What should be done to limit robbing when putting equipment back on the hives?

When putting equipment back on the hives, doing it late in the day can be an effective strategy to limit robbing. This timing takes advantage of the natural behavior of bees, as most foraging activity occurs during daylight hours. By working later in the day, you minimize the chance of exposing empty equipment to foraging bees that might be looking for resources.

In the late afternoon or early evening, the returning bees from the original hive will have established their foraging patterns and will typically be focused on returning home. By this time, the foraging bees from other colonies, which might engage in robbing behavior, have already returned to their respective hives or are less active in searching for food. Consequently, placing equipment back on the hive at this time creates a less advantageous scenario for robbers, helping to protect the hive's resources and preventing disruption to the colony.

This method is often preferred over attempting the task at other times, such as during the night or in the early morning, as those periods may not be ideal for managing the bees effectively.