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- Apiary hygiene
Keep the apiary clean and tidy and practice good hygiene. Clean hive tools in washing soda and use disposable or washable gloves. Wash bee suits, when dirty, and tuck the hood into the body or inside an arm to protect it.
2. Foul brood disease
2. Foul brood disease
Make sure you are familiar with the symptoms and causes of brood disorders especially the foul broods. Inspect your colonies, at the very least every spring and autumn, specifically to check for brood disease. If you are unsure, seek expert advice. Beebase provides information to help keep colonies healthy and productive.
Photo: Crown copyright
3. Hive hygiene
3. Hive hygiene
Never buy old combs. Always sterilise second hand equipment by thoroughly scorching with a blow lamp before use. Polystyrene or plastic hives should be sterilised by cleaning them with washing soda followed by immersion for at least 20 minutes in 0.5% bleach.
Photo: Crown copyright
4. Disease-free bees
4. Disease-free bees
Never buy colonies of bees unless you are sure that they come from disease free apiaries. Swarms should be hived onto foundation and kept in an isolation apiary until you are sure they are disease free.
5. Dead outs
5. Dead outs
If a colony of bees dies out at any time, seal the hive to prevent robbing, and when convenient remove from the apiary and examine the brood comb for signs of disease.
Photo: Crown copyright
6. Failure to thrive
6. Failure to thrive
If a colony is not thriving and the reason is unknown, examine the brood for signs of disease.
7. Replace old brood combs regularly
7. Replace old brood combs regularly
Replace brood frames every three years. Either render the wax or burn it. Clean frames thoroughly and boil in a washing soda solution.
Photo: Crown copyright
8. Careful feeding
8. Careful feeding
Prevent robbing in the apiary. Do not discard comb or spill honey or syrup in the apiary.
9. Funny honey
9. Funny honey
Never feed honey from another source to your bees.
10. Drifting and robbing
10. Drifting and robbing
Arrange hives in such a way that drifting is kept to a minimum.
Photo: Crown copyright
More information about notifiable diseases:
More information about notifiable diseases:
The National Bee Unit (NBU) is charged with controlling the notifiable brood diseases American and European Foulbrood (AFB and EFB). Both Foulbroods are statutory notifiable diseases and therefore beekeepers are legally obligated to report any suspected diseased colonies under the Bee Diseases and Pests Control Order 2006 (as amended).
The National Bee Unit (NBU) is charged with controlling the notifiable brood diseases American and European Foulbrood (AFB and EFB). Both Foulbroods are statutory notifiable diseases and therefore beekeepers are legally obligated to report any suspected diseased colonies under the Bee Diseases and Pests Control Order 2006 (as amended).
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