Journals / logs

[Yahoo Newsgroups]

Do you keep a journal or log, recording each visit to hives, their condition
and health, and general impressions and observations?

I'm a (pardon the pun) new-bee, and it seems that a detailed year-by-year
record of each hive would be useful. Is it practical?

Mark J. (Chicago, IL).

[kauhl-meersburg]

> Do you keep a journal or log, recording each visit to hives, their
> condition and health, and general impressions and observations?

> a detailed year-by-year record of each hive would be useful. Is it practical?

yes, the best you can do - some short remarks at every inspection, e. g.
date of visit, number of combs, general impression of vitality, extent
of breeding zone, quantity of food stores, hostility or friendliness of
the workers, queen seen or not, her supposed age, flowering spectrum,
progression of daily rated fallen dead varroas, etc.

will be great support at your next visit, will say diminish your natural
respect and fear of opening the hive - and above all will advice you
what to do next and will be a good documentation of swarm's development
over the years

don't let you irritate by those arrogant hints of the professionals,
they tell you only positive aspects and not what they do in secret

I recommend to subscribe to American Bee Journal, seems very sensible
referring natural proceduring answering normal needs of bees health

cheers kauhl