Hive Records
It’s a well know fact that beekeepers should keep hive records, it’s an equally well known fact that most don’t.
Their reasons for not doing so being as varied, and imaginative as their methods of beekeeping. Some of the more popular comments are:
- I can remember what’s going on in my hive. Even the beekeeper with one hive must have phenomenal memory to be able to remember all they have seen during a season, the dates the have seen it and the actions they have taken. A memory of a beekeeper with several hives is therefore beyond imagination
- I am not prepared to buy hive record cards. Read on help is at hand.
- I tied it once, leaving the record on top of the crown board and the bees eat it all. Well they could have put it in a folder and taken them home.
- It’s just too much bother !!!
- Why should I bother it wont make any difference. This comment is just wrong.
When a beekeeper opens a hive he should be doing it for the shortest time possible. What he sees may lead him to take some sort of action immediately. More likely having closed the hive he will reflect on what he saw and then decide what actions to take. A hive record enables us to record what we have seen and at leisure take a decision as to what has to be done.