If there's one skill that separates confident beekeepers from nervous ones, it's knowing how to do a proper hive inspection. I'm not talking about just cracking open the lid and hoping for the best—I'm talking about a systematic, purposeful inspection that tells you exactly what's happening inside your colony. Let me take you back to my third hive inspection ever. I'd opened the hive, pulled out a frame, stared at it for about 30 seconds, and realized I had absolutely no idea what I was looking at. Were those queen cells or just weird-looking drone cells? Was that spotty brood pattern normal or a sign of disease? I closed everything up feeling more confused than when I started. Sound familiar? You're not alone. The good news is that hive inspection becomes second nature once you know what to look for and in what order. Today, I'm going to walk you through my exact process—the same one I've refined over years of managing multiple hives. Why Regular Inspections Matter (Even When You're Scared) I get it. Opening a hive full of 40,000 stinging insects is intimidating. But here's the truth: regular inspections are the single most important thing you can do for your bees' health. Think of it as a wellness check-up. You're looking for problems while they're still small and manageable, not after they've spiraled into colony collapse. During your first year beekeeping, I recommend inspecting every 7-10 days during the active season (spring through early fall). Yes, that might seem like a lot, but it's how you learn. As you gain experience, you'll naturally adjust the frequency based on what you observe. Before You Open: The Pre-Inspection Checklist Don't just walk up to your hive and start pulling frames. A good inspection starts before you even light your smoker. Here's my pre-inspection routine: Timing is everything. Inspect between 10 AM and 4 PM on a warm, sunny day when most foragers are out working. You'll have fewer bees in the hive and calmer conditions. Never inspect before a storm or in cold, rainy weather—your bees will be cranky, and you won't get accurate information.