Poll
Question:
How often do you smoke?
Option 1: Every time
votes: 16
Option 2: Whenever pulling frames
votes: 13
Option 3: When taking honey or other major work
votes: 6
Option 4: Only when they're hot
votes: 8
Option 5: Don't believe in it.
votes: 4
Just wondering. My package is really gentle, and I've only used smoke once so far. It seems like more trouble than it's worth until they get more protective.
I've never smoked--it's really bad for you! :-D
I smoked the first few times I went in. I seriously cannot keep that thing lit!! Last time, I used a mild sugar-water spray. They were calmer than ever, but I couldn't keep them off my topbars while trying to close up (probably lapping up that sweet stuff). At a recommendation on another site, I am going to try vinegar-water spray next time and see how that works...
about 10 times a day...used to be 20, but i cut down.
as for smoking my hive...almost never if i'm doing a quick look. if i need to do a deep inspection, i'll light it, but often not use it. kind of depends on your hives and what bothers you.
:-D
Tough question! I used to smoke once a week... then once every day since the spring. I have not smoked since 2 weeks! I am planing on not smoking period ever.. CIGARS THAT IS..! LOL :-D
My packages were cupcakes as well...but they seem to get a little more irritable when the hives get bigger. I only light up if I'm pulling some frames down in the bottom brood chamber. It helps to get them to move around so you don't squish any (or many). I don't bother if I'm just cracking the lid to assess buildout or pulling frame from the upper supers.
Quote from: David LaFerney on June 17, 2009, 12:23:48 AM
It seems like more trouble than it's worth until they get more protective.
That's the rub! The time you don't light your smoker will the be time they are really cranky!
It's better to take the time to light it and have it sit there unused than to open a hive and have them come boiing out and not have it handy.
QuoteIt's better to take the time to light it and have it sit there unused than to open a hive and have them come boiing out and not have it handy.
there have been a couple of times that i have gone back to the barn for the smoker. those times have been rare; however, you are right, when you need it.... you need it.
About every 30 minutes or so, except when I'm at work, then it's about every 6 hours. :-D
I don't smoke my bees. They are agressive at all times regardless of smoke, so I don't bother to use it. I just gear up like I'm in a hot zone. ;)
I take the time to light my smoker everytime I play with my bees. I have been told by long time beekeepers that sometimes the bees will blame the queen for any disturbance and kill her. Especially true for newly introduced queens/packages. As far as the hot zone goes. Yes your bees will be hot regardless the amount of smoke you use and wow u need protective gear like no one else...
Tip to keep your smoker lit. Use a lighter :-D
Naw just kidding. I always use 1 sheet to newspaper balled up to first get it going, then throw in another crumpled up sheet to really get it hot and burning and then slowly add wood chips to it (I found pellets work well to u know the pellets for pellet stoves) and keep vigorously pumping the bellow until the chips are well lit. Then I fill the entire smoker with fuel and again pump the bellow for about 5 minutes vigorously and it should stay lit for hours if not over night....
I only smoke them if I plan on pulling frames and even then its just to get them to move so I don't squish any of them. When I was refilling the top feeder I didn't use it, heck I didn't even need my vale. I have noticed that they are getting a little more aggressive with now that I have put the medium super on; nothing bad just bumping me when I get within 2 ft. of the hive.
As the season moves on, the population grows and as you get closer to winter, they also become more defensive. I use very little smoke in spring and gradually work my way up to smoking everytime by fall.
A previously gentle hive can go really nasty if they lose the queen or skunks mess with them or... And you often don't find this out until you lift the cover.
I have the smoker lit during inspections but don't always use it. A couple bad experiences have taught me this. If you can't keep it lit, you need more practice.
Another thing is that when you have more than 1 or two hives, you can have multiple personalities in the bunch, might as well light up.
A small hive/swarm usually need minimal. A big one? Anytime frames are pulled.
If you can't keep your smoker lit, then you need pine needles/straw. :)
Rick
I smoked everyday back in the early 1970s. Dont really miss it to much. Just gave me munchies :pop:
Ya work made me give up smoking, but I can still use cigarettes. for now. but the bees, I seldom smoke them, they don't burn well and tend to get runny when I try to light them. Seriously I carry it , seldom use it, but better safe than sorry, got stung several times the one day I didn't have it with me. But I do the same just set it in front of the hive.
The survey seems not comprehensive enough.
Many days I don't use smoke at all. When I do use the smoker, I only smoke with a puff or two at the front door, never when I am pulling frames, never ever when I am taking honey off, mostly the only other time I send any smoke onto the bees is when I've made a beekeeper mistake - dropped a frame, or something equally disruptive - and the bees are rightfully upset. Then I might use the smoker to help calm things down.
Mostly I don't use it but it isn't about believing in it or not but rather that I don't want to puff something into the hive that has a physiological effect on the bees when I don't have to.
Linda T in Atlanta
Quote from: danno on June 17, 2009, 04:26:29 PM
I smoked everyday back in the early 1970s. Dont really miss it to much. Just gave me munchies :pop:
:evil:
Quote from: luvin honey on June 17, 2009, 12:28:58 AM
I've never smoked--it's really bad for you! :-D
I smoked the first few times I went in. I seriously cannot keep that thing lit!! Last time, I used a mild sugar-water spray. They were calmer than ever, but I couldn't keep them off my topbars while trying to close up (probably lapping up that sweet stuff). At a recommendation on another site, I am going to try vinegar-water spray next time and see how that works...
i use vinegar water too. i like it more than smoke.
Yeah, the vinegar-water worked great! I only got 1 sting tonight after doing some major inspection of the entire broodnest! The kids were sitting on a hive about 3 feet away (despite my asking them to back off a bit) and were perfectly fine.
For me, depends on:
* Weather
* Temperament of the hive
* Time of year
* If going to just peek or move frames/boxes around
* If I need to chase queen down
* etc....
Quote from: luvin honey on June 17, 2009, 11:15:37 PM
Yeah, the vinegar-water worked great! I only got 1 sting tonight after doing some major inspection of the entire broodnest! The kids were sitting on a hive about 3 feet away (despite my asking them to back off a bit) and were perfectly fine.
What is the concentration of your mixture? I would like to try this next time I do an inspection.
Never if I'm just popping in to see if there is a harvest to be had. Otherwise I always have the smoker lit and available along with a sprayer of sugar water (when the bottle is available) in case they are needed. Always have the smoker though.
If I don't plan on looking for a queen and I plan to do very much I light the smoker. I probably give them a puff. That is usually the appropriate amount anyway. Doing queen rearing, usually I AM looking for a queen so usually I don't even light the smoker.
OK I just went and popped the top on mine to see if they're drawing out comb yet on the new frames.
Without smoke I had 5 come out and leave stingers in my gloves.
And one butted my face net and followed me all the way back to the house.
So I lit the smoker and puffed a little under the top.
Not one aggressive bee after that.
Quote from: Michael Bush on June 21, 2009, 01:39:27 PM
If I don't plan on looking for a queen and I plan to do very much I light the smoker. I probably give them a puff. That is usually the appropriate amount anyway. Doing queen rearing, usually I AM looking for a queen so usually I don't even light the smoker.
Why not when looking for the queen?
If you smoke the queen tends to run. If you don't she will be laying in the brood nest. She's much easier to find if she's not running.