Comments on: At the Hive Entrance: Look, Listen, Learn https://www.keepingbackyardbees.com/at-the-hive-entrance-look-listen-learn/ Tue, 14 Sep 2021 01:26:14 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.5 By: Cynthia https://www.keepingbackyardbees.com/at-the-hive-entrance-look-listen-learn/#comment-144456 Tue, 14 Sep 2021 01:26:14 +0000 http://backyardbees.wpengine.com/?p=2701#comment-144456 I just loved your very knowledgeable article. I am a very new bee keeper, but already I love my bees, and visit them every day and just watch them. Apparently, they can recognize me, and never threaten me in any way. They are magical creatures, and their society organization defies belief. The more I learn about them, the more amazed I am. Thank you so much

]]> By: Rob https://www.keepingbackyardbees.com/at-the-hive-entrance-look-listen-learn/#comment-111891 Mon, 17 Aug 2020 19:44:50 +0000 http://backyardbees.wpengine.com/?p=2701#comment-111891 I like your article on observation (“At the Hive Entrance”)–a lot. I live in a small town in Alaska that is currently experiencing a boom in beginning beekeepers. I’ve been keeping bees for going on fifty years–seems hard to believe, but it’s true–which makes me by far the most experienced beekeeper in the area, and as such I answer a lot of questions, have a lot of mentoring sessions with beginners. My advice, over and over, is always some version of: Less is more; just about everything that you need to know about a hive is right there in plain view at the entrance; everything we know about bees, everything without exception, is rooted in someone sitting in front of a hive spending hours and hours just watching the bees go in and out; shed your preconceptions and learn to observe–the bees will teach you the only lessons you really need to learn.

I get an abundance of eye rolls, and I can imagine the eye rollers thinking, “God! I ask this guy a simple question, and instead of a simple answer, I get all this woo-woo crap! There’s gotta be someone in this town who can tell me what I want to know.” But I also get a lot of people who listen and follow my advice–not surprisingly those are my star students.

Thanks for publishing my thoughts almost exactly the way I would have expressed them–keep up the good work.

Rob Lund
Homer, Alaska

]]> By: Carole https://www.keepingbackyardbees.com/at-the-hive-entrance-look-listen-learn/#comment-111023 Sat, 01 Aug 2020 16:49:49 +0000 http://backyardbees.wpengine.com/?p=2701#comment-111023 Last fall, because of various circumstances, I lost three hives….all of which, I believe, were due to my ignorance. I sealed up the hives for the winter. About three weeks ago I unsealed one hive. About a week ago honeybees started coming by the thousands. I’m afraid the are only robbing. Only an occasional bee with pollen enters.. guard bees stand in front of the entrance lined up facing entrance like soldiers. What do you think……robbing or looking for a new home?

]]> By: Thelostlander https://www.keepingbackyardbees.com/at-the-hive-entrance-look-listen-learn/#comment-110828 Wed, 22 Jul 2020 05:37:49 +0000 http://backyardbees.wpengine.com/?p=2701#comment-110828 I’m still a learner in beekeeping and started with my 1st box this spring. I’m very fond of sitting infront of the box and observing what the bees do and sometimes wonder what their each dance/move means.. your post has really been insightful. Thank you so much 🙂

]]> By: Tony https://www.keepingbackyardbees.com/at-the-hive-entrance-look-listen-learn/#comment-110645 Wed, 15 Jul 2020 03:56:56 +0000 http://backyardbees.wpengine.com/?p=2701#comment-110645 I love sitting and watching my bees, I have only had them for 4 months now and they fascinate me. I have a 10 frame langstroth hive, I haven’t put the honey super on yet that may happen in the next couple of weeks depending on how full the brood super is.
Apparently I should smoke the bees every time I open the hive but I have read that smoke agitates the bees. Is it ok not to smoke the hive?

]]> By: Louise vergette https://www.keepingbackyardbees.com/at-the-hive-entrance-look-listen-learn/#comment-109447 Wed, 03 Jun 2020 10:28:42 +0000 http://backyardbees.wpengine.com/?p=2701#comment-109447 Hello Susan,
I was delighted to come across your backyard bees website. As a fellow Warre beekeeper it was so refreshing to find a beekeeper who believes in a “ hands off” approach to beekeeping. Like yourself I spend hours sitting outside my hives observing the bees, I never tire of watching them. All my hives, like yours are totally unagressive and because I don’t disturb the hives with frequent inspections and chemical dosings they are healthy, strong and content. Keep up the good work! Louise

]]> By: Christina https://www.keepingbackyardbees.com/at-the-hive-entrance-look-listen-learn/#comment-108157 Tue, 21 Apr 2020 17:48:54 +0000 http://backyardbees.wpengine.com/?p=2701#comment-108157 Do you harvest honey often?

]]> By: Christina https://www.keepingbackyardbees.com/at-the-hive-entrance-look-listen-learn/#comment-108155 Tue, 21 Apr 2020 17:45:40 +0000 http://backyardbees.wpengine.com/?p=2701#comment-108155 Do you treat your hives for mites ?

]]> By: Joe https://www.keepingbackyardbees.com/at-the-hive-entrance-look-listen-learn/#comment-105690 Fri, 07 Feb 2020 19:11:55 +0000 http://backyardbees.wpengine.com/?p=2701#comment-105690 I have some terrible news for you. You do not in fact have a qeen. I am sorry for bee-ing the bearer of bad news, but honey, you are qeenless.

]]> By: Ben https://www.keepingbackyardbees.com/at-the-hive-entrance-look-listen-learn/#comment-105192 Mon, 20 Jan 2020 12:51:10 +0000 http://backyardbees.wpengine.com/?p=2701#comment-105192 Another observation i like to do, is assess whether the bees are landing heavy or light especially on days with not much wind. If lots of bees with large pollen baskets are landing short and having to walk up to the platform then there is plenty of supplies available. If they are landing lightly with nothing in their baskets, right in front of the entrance, then there is a dearth of pollen.

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