1.7 - Open a colony of honeybees and keep the colony under control

Steps of opening a hive in the assessment

• Clean suit and gloves
• Hive tool, queen clip, soda water, smoker
• Light the smoker [HOOD DOWN]
• Approach the hive and check the area
• comment on landing board
• no signs of dead bees or disease
• comment on pollen carriers, showing signs of bees providing for brood
• Smoke them lightly under floor and through door, wait 2 minutes
• Lift off lid and place in front of hive [the Reigate way]
• Inspect hive

When you finish wash your hive tool in soda water. This one time you can leave smoker - put a twist of grass in the spout and leave it on its side.