Hi I was wondering if anyone used baby powder on there hands instead of gloves? I read in beekeeping for dummies that the bees like the smell. I think when I get my bees I will try to manage them without gloves unless I get tagged several time. Just curious. Thanks.
I've never tried it, but anything that calms them is worth a try.
Depends also the temperament of the hive.
If their mad enough there going to sting anyway, it's so fast they won't care what your wearing.
I started w/o gloves and it was fine, when the hive's got stronger they started stinging.
Make sure you remove any rings if you wear them because of swelling.
Let's both try it and compare results I'm curious also.
For anything less than an angry colony,baby powder does seem to make them not be interested in your hands much.
I've used camphor and vick's vapor rub, but I usually apply a bunch of smoke to the hands. Nothing seems to make much of a difference to bees that want to sting, but let us know how the baby powder works for you.
...JP
Cool thanks I will let you know. I cant wait to get my bees to try it out. I would like to go hard core and wear nothing but I dont think I am brave enough.
Baby powder only made the nitril gloves easier to get on and off.
Quote from: Beelicious on November 29, 2008, 06:51:43 PM
Cool thanks I will let you know. I cant wait to get my bees to try it out. I would like to go hard core and wear nothing but I dont think I am brave enough.
Then start with nitrile or stripping gloves. Its not really about being brave its about dexterity and smooshing as few bees as possible while getting in and out of your hives. Going gloveless seems insane to a lot of folks but the longer you keep bees the more one gravitates to glovelessness. I always have gloves handy in case the bees wanna sting excessively that day.
...JP
I think every beekeeper should go one day with no gloves. What you will learn is that bees just don't attack your hands for nothing. Many of the stings are from the beekeepers who press bees under their fingers, etc. It will also slow you down, make smoking an art form, and overall improve your skills.
I do use latex gloves most days if I'm in the beeyard all day long. Stings do add up sometimes. But for a one or two hive inspection, not getting stung should be about 9 out of 10 inspections.
And for anyone using those big leather gloves, go to latex surgical type gloves. You may not go gloveless, but you will never wear leather again. :-D
I found the baby powder hint in an old ABJ and have used it for a couple of years. Usually if I'm stung it's my own fault.
Roger
Quote from: RogerB on November 29, 2008, 09:39:57 PM
I found the baby powder hint in an old ABJ and have used it for a couple of years. Usually if I'm stung it's my own fault.
Roger
Of course it is, you're the honey burglar after all. Self defense of your home is a constitutional rights, even for the bees.