Seeing eggs

[DonMcJr]

I'm rigging up a Plastic Tool Box to hold all my Beekeeping tools in one place and now I get to add a mount for an LED Flashlight...Mounted to the side or back of the tool box, turn it on and hold the frame over it!

[Jen]

This is the one I tried yesterday, not enough light while standing in the sunlight. I'll purchase a larger one and give that a try ~

[minz]

What a basic idea that I did not think of.  It is all about the light. I did a couple of hive checks when it hit 55 here this week and the sun was low and shining on my veil and I could not see through it very well, much less see eggs.  I had capped and uncapped so did not give it concern but I carry a LED mag light and would have been easy to pull it out and push the button.

[Woody Roberts]

Jen
That looks just like the light I use. Yes if the sun is on the frame the light don't help much. All my hives set close enough to the trees I can get in the shade. Works great there.

[Jen]

Minz ""I had capped and uncapped so did not give it concern but I carry a LED mag light and would have been easy to pull it out and push the button.""

My two veiled beeshirts have a handy pocket right in the front, perfect place for small flashlight.

[Jen]

Woody- ""All my hives set close enough to the trees I can get in the shade.""

See, if that means moving over to the shade with the frame in hand... I was taught to not move the frame away from the top of the open hive, cause if the queen drops off.... you're scr---- !  I'm thinking this one over tho...

[GLOCK]

I use +3 reading glasses when I work my hives I see every thing fine.

[Woody Roberts]

Glock
Yeah, I use 1.50 but carry 2.00 in my bee jacket

[Woody Roberts]

Jen
You have a viable concern. I look the frame over good before I step away from the hive. But I do it on a pretty regular basis.
As far as getting the light to work I can usually just shade it with my body though.

[minz]

I have safety glasses with small led lights on the sides I was usiing for sme drilling lst week ishould give them a try

[Bakersdozen]

Woody,  Glad you started this thread.  Now I don't feel like the only beekeeper that can't see eggs!  I had a unique experience this spring.  It's been so cool here, that the queens are very slow to start laying.  I checked my 4 hives and found brood in one.  The other three, although packed with bees, appeared to be queenless.  I couldn't find queens, eggs, larvae or capped brood.  I ordered 4 queens.  Three queens for the presumed queenless hives and the 4th for requeening the last hive simply because those are the meanest bees I have ever encountered.  (little stinkers)  My supplier lost a bunch of the queens in transit so I only got 2.  That turned into being a stroke of luck.  When I went out to check the hives before introducing the queens I still couldn't see eggs, but found lots of larvae.  One hive had about 7 frames of brood, so I did a split and used one of those queens.  The other had 3-4 frames of brood and the last truly was queenless.  So, all's well that ends well, but I don't think I can see eggs even with the sun over my shoulder.

[LazyBkpr]

the 2.5 power reading glasses will do wonders for your ability to see eggs, as will an inexpensive magnifying glass. Jewelers goggles with the light on them are also invaluable.

[G3farms]

I just about have to put my nose on the comb to see eggs.

[Woody Roberts]

While wearing my reading glasses I'll see a few eggs. When I use the LED light I'll see eggs that I missed before.