keep the hive from over heating.
You don't want an inner cover down here unless you like cooking your bees.
I must apologise to the rest of you for my carry-on. I see too much of wrong stuff going on and if nobody chimes in and/or criticise - the newbies surely think that that is the cool way to go - and copy it in their own practice.
I know of one beek, and I use this term loosely, who thinks that MB is GOD...?! Don't get me wrong now? He is a good man, (MB is) and a good beek and I personally have a lot of respect for his knowledge - only his practice is not my cup of tea. My motto is: "If it is worth doing - do it right! Or don't do it at all!"
I hope people copy it as matter of fact I will be teaching some of it in Feburary. However it's for Florida beekeepers and those in warm climates.
Now, when somebody opens up a hive and the frames are nice and clean - now, that is a sight to behold. A sure sign of a good beekeeper, who has self respect, respect for his craft and more importantly - he/she treats bees with care and respect that they deserve! ( For we all know that poor buggers have enough problems, thanks to all of us. So, why compound it??!!) Somebody like that can brag to his heart's content ! I have no problem with that at all....
Considering I have no mites and no disease and bees that are a pleasure to work with. I will gladly stick to my stance. And I will do it with a frozen margarita in my hand a pair of shorts on and sitting in my backyard watching them fly back and forth. In 70F/21C or higher weather.
Do not doubt that I have self respect and respect for my craft. I have more than enough and an ego to go with it.
Sincerely,
Brendhan